Chassidic Rabbis Prayed and Fasted for Hoover’s Election at Request from U.S.

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The week preceding November 6. was spent in fast and prayer for the election of Herbert Hoover as president of the United States by one of the Chassidic Rabbis in Carpatho-Russia, it became known to-day when it was announced that the Rabbi was in receipt of an acknowledgment from the President-elect of a congratulatory message.

The Chassidic Rabbi, known as the Rebbe of Zydaczow, now a resident of Muncacz. was prompted to his action in behalf of the Republican candidate at the cabled request of one of his followers in Boston, Mass. It was stated here that Mr. Henry Shoenberg of Boston, in accordance with the usuage among the followers of the Chassidic rabbis, forwarded by cable the amount of $150 for charitable purposes with the request that he “pray for the election of Herbert Hoover ben Hilda (son of Hilda)”.

The formula employed in memoranda submitted to Chassidic rabbis by their followers for divine favor requires the naming of the beneficiary and that of his mother.

Upon receipt of the cable the Rabbi and his followers observed a week of prayer and fasting for Hoover’s victory on November 6. When the result of the election became known in Czechoslovakia, the Rabbi forwarded to Palo Alto a message of two words, “Mazel Tov,” meaning Good Luck.

It was stated in circles close to the “courts” of the Chassidic rabbis that the Rabbi of Zydaczew was not the only one to have received such a request from the United States. Messages of similar content, asking divine favor for the Republican candidate,were addressed by american followers to several “miracle working rabbis in Carpatho-Russia.”