Jewish Community in Spain Receives Franco’s Official Recognition

For the first time since 1492, when the Jews were forced to flee Spain because of the Inquisition, the Chief of State received the head of the Jewish Community in Spain, it was revealed here today by Daniel Francois Baroukh, president of the Jewish community of Madrid.

Sr. Baroukh, in a statement issued to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, thanked the Jewish communities of the United States, Holland and other countries for helping the Spanish community celebrate its first public Rosh Hashanah services this year for the first time in 450 years.

The Spanish leader singled out for particular praise Rabbi Jeshurun Cardozo of New York who came to Madrid to conduct the services, which were attended by representatives of the Spanish Government, the United State Embassy in Madrid and the U.S. Sixth Fleet. Jews from Israel, United States, Britain and France also attended the historic services as did representatives of Jews living in the ten other major cities of Spain and Gibraltar.

Sr. Baroukh thanked the American community for the Sefer Torah brought to Madrid by Rabbi Cardozo, a gift of Lester M. Friedman, and the Torah loaned by Rabbi B. Gorodetzki for the High Holy Day services, which was brought to Spain by Zachariah Schuster of the American Jewish Committee. He also thanked the Dutch community which contributed two Torah’s which were flown to Madrid in time to be used at the services. Sr. Baroukh said that the Madrid community had three Torahs of its own, but that they were no longer fit for use.

He also thanked Mrs. Joshua Goldberg, wife of Commander Goldberg, highest ranking Jewish chaplain in the U.S. Navy, for sending quantities of prayer books, prayer shawls and hats for use during the services.