October 14, the day when the Jewish calendar calls for the observance of Yom Kippur, the most sacred religious day when Jews are required to abstain from work and to fast, will be declared a “Jewish industrialization day” on which Jewish workers, artisans and farmers will be urged by the Communists to work and contribute their earnings towards the fund for the industrialization of the declassed and impoverished Jewish masses in Soviet Russia.
The plan, sponsored by the Jewish section of the Communist party, is a part of a vigorous anti-religious campaign now being prepared by the Jewish Communists in connection with the forthcoming season of Jewish High Holidays. The campaign is expected to be stronger than the anti-Passover campaign.
Some members of the Jewish section, anticipating opposition on the part of the Jewish workers to work on the Day of Atonement, have suggested the observance of a “Jewish industrialization day” on October 6, the second day of Rosh Hashanah. A general Soviet industrialization day was observed on August 6. The sponsors of the Yom Kippur industrialization day plan made it clear that their purpose to arrange for a special Jewish industrialization day is to combat the tradition of obstaining from work on religious holidays. The proceeds of the fund are to be used for the purchase of tractors for the Jewish settlers in Bira-Bidjan.
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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.
