Rabbi’s Visit to USSR Termed Source of Encouragement to Jewish Activists

Chief Rabbi Immanuel Jakobovits’ current visit to the Soviet Union has been a source of encouragement and inspiration to Jewish activists there according to reports reaching here today from Jewish sources in the USSR. Dr. Jakobovits, the first chief rabbi of a Western Jewish community to visit the Soviet Union in his official capacity, participated in the scientific seminar conducted by dismissed Jewish scientists in the Moscow flat of Prof. Mark Azbel. Accompanied by Moshe Davis, director of the Chief Rabbi’s Office in London, he attended Sabbath services at the Moscow synagogue.

Jewish sources reported that the Soviet authorities have gone out of their way to make Dr. Jakobovits’ visit as comfortable as possible. They set up a kosher kitchen for him at the “Moscow Yeshiva.” The Chief Rabbi was invited to Russia by Mikhail Tandetnik, head of the Moscow Jewish congregation. He is due back in London Wednesday.

At the scientific seminar. Dr. Jakobovits lectured on the medical ethics of the Talmud, Speaking to 40 Jewish scientists, all of whom were fired from senior positions in the Soviet scientific hierarchy after applying for visas to emigrate to Israel, the British Chief Rabbi said. “Your struggle to emigrate to Israel has injected life into Western Jewish communities.” He told them also that “Many of our students have come identify with Jewish life due to your example.”