Beguns case was first brought to my attention in 1983 through letters sent to me by several youngsters in my district who attend the school at Congregation Mishkan Israel in Hamden. CT. I pledged to write to Begun on a regular basis as part of the congressional "adoption" program. Years ago. while achieving prominence in the field of technical sciences. Begun taught himself Hebrew. He later fought for the legalization of Hebrew teaching. and in 1971. applied for an exit visa. which was denied him. Ever since then. Begun has been harassed by the Soviet authorities. he has been arrested and exiled twice on charges of very dubious validity.