IRAN — 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.
Chabad Smuggle Matzah Into Iran
IRAN — 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.
Concerned Chabad Shliach
perhaps it is not that wise to advertise this type of activity for future purposes.
what are you thinking
so you are posting this online so that the iranian government has reason to throw shluchim out like the russians did?
astounded at the stupidity
Whoever originally let this information out has jeopardized “freedom” of religion in Iran for the future. Great job, people!
CM
CrownHeights.info, are you guys nuts? What are you thinking to publish an article like this?
“Yay, we got the scoop!”
In the name of stupidity!
As the point wasn’t yet made clear by the other commeneters, I will repeat it:
Remove this article from this site!
Alex Heppenheimer
Didn’t any of the previous commenters notice the byline at the top of the article? “By Itamar Eichner for YNetNews.” So it’s already been published online a few days ago. If anything, your complaints ought to be directed to YNN (or Vos Iz Neias, where it also appeared before Yom Tov).
JJ
I dont know why they had to risk going to prison by importing Israeli matzoh ?
They could have easily supplied the Iranian Jewish community with matzoh made in Russia or elsewhere…..
Ploni Almoni
as well this news has aired over the radio on 1010Wins. I heard it myself on Yud Alef Nissan
uri
when i read this kind of headlines, i’m just thinking of the next year’s headlines: iranian Jews will celebrate first passover in history with no Matzah