The situation on matzoh baking in Soviet Russia has not changed for the better this year, despite impressions in some western newspapers that it had, according to information received here today from sources described as absolutely reliable. Those sources indicated that, if anything, the situation had worsened since Passover of 1963.
The ban on matzoh baking has actually not been rescinded. A Russian Jew who wants to obtain matzoh for his own use cannot do so freely, as he could a few years ago. The Government bakeries did not, for the third year in a row, bake matzohs for the coming Passover, as had been reported, and there is no flour available for Jews who might be able to buke wafers in their homes. Flour is not on sale in the shops.
Last year, a Jewish group outside Moscow was allowed to bake and distribute a small quantity of matzoch. This created the impression that private baking was permissible but this group did not receive permission to bake matzoh this year. Even in Tillis, Soviet Georgia, the authorities have refused to provide flour and this ancient Jewish community will be dependent for the first time in its history on supplies from abroad. Last year the Jews in Tiflis baked their own matzob.
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