Misery and Sufferings of Jewish Population in Russia Expecially Acute During Passover Festival Chief

The misery and sufferings of the Jewish population in Russia are especially acute during the Passover festival, and unless help is forthcoming from their brethren abroad, dire starvation faces them during the season of happiness and rejoicing in Israel, the Chief Rabbi, Dr. J. H. Hertz, writes in an appeal to Anglo-Jewry to help to provide matzoth for the Jews of Russia this Passover that was issued to-day from the Chief Rabbi’s office.

Notwithstanding the economic depression, the Chief Rabbi goes on, the leaders of European Jewry are therefore once more undertaking united action in this matter. Every individual in Russia is now permitted 5 kilos (11 lbs.) of flour from abroad. It is my earnest hope that Anglo-Jewry will utilise this opportunity and provide the means for the despatch of as many parcels of matzoth flour as possible, in time for the celebration of the festival. I am opening a fund for this purpose (at the address of the Chief Rabbi’s office, 4, St. James’s Place, London, E.C.3.), and I confidently look forward to every Jew in Great Britain sending a contribution. I feel certain all Jews will desire to be associated with this holy work.

We have no doubt that the response of the Jews of Great Britain to their Chief Rabbi’s appeal will be both prompt and generous, says an accompanying supporting appeal, signed by Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodziensky, the Gson of Vilna; Rabbi Israel Meier Kagan, the "Chofetz Chaim", Rabbi of Radun; Rabbi Joseph Isaac Schheersohn, the Lubavitcher Rebbe; Rabbi Meier Hildesheimer, Rabbi of the Orthodox Congregation of Berlin; Rabbi Dr. Leo Baeck, President of the Federation of German Rabbis; Dr. Alfred Klee, President of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Prussia and leader of the Zionist party in the Berlin Jewish Community; Dr. Jacob Rosenheim, the President of the Agudath Israel World Organisation; Dr. W. Blau, President of the Jewish Community of Frankfurt; Professor Simonsen, former Chief Rabbi of Denmark; Rabbi Israel Levi, Chief Rabbi of France; Rabbi Eisenstadt, former Chief Rabbi of Leningrad, now Rabbi of the Russian Jewish Community in Paris; Baron Alfred de Guntzbourg of Paris; Advocate Sliosberg, President of the Russian Jewish Community in Paris; Chief Rabbi Ehrenpreis of Sweden; and Rabbi Onderwijzer, Chief Rabbi of Holland.

In our own countries, they conclude, despite the fact that we have this year a far greater number of our own poor to provide for than in previous years, we are doing our utmost to bring this united action on behalf of our Russian brethren to a successful issue. May the Passover of perfect freedom soon dawn for the entire House of Israel.