Speech #920286900

These incredibly fantastic fees represent another escalation in the continual harassment of Russian Jews desiring to leave the Soviet Union. In the past. Jews applying to emigrate have lost their jobs. been forced to enlist in the Soviet army. and have even been imprisoned. This latest form of persecution dashes the hopes of the Soviet Jews who have been systematically cut off from their heritage. Their synagogues have been closed. religious articles and even matzos have been taken from them. they are deprived of a cultural life. and now they are being denied an opportunity to be reunited with their families and to emigrate to their homeland. The Soviet Union has tried to justify these exorbitant fees by claiming that the fees were instituted to prevent a "brain drain." But this claim is clearly fallacious. Educated Jews who apply to emigrate are either demoted or fired. and thus their talents are clearly not being used. Already the effects of this harsh policy can be seen. These excessive fees far exceed the earnings of most of those who seek to emigrate. In the first 6 days that this law was in effect. beginning in August. at least 65 Soviet Jewish families. ready to emigrate. were stranded. Six Jewish families were stopped at the Moscow Airport and are now totally stranded. without either money or a home. The Soviet Unions actions must not go on unheeded.