Some 500 immigrants from various parts of the world, including the Soviet Union, arrived last night in Israel in a special Passover operation developed to bring them here in time to celebrate Passover. A specially strengthened team from the Absorption Ministry arranged to send the newcomers to their places of residence.
Throughout Israel, Passover preparations were virtually complete. Hotels were reported booked to capacity with both local and overseas tourists. Roads were reported heavy with traffic of Israelis departing to celebrate the feast with relatives. Transport firms and railroads put into service every available vehicle to transport the public. The new immigrants will participate in public seders in new immigrant centers and in kibbutzim and settlements.
REFORM SEDER BANNED
A dispute over the seder night developed at the new immigrants hostel in Jaffa where the Reform congregation in Tel Aviv suggested a seder in their synagogue. The Tel Aviv rabbinate banned that arrangement and threatened to take sanctions against the new immigrant hostels, according to Rabbi Moshe Zemer of the Reform congregation.
Rabbi Mordechai Kirshblum of the Jewish Agency denied any such threats had been made. He said that an official at the hostel promised without authorization the seder evening to the Reform congregation. The Agency, Rabbi Kirshblum added, has agreements with the rabbinate and the religious council of Tel Aviv which would make the Reform congregation unable to conduct the seder evening with the newcomers.
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