A peculiar pro – Jewish religious movement among the peasants of Polesia, the Polish district adjoining the Soviet, is puzzling government officials, it became known today.
Under the leadership of a Polish peasant woman, Olga Krilitchuck, more than 1,500 peasants of the district have begun to observe the Jewish Sabbath. The group adheres strictly to the Jewish dietary laws and their preacher predicts a speedy end to Jewish tribulations through the arrival of the Messiah.
The “new Jews” also observe other Jewish religious regulations. Several of their members recently visited a Warsaw synagogue to see in what fashion Jews observe the Sabbath.
Government officials express complete bewilderment at the readiness of members of this novel sect to identify themselves with an unpopular and persecuted minority.
While this peasant group is unusual, movements toward Judaism on the part of the Russian peasant population were fairly common in
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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.
