Led by Rabbi Mordechai Nurok, a member of the World Mizrachi executive and one of the leaders of the World Jewish Congress, who escaped from Riga to Russia, thirteen rabbis of Russia and of Poland today issued here a joint appeal to the Jews of America and other democratic countries urging them “never for a moment to forget your duty to help the valiant Red Army by every means in your power.”
This is the first time that refugee rabbis in Russia have joined Russian rabbis in issuing a call to Jews in democratic countries. “Remember that the destinies of the whole of freedom-loving humanity are being settled for many years to come in the vast expanses of the Soviet Union.” the appeal emphasizes. It calls for “vengeance and just retribution” for the hundreds of thousands of Jews annihilated by the Germans. and urges that Jews throughout the world offer a prayer for an Allied victory and especially “for the complete and final victory of the heroic Red Army led by Stalin, the messenger of God and the far-seeing captain of the Soviet people.”
Refugee rabbis who signed the appeal are, in addition to Rabbi Nurok of Riga, Rabbi Bernstein of Pinsk, Rabbi Roguinski of Visokolitovsk and Rabbis Friedmen and Stizberg both from Ostro-Mazoweek. The Russian rabbis whose names appear on the appeal include Rabbi Twereki of Moscow, Rabbi Grande of Moscow, Rabbi Levin of Moscow, Rabbi Buchvarger of Kharkov, Rabbi Kolier of Odesea, Rabbi Sandler of Kiev, Rabbi Gorodetski of kiev and Rabbi Kaputkin of Teshkent.
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