Today. a Jewish person in the Soviet Union is regarded as a secondclass citizen. They are harassed. they have few privileges. and their activities are closely monitored. For many the only hope was emigrating to a better life in either Israel or the United States. The 1975 Helsinki agreements brought this hope nearer to reality as it supposedly ushered in a new period of understanding and progress. However. as each year passed the number of Jews allowed to emigrate has dropped off steadily. Todays demonstration of prayers and fasting symbolizes our Nations continuing commitment to furthering human rights for all oppressed peoples. It is my strong hope that the actions taken today by this body of people will be a significant step in reversing the trend of Jewish emigration. I. therefore. join with many people in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania who are also praying for the day when Soviet Jews will be allowed to emigrate and when families long since separated will be reunited. My thoughts and prayers are with these brave people on this important day.e
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emigrate emigration emigrating