We want to let our brave friends in the Soviet Union know that we are thinking of them. that we are behind them. and that we will continueas long as it takesto fight for their freedom. The challenge we face today IL even greater than the challenge we faced just 1 year ago. When we look at the numbers of those who have been permitted to emigrate from the Soviet Union we find that in January 1981 only 850 Soviet Jews were permitted to leave the Soviet Union. compared to the 1980 total of 2.803. We now know that only 290 Soviet Jews were allowed to emigrate last month. This downward trend. which has been markedly evident over the past 3 years. is devastatingly low. representing the lowest Jewish emigration figures ever. The flow has slowed dramatically to a mere trickle. But this cannot last indefinitely. Just 2 months ago. on December 24. 1981. Jews from many Soviet cities took great personal risks and staged a public demonstration outside the Lenin Library in Moscow to protest this emigration slowdown and the Increase in arrest and harassment by the KGB. We know that there are many within the Soviet Union who continue to speak out. to protest. and to virtually put their lives on the line for the cause of justice and freedom. Their spirits are strong and their hearts are hopeful. They. too. will continue their vigil. On a more personal note. I would like to take this opportunity again to share with my colleagues the sad story of Lev Blitshtein. who 7 years ago applied to emigrate from the Soviet Union. He divorced his beloved wife so that she and their children could cross the Soviet border into freedom. He celebrated his 50th birthday last May 21. in captivity.
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emigrate emigration