A group of New Jersey teenagers is appealing to the American public to help Soviet Jews by Sending matzos to the Soviet Union’s Embassy in Washington in advance of the Passover holiday beginning April 11.
Susan Jeanette Kuperstein, a 17 – year – old Springfield, N. J. high school senior and spokes person for the New Jersey Region of United Synagogue Youth (USY) said USY members believe that if the Soviet Embassy is swamped with matzos, Soviet authorities will allow the unleavened bread to be shipped to the USSR “for its more than three million harshly restricted Jews, many of whom desperately want to leave that country for freedom.” As it is, she said, “only a small matzo production is allowed in the Communist nation.”
Ms. Kuperstein noted that President Carter has said the Soviet Union appears to be allowing an increasing number of Jews to leave that country and that the United States is close to granting the Soviet Union Most Favored Nation status. “If the Soviets are sincere about permitting Jews to leave the USSR, and are really serious in seeking Most Favored Nation status, they will prove their good intentions by accepting the matzos sent to the Embassy and work out an arrangement to ship it to their country,” she said “This is a test of Soviet sincerity.” The executive board of the New Jersey USY decided on the campa### according to Mark Mulgay of Summit, N.J., regional executive social actions vice president. Other USY regions throughout the country, with a membership comprising youngsters from 14 to 18 years old who attend Conservative synagogues, are expected to take part in the campaign, Mulgay said. There are 65 USY chapters in New Jersey.
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