Jews in Rumania were “reminded” today in a broadcast over the Bucharest radio station that by August 12 they must complete payment of the 4,000,000,000 lei (approximately $28,000,000) “special Jewish tax” imposed upon them.
One half of the 4,000,000 lei had been collected by the Rumanian authorities by the middle of June. Unless the second half is paid by August 12, all Jewish taxpayers who have not made their payments will be deported together with their families to Transnistria, the broadcast warned.
The collection of the first 2,000,000 lei caused great hardship. Jews were forced to sell their belongings in order to pay the tax. This resulted in a sharp drop in the price of securities and resulted in chaos on the Rumanian stock exchange, since wealthier Jews rushed to sell their stocks and bonds in order to be in a position to pay the first installment of the tax. At present very few Jews in Rumania posses anything of value which they could sell. It is, therefore, very doubtful whether the majority of the Jews will be able to comply with today’s order to have the balance of the tax paid within the next six weeks.
Dr. William Filderman, Rumanian Jewish leader who was deported from Bucharest to Transnistria for protesting against the introduction of the levy, was reported today to be residing in Mohilev, the devastated city in Transnitria which is the headquarters of the Rumanian administration dealing with deported Jews. He is not permitted to correspond with anyone in Bucharest or in other parts of Rumania.
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