Two prominent Swedish Christian clergymen, who are also members of Parliament, appealed to the Soviet Ambassador here today to request the Soviet Government in Moscow to reconsider its ban against the baking of matzoth in state bakeries. The appeal was sent by the Rev. Einar Rimerfors, Liberal and a leader of the Free Church, and Chief Pastor Ake Zetterberg, of the Lutheran Church, who is a Socialist.
The ministers pointed out that baking matzoth at home is impractical for Russian Jews wishing to observe Passover because special equipment was needed for that purpose. They said they were “aware that the Government has declared its intentions not to restrict freedom of religion, but the facts do not comply with the principles. ” They expressed the hope that Jewish communities in the USSR would be permitted to obtain matzoth from state bakeries.
The Stockholm Jewish Community announced today it is sending matzoth to Russia. The Swedish press, on the whole, has been printing articles and editorials condemning the Soviet Union’s restrictions against Jews wishing to observe Passover properly.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
