Speech #980107588

One thing that is clear to all those who care about the fate of millions of Jews in Russia is that the KAL tragedy must not be allowed to overshadow our concern and commitment to Soviet Jewry. It must not be allowed to push that issue from the agenda of the United States and the Soviet Union. Last month. only 135 Soviet Jews were allowed to emigrate from Russia. and none of them were from Moscow. The AntiZionist Committee continues to spew forth its vicious and distorted propaganda about existing conditions for Soviet Jews in Russia. They maintain that the vast majority of Jews who wish to leave have already received permission to do so. and that reunification of divided families has been essentially completed. The AntiZionist Committee even maintains that antiSemitic discrimination does not exist in the Soviet Union! Ida Nudel. my adopted refusenik. continues to languish in Moldavia. unable to find steady work. subject to periodic harassment. and denied her right to emigrate to Israel to be united with her sister Elana. There is no doubt that as long as such conditions exist in the Soviet Union. the fate of Soviet Jewry must remain a high priority of the Congress and the administration. In one way. the senseless slaughter of 269 innocents will help us to do so.