Speech #980107579

In recent years the condition of the Soviet Jews has worsened considerably. as injustice. hostility. and outright harassment have escalated. Practice of the religion is nearly impossible. jobs commensurate with talent or experience are rarely offered. and even education is frequently denied. This mistreatment. however. pales in comparison to the plight of the refuseniks. whose hounding and persecution are likely to continue unrelieved now that emigration of Soviet Jews has dwindled to a slow trickle. Indeed. this years figures indicate an appalling halving of the mere 2.688 emigrees of 1982. This summer the Soviet authorities claimed that the emigration was coming to an end because all of those who wished to leave already had. but this statement is patently false. The number of Jews who still wish to emigrate is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands. In order to help them. now more than ever we must take care not to lose sight of this issue. Keeping the condition of the Soviet Jews in the forefront of public awareness will serve to let both the Soviet Union and its Jewish citizens know that our commitment is as strong as ever. Instead of discouraging communication between our Government and theirs. we must strive to keep the channels open so that the issue can be raised. our concerns voiced. and conditions bettered. Traditionally. high points in the emigration pattern of Soviet Jews seem to have occurred during relaxations of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. Though an opposite state presently exists. in the best interests of the Soviet Jews we must make the most of every opportunity to discuss their position with the Soviet authorities as well as among ourselves. The importance of this issue. and of all human rights issues. should not be allowed to fade. With continuous reiteration of our faithful commitment. the likelihood that the Soviet Union can be induced to relax its tough emigration policy and allow its Jewish citizens to lead normal lives greatly increases.*