Thousands of Moscow Jews gave a thunderous welcome to the five-man Israeli weight-lifting team who arrived in the Soviet capital for the international weight-lifting tournament. They are the first Israeli sportsmen to go to the Soviet Union since the 1973 Universiada when Israeli footballers were hooted at by spectators in the stadium and some Jewish spectators were beaten or harassed.
Meir Meshel, captain of the team, said in a telephone conversation with friends here today that when the team went to Kol Nidre services at the Moscow Synagogue last night they were greeted by thousands of Jews who tried to embrace or touch them. “We almost were unable to enter the synagogue. We were asked many questions about Israel and the Yom Kippur War.” Meshel reported.
The Soviet press ignored the Israeli weight-lifters. But the husky Israelis made a point of wearing their training uniforms with the word “Israel” embroidered on the front, and knowledge of their presence spread swiftly among Moscow Jews. Last night the team marched into the Luzinsky sports stadium with an Israeli flag and was cheered by hundreds of Jews in the stands, many of whom held up signs saying “Shalom,”
Another group of Israeli athletes–six wrestlers–were in Minsk for Yom Kippur. Services were held at a makeshift synagogue on the outskirts of the city. There were seats for only 25 but hundreds of Jews came to welcome the Israeli visitors.
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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.
