Speech #970242899

I spoke of the plight of Eitan and Alexandra Finkelshtein and their young daughter Miriam. I am greatly distressed that. as I participate in the vigil again this year. this courageous family still suffers at the hands of the Soviet Government. Eitan Finkelshtein. a member of the Lithuanian Helsinki monitoring group. has been trying to emigrate to Israel since 1971. He has not only been denied an exit visa but he has not been allowed to work in his professional field. physics. since he first applied for an exit visa. The Finkelshteins are reported to be under constant surveillance. their telephone conversations monitored and interrupted and their mail cut off. Eitan has been active in the human rights movement and is a contributor to the journal. "Jews in the U.S.S.R." Because of his concerns for human rights. because of his own desire to exercise the right to emigrate to Israel. Eitan Finkelshtein has lost his profession. been fired from even shortterm menial jobs. and he and his family must live in virtual isolation. This gross violation of human rights is the concern of all persons of good will the world over. I strongly urge the Soviet Government to end its harassment of the Finkelshtein family immediately and allow them to immigrate to Israel. Whenever the free movement of people is denied. wherever the human spirit and free expression are restricted. in each instance that human dignity is degraded. then it is our obligation to speak out and to call attention to these violations of basic justice.*