All shipments of matzoh to Jewish individuals and communities in the Soviet Union were impounded, according to press dispatches here today, citing “unimpeachable sources. ” According to the reports, Soviet Jewry was almost completely without matzoh this Passover, since the authorities declined to supply wheat and the Jewish communities were unable to bake matzoth.
Touching on other developments affecting Soviet Jewry, the reports disclosed that the Soviet authorities recently dismissed the heads of most existing Jewish communities in the USSR, replacing them with “more pliable” persons. In those synagogues still functioning, the reports stated, congregation officials have been instructed not to permit foreign tourists to be called to the Torah during the holiday services. Some years ago, Soviet synagogues were forbidden to accept any gifts from tourists, the ban including religious articles.
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