A message of thanks and loyalty was despatched to Josef Stalin by the first congress of Jewish collective farmers which opened today in Biro-Bidjan, the Far Eastern Jewish autonomous Soviet region.
In the message the congress thanks the Soviet dictator for the interest he has taken in settling Jews on the land. The congress will devote itself chiefly to agricultural problems in connection with the Spring sowing.
The city of Biro-Bidjan is gaily decorated with banners carrying Jewish inscriptions welcoming the delegates.
Despite the anti-religious campaign which Jewish Communists have started throughout the Soviet Union, designed to discourage Jews from observing Passover, much religious activity is reported from various provinces. In some townships in the Ukraine, synagogues which have been closed for some time are now being reopened by Jewish religious groups in connection with the approaching holidays. The local authorities are not interfering with the reopening of the synagogues.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
