Radio Liberty, a broadcasting service beamed to all parts of the Soviet Union, has expanded its programs for the High Holy Days and has scheduled special broadcasts for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Succoth, it was announced today by Dr. Gene Sosin, head of the privately-sponsored network’s United States Division.
The bulk of Radio Liberty’s religious presentations during the holiday period, Dr. Sosin said, will be heard on two simultaneous programs broadcast around the clock in Russian from transmitters in West Germany, Spain and Formosa, along with a special Rosh Hashanah feature program to be heard also in Ukrainian.
While noting that the Kremlin had recently granted certain concessions to Moscow Jewry, Dr. Sosin said, however, that “the wave of hope that has washed over Moscow may take a long time to reach the provinces. In towns far away from the capital, the Jewish communities are still subject to the whims and prejudices of local party officials.” He added that scores of synagogues which were closed all over the Soviet Union in the past years remain closed.
Among the Holy Day musical selections included in the broadcasts are Kaddish, Ovinu Malkeinu, Kol Nidre and E1 Moleh Rachamim. Also to be presented are explanations of the significance of the holidays and of the symbolism of such objects as the succah, lulav and ethrog.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
