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Iranian Jew prays in Esfahan
Photo: AP

Chabad Hasidim smuggle matzot into Iran

Faced with matzot shortage ahead of Pesach, Iran's Jews receive help from Hasidic organization, which launched secret operation to deliver one ton of matzot to Islamic Republic's community

Members of the Chabad organization smuggled a huge quantity of matzot into Iran last week in order to enable local Jews in the Islamic Republic to celebrate the Passover according to tradition.

 

Some 20,000 Jews currently live in Iran. The authorities allow them freedom to practice their religion, but forbid the import of Israel-made products to the country, an act that could cost a person three years imprisonment or the revoking of his passport for five years.

 

The import ban causes a problem for local Jews, who are unable to bake enough matzot to feed the entire community.

 

As a result, Chabad launched a secretive operation and smuggled one ton of matzot into Iran.

 

The matzot were manufactured in Ukraine, and then delivered to a neighboring country of Iran. From there they were transported into the country through a border crossing where security is known to be relatively loose.

 

Nevertheless, Chabad took no unnecessary risks and replaced the matzot's original packages, which bore Hebrew letters, with blank packages ahead of the delivery.

 

Last week the packages arrived in Tehran on top of 10 buses and the operation was declared a success.

 


פרסום ראשון: 04.08.09, 08:08
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