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Day of Prayer for Soviet Jews; Streets Closed for Simhat Torah

October 22, 1970
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
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Brooklyn Borough President Sebastian Leone has ordered streets adjoining Orthodox synagogues closed to vehicular traffic tomorrow to accommodate Jews observing Simhat Torah. The celebration traditionally includes singing and dancing in the streets out side of the houses of worship. Mr. Leone has also proclaimed the day a “Day of Prayer and Meditation” by Brooklyn Jews for the Jews of the Soviet Union. He is scheduled to deliver the proclamation in person to Jewish celebrants on a closed off block in the Flatbush section tomorrow night. The proclamation designated Oct. 22 “as a day that Jews all over the world together with all free people, symbolize and express their sympathy and solidarity with Jews living in the Soviet Union.” It said, “We implore the Soviet government to permit these people to leave that country if that be their desire or permit all the people of the Soviet Union to practice their religion as all free men do anywhere else in our world.”

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