The Association of Baltic Jews reported today that it has received several letters in recent weeks from Jewish families in Russia, which were sent gift parcels, that the recipients do not need foreign gifts.
The Association, which has been sending such gift parcels for the past 20 years, said such writers are removed from its lists. The parcels contain items of clothing on which Soviet customs duties are paid in London in sterling. Association officials said that the program is continuing for other Jews on the list and no difficulties are being encountered by the recipients, as is indicated by the fact that receipts for the parcels are being sent to the Association in the usual way.
Recently, however, the Vilno Radio in Lithuania, where many Catholics receive parcels from United States friends and relatives, declared that such parcels give the impression in other countries that Soviet citizens are short of the necessities of life and that this is being used for anti-Soviet propaganda purposes. The broadcast also said, however, that it was pleasant to note that children remember aged parents and often make sacrifices to try to help them.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
