Dr. Shmuel Eliyashev, head of the Israel Foreign Ministry’s East European Department who is visiting here now, and Mordecai Namir, Israel Minister to Moscow, this week-end attended Rosh Hashanah services in Moscow’s Great Synagogue. They were accompanied by members of the legation and heard the services rendered by Chief Rabbi M. Schliefer of Moscow who also asked for blessings for Premier Joseph Stalin.
The Great Synagogue was crowded to the overflow point, with many worshippers standing in the porticos and entry way All male worshippers wore hats or caps and many wore prayer shawls over their shoulders. The men recited their prayers in the main hall downstairs while the women sat in the balcony overhead. The worshippers appeared to be mostly working people with middle-aged men and women making up the largest part of the group. There was a sprinkling of children and aged men and women.
At the legation house the Israel flag with the Shield of David was flown from the mast. A special Rosh Hashanah dinner was held by legation personnel and was also attended by 30 Jewish members of the Moscow diplomatic colony who are friends of various staff members.
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