In addition to the 269 who died. however. and their bereaved families and friends. there is another victim of this disaster. that victim is hope. For Jews in the Soviet Union. the situation in the wake of KAL flight 007 may seem hopeless. We know that situation has never been graver. The rate of Soviet Jewish emigration has declined precipitously over the past several years. from a monthly average of approximately 4.000 in 1979 to less than 100 today. The governments harassment of Jews seeking to leave the Soviet Union has increased markedly in recent months. religious expression is punished severely. The number of arrests of Jewish citizens is soaring.
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emigration