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London Church Defies Ban on ‘world of Sholem Aleichem’

March 8, 1955
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A crowded congregation in an Anglican church here last night watched a performance by Jewish actors of an extract from “The World of Sholem Aleichem,” which the Church of England censor originally banned. They also heard Canon Clarence May preach on the theme of the play, I. L. Peretz’ “Bontche Schweig,” in direct defiance of his Bishop’s wishes.

After the performance, Canon May, who is a member of the Council of Christians and Jews here, said, “There’s a Biblical quotation which fits this situation perfectly: ‘Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treaded out the corn.’ … I didn’t intend to be muzzled.”

The Peretz story dramatization was banned last week by the Bishop of Stepney on the advice of the censors of the Church of England, on the grounds that it is not Christian in character and is not in accordance with Church teachings.

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