This Passover, Jews ensure access to Matza, Kosher food, and security

• Published date: 10 April 2024
• Author: MARK FISH
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Apart from ensuring that all food is fit for Passover use, community rabbis spend their time koshering kitchens and utensils, and teaching the laws of Passover to the members of their community

In the shadow of the war in Israel, Jewish communities are expected to bolster security at synagogues and other Jewish institutions as a result of the growing wave of anti-Semitism that has washed over the world in recent months.

The wave of hatred soaring up against the Jews only serves to strengthen the mutual bond between Jews around the world. According to an index published by the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, after the events of October 7th, 67% of Israelis feel a brotherly connection with Diaspora Jews, which is a 4% increase compared to last year, and 76% of Israelis sense a shared destiny with Diaspora Jews, an increase of 6.6% as opposed to last year's figures.

Yet, in certain parts of the world there are Jews who do not fear harassment and hatred. The Sephardic Jewish community in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, says that their warm relations with the local population, most of whom are Shi'ite Muslims, remain unchanged.

The rabbi of the community, Rabbi Zamir Isayev, said that the Jewish community's history of living side by side with the Azerbaijani people for approximately 1,000 years proves that we cannot generalize. "Unfortunately, the Jewish community in neighboring Armenia has undergone many hardships over the past few months, following a severe wave of anti-Semitism that is plaguing the country."

Rabbi Isayev mentioned the renewal of the blood libel invented by the Hosank movement, Armenia's neo-Nazi organization, that claims the recent terror attack in Moscow was carried out by Jews. The movement's leader, Hayk Nazaryan, explained over social...