Butman said that the Purim kits were distributed in elementary schools, high schools, colleges, army bases, hospitals, nursing homes and on the streets. Lubavitcher Hasidim even went “behind bars” to bring the Purim observances and holidays spirits to Jewish prisoners. Thousands of people also received Purim kits through the Mitzvah Mobiles or “tanks against assimilation.”
Bronstein reported that Megilloth in Hebrew and Russian were distributed to synagogues, Jewish centers, day schools, yeshivos, universities and organizations aiding recently arrived Soviet Jews. He said that many requests came in form private individuals requesting Megilloth in Russian for customers or neighbors.
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.