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Yiddish and Hebrew Recognized As Languages of Instruction in Latvian Jewish Schools

October 17, 1932
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The Education Commission of the Latvian Parliament yesterday decided to recognize Yiddish and Hebrew as the national Jewish languages and as the languages of compulsory instruction in Jewish schools.

This decision is in line with the demands of Jewish leaders and ends a controversy which has endured for several months in this connection.

The decision of the Commission follows an incident involving J. Landau, director of the Jewish Education Department of the school system and the Minister of Education. Mr. Landau, replying to the Minister of Education, declared that among the languages used by the Jews are Russian and German. Since the law provides that the government supply schools for each nationality where the language of instruction is that of their respective nation, and since the Jewish language is disputable, perhaps the use of Latvian in Jewish schools is preferable, Mr. Landau suggested.

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