The Soviet delegation expected in Bucharest for celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of Dr. Moses Rosen’s elec tion as Rumania’s Chief Rabbi, failed to arrive. The president of the Moscow Synagogue, Moses Kleinman, cabled the Rumanian Jewish Federation to say that his plans to attend the ceremony at the head of a large delegation had to be cancelled. Kleinman gave no reason for changing the original plan which would have brought together, for the first time, delegations from both East and West.
Rosen has played an active role in trying to bridge the gap between Jewish communities in Eastern Europe and the rest of the world. Soviet participation in the celebrations would have been a partial fulfillment of his quest. Sources in Paris said the Soviet government cancelled the delegation’s plans to attend the ceremony in order to show “some of the consequences” of the deterioration of East-West detente.
Delegations from East Germany, including East Berlin, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia have, however, arrived in Bucharest and will take part in the festive meeting. Israel is represented by Interior Minister Yosef Burg and the Rumanian government will be represented by several ministers and high officials. Delegations representing the Joint Distribution Committee, American Jewish Committee, World Jewish Congress, Canadian Jewish Congress and dozens of other international and national organizations have already arrived in Bucharest.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
