New Type of Marranos Arises Under Communist Regime, Paper Asserts

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

A new type of Marranos, Jews who observe the tenets of Judaism in secret, is arising under the Communist regime in the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics, according to facts presented by the “Oktjabr”, a Communist Yiddish daily.

The Communist paper laments that even Jewish Communists observe Jewish religious ceremonies in secret. The paper cites the case of a Communist, Comrade Libo, who is in charge of the anti-religious propaganda carried on by the Jewish section of the Communist party in the region in which he lives. Libo was married at a secret religious ceremony, the paper charges.

Circumcision ceremonies are secretly held in the homes of many Jewish Communists. The youth prefers to go to the Beth Midrash rather than to the Communist workmen’s clubs. The paper cites a number of other cases and urges the Jewish section of the Communist party to combat this practice.