What is the crime of the 25 imprisoned Jews? No one knows specifically because the charges have not been announced publicly nor even conveyed to their families. But. among those working closely with this case. it is believed that the 25 Jews were arrested for allegedly having hand copied and photographed Jewish and Hebrew translations of textbooks for their children and because they had stated a wish to emigrate to Israel by petitioning the United Nations for help. I urge President Nixon. as well as leaders of all other countries. to communicate with First Secretary Brezhnev of the Soviet Union urging his intercession on behalf of these 25 men and women now awaiting trial. The Soviet Union does respond to world opinion. The families of Lev Yagman and Lassal Kaminsky knew full well that it was very dangerous for them to meet with me and yet they had no hesitation in doing so because they realized that. only if world opinion is aroused. will the Soviet Union relent and free these men and women and perhaps even permit their emigration. A greater number of Jews have been permitted to emigrate from the Soviet Union this year than ever before because of aroused public opinion. Of course. the number allowed to go. as compared to the total wishing to leave. still remains very small. The names of those nine now awaiting trial in Leningrad are: Gilya I.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration