The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee has shipped 257, 000 pounds of matzoth for Passover this year to nine European centers, to enable needy Jews to properly observe the holiday, it was reported here today by Charles Jordan, overseas director-general of the JDC. Last year, a total of 185, 000 pounds of matzoth was distributed by the organization.
All of the 72, 000 pounds increase over last year’s total went to France, where the country’s Jewish population increased by 120, 000 persons during the past year, mostly through migration from Algeria and other North African countries.
In all, more than 120, 000 persons will benefit from special Passover allocations made by the JDC, Mr. Jordan said. In addition to providing matzoth in Europe, the JDC is making special grants to 60, 000 Jews in Algeria, Iran, Morocco and Tunisia to enable them to purchase matzoth locally.
The money received from the sale of matzoth is a major item in the income of the Polish religious community. Matzoth for needy Jews in Poland are purchased from the religious community by the JDC and distributed to approximately 7, 000 persons in European countries. Countries to which the JDC made direct shipments of matzoth this year are Albania, Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Yugoslavia.
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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.
