JDC Seder for Soviet Jews in Rome

Passover this year will have special meaning as a festival of freedom and liberation for nearly six hundred Russian Jews in Rome enroute to the United States and other Western countries, it was reported by Edward Ginsberg, chairman of the Joint Distribution Committee. About 350 are expected to attend a seder which the JDC has arranged for them at the Rome Jewish Community Children’s Home, Ginsberg said. There are 585 Soviet Jews among the 638 transmigrants in Rome for whom JDC is providing food, shelter and medical care while they wait for their travel arrangements to be completed. JDC will also extend an invitation to some 40 last-minute arrivals expected from Vienna before the weekend.

In addition to the families attending the seder at the Children’s Home, Ginsberg reported that 30 young Soviet Jews have been invited to the seder which will be held for young Italian Jews at the community’s Kadimah Youth Center in Rome. This is part of a new youth activities program the JDC is currently developing for the 18-25 age group among the Soviet transmigrants. The JDC Rome office has also provided matzo and wine for all the transmigrants now in its care to use during Passover week, he added.

The seder at the Children’s Home will be conducted in Russian by Vladimir Halperin of ORT Ceneva, to enable the Russians to follow the Haggadah and to take an active part in the ceremony, even though, for many, it will be their first seder. Ginsberg said. Two seats will be kept empty, one for the Jews still struggling for their freedom in the USSR and one for the 62 Israelis still in prison in Syria. In Vienna. JDC has also arranged for last minute arrivals from the Soviet Union to attend the community seder at the Vienna Synagogue. No one knows how many will come–but all will be warmly welcomed. Ginsberg said.