Speech #920206691

Restrictions against Jewish religious and cultural life in the Soviet Union have been amply documented and need little repetition here. these include entirely inadequate religious facilities. harassment for synagogue attendance. lack of Yiddish or Hebrew language teaching. exclusion from careers considered sensitive and from important political jobs. These are wellknown and longstanding abuses. In addition antiZionism reaches alarming levels periodically and is usually tied to the degree of tension existing in the Middle East. All Soviet citizens suffer from the Soviet policy of militant atheism and the governments refusal to consider emigration as a right rather than a rare privilege. But the limitations on Jews have been even more severe. This is perhaps because Jews invite Russian suspicion due to their international connectionsmany of them have relatives abroad in Israel. the United States. and Western Europe.