Rare prayer book, with the Passover Haggadah, printed in the Soviet Union.

Rare prayer book, with the Passover Haggadah, printed in the Soviet Union.
Rare prayer book, with the Passover Haggadah, printed in the Soviet Union.

In 1968, in an effort to show the free world that religion was allowed and even encouraged in the U.S.S.R the authorities permitted the Chief Rabbi of Moscow, R. Yehuda Leib Levin, to publish a Siddur with certain stipulations. Ironically entitled “Siddur Ha’Sholom” (Prayer-book of peace), the siddur has various passages censored, including the omission of “Ve’al Ha’Milchamos” in the Al Ha’Nissim recited on Chanukah apparently to dissuade the Soviet Jews from the idea of planning an armed revolt. Includes two rather ironic prayers to be said on behalf of the U.S.S.R “the defender of peace in the entire world” but lacks directives in the Russian language to prevent the younger generation from learning Jewish prayers.

479 pages. 23.5 cm. Fine condition.