Sen. Jacob K. Javits, New York Republican, said today in a Senate speech that while there has been some easing of Soviet matzoh production, “the obstacles to obtaining matzoh still continue.”
The Senator said that “only at synagogues in certain communities may matzoh be baked and in ordering these matzohs Soviet Jews must register their names with the authorities, a procedure designed to intimidate all except the courageous few.” He added that the opening of the 23rd Communist Party Congress offered the Kremlin an opportunity to redeem pledges of religious and racial freedom.
“I hope that the USSR will extend to its Jewish citizens the religious rights guaranteed them by Soviet law and that they may be able to obtain without restriction or intimidation the matzoh needed for the proper observance of Passover, ” Sen. Javits said.
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