As the delegates in Madrid continue to review the Helsinki accords with the Soviet Union. this is a particularly important time to examine one of the many cases of human rights violations in the Soviet Union. I would like to bring the case of Lev Elbert. a Soviet civil engineer. to the attention of my colleagues. Lev Elberts story is drearily familiarlike so many other Soviet Jews. professionals. scientists. and dissidents. he applied to emigrate from the Soviet Union to join relatives in Israel. He was refused in 1976. 1978. and 1980and since his original application for an exit visa. he has been harassed. arrested and detained. and slandered. His wife Hanna. a cardiologist. was mugged and beaten. Lev lost his job.
Identified stereotypes
Generalization about Soviet Jews applying to emigrate to Israel and facing harassment.