Aliya Announcement Read in Rumanian Synagogues, Chief Rabbi Discloses

Chief Rabbi Moses Rosen of Rumania, disclosed today that last Friday night an announcement was read in all synagogues in Rumania advising Jews who want to leave for Israel to register their names with the community offices. He said the announcement was not specifically linked to any move by the Rumanian government but indicated that it was made with the government’s knowledge. He said its purpose was to inform the Jewish communal authorities of the correct situation as to aliya desires among the community.

Rabbi Rosen also said he was authorized to cite a “most senior Rumanian government official” to the effect that “all Jews who wish to leave for Israel under the ongoing family re-unification program will be permitted to do so.”

The Rumanian Chief Rabbi, who arrived here yesterday on a brief visit, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that he had found a “common language” in his talks with top Israel government and Jewish Agency officials on the problems of his community. “There are no differences between us….We want the same thing…we reached the same conclusions,” Rabbi Rosen said of his talks yesterday with Jewish Agency Executive chairman Pinhas Sapir, Agency director general Moshe Rivlin and his meeting with Foreign Minister Yigal Allon, Rabbi Rosen denied yesterday reports that he was trying to soften Jewish criticism of Rumania, particularly in the U.S., over that country’s alleged curtailment of Jewish emigration. He said today that, broadly speaking, the emigration situation had its “ups and downs,” He would not say whether the statement he cited from a government official signified a new “up.”