Jews in Soviet Russia were urged today by the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada to join in the world-wide “Day of Fast and Prayers” which will be observed by Jews in all democratic countries tomorrow, commemorating the Jewish victims of Nazi terror and praying for a speedy victory of the United Nations over the Axis Powers.
This is the first time since the Soviet Revolution that any rabbinical organization outside of Russia has established direct contact with the Jews in Russia. The call to join in the fast day was cabled by the Union to Samuel Chobrutsky, president of the Moscow Jewish Community which is now functioning in Tashkent, and to Rabbi B. Weidenfeld, spiritual leader of the approximately 600,000 Jews from Poland stranded in Russia.
Cabled advices received by the Union of Orthodox Rabbis from various countries indicate that the fast day will be observed tomorrow throughout the British Empire, in Argentina, Palestine, Switzerland, Sweden, Portugal, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela and Uruguay. Synagogues of orthodox and other congregations throughout the United States will be open tomorrow for all-day prayers which will conclude with the blowing of the shofar.
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