The Spanish Government has approved a set of by-laws giving legal status to the organized Jewish community of Madrid for the first time in nearly 500 years, it was announced here today by Max Mazin, community president. Similar recognition is expected shortly for the Barcelona Jewish community. The heads of both communities met recently with Spanish Chief of State Francisco Franco.
The proposed by-laws had been submitted to the Government by his organization, Mr. Mazin said, and have now been “officially approved.” The official name of the organized Jewish community here will henceforth be known as Communidad Hebrea de Madrid.
“This recognition of our legal status,” Mr. Mazin stated. “has been anxiously expected by Spanish Jewry for close to five centuries, and constitutes a historical event of capital importance for all the Jews. This act of the Spanish Government puts an end to a long period of mere tolerance for the Jewish community which was, up to now, devoid of any legal framework.”
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