An Israeli stage designer who returned from Moscow after attending the International Theater Institute Congress in the Soviet capital, said he was surprised by the warmth of the reception given the Israeli delegation.
“Not only were we faced with a most welcome atmosphere but even Hebrew songs in the heart of Moscow,” said Arnon Adar. He said that at a number of receptions attended by the Israelis, Russian orchestras opened up with. “Hava Nagilla” and hora tunes. Adar said he assumed “there was some order from higher echelons to give us the best possible treatment.” He recalled that the Israeli delegation was initially refused visas to enter Russia and that the Soviet authorities relented only after international pressure and threats to move the congress to another country.
Adar said that the delegation met many Jews among the Russian theatrical people. But they were unable to visit the Moscow synagogue on Saturday because the congress sessions were held outside the city on those days.
Encouraged by last year’s response to its first UNICEF Jewish New Year card, the U.S. Committee for UNICEF is offering two new designs for Rosh Hashanah greetings this year.
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