Two of the four members of the Soviet “religious delegation” scheduled to visit the United States this month will not be coming, the Soviet Embassy has disclosed. Novosti Press Agency reported from Moscow that Rabbi Israel Shvartsblat, of Odessa, and Rabbi Israel Bronfman, of Derbent, Daghestan, will not make the trip.
Rabbi Yehuda Leib Levin, of Moscow’s Choral Synagogue, and Cantor David Stiskin, of Leningrad, are still scheduled to come. Rabbi Levin, 74, is the Soviet Union’s best known rabbi. Cantor Stiskin was concertmaster of the Leningrad Conservatory and is described as Russia’s leading cantor. He is expected to sing during his visit.
The visitors were invited by the controversial anti-Zionist group, the American Council for Judaism. Novosti gave no reason for the cancellation of the announced visit by Rabbis Shvartsblat and Bronfman. It was indicated that they may come at a later date.
Rabbi Levin and Stiskin are expected to arrive about June 10, Novosti said Rabbi Levin will “report on the situation of the Jewish religion in the Soviet Union.” The visit is approved by Soviet authorities who agreed to the American Council for Judaism auspices. Rabbi Levin is expected to address the public in Town Hall, New York City, on June 13.
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.
