Speech #980166518

March 15. 1984. has been designated by a worldwide coalition of Jewish organizations as "International Day of Concern for Soviet Jews." Today also marks the eighth anniversary of the arrest of Soviet Jewish activist Anatoly Shcharansky. who is serving a 13year term in a Soviet prison. As one who has fervently supported the cause of Soviet Jewry for many years. I would like at this time to join with many of my colleagues in paying tribute to the hundreds of thousands of Soviet Jews seeking their right to emigrate. to practice religion freely. and to study their history and culture. In 1983 Soviet Jewish emigration reached its lowest level in modern history. In addition to these record low emigration figures. 1983 also marked the Soviet Governments formation of an AntiZionist Committee which has intensified what was already a vicious antiSemitic campaign. These grim developments are even more alarming in wake of the considerable number of Soviet Jews who have been arrested. imprisoned. and denied freedom of religious expression in retaliation for requests to emigrate. The fact is that the Soviet Government is overtly violating the basic human rights of these people with complete disregard for the pledges it made in the Helsinki accords of 1975. As one who has continually expressed outrage and concern over Soviet imprisonment of Soviet Jews requesting emigration. I fully support the efforts of the many groups throughout the world to get these Soviet Jews freed. The International Day of Concern for Soviet Jews and the special order will serve to underline those efforts and unify all the people in the free world in supporting the struggle of those like Anatoly Shcharansky who continues to be oppressed and persecuted because they dared to express the desire to be free. Despite the dangers and risks involved. many Soviet Jews continue to request permission to emigrate. for they would rather risk being persecuted and imprisoned than continue to live in a country that denies them even the basic right to worship freely. Worldwide events have been organized in commemoration of the International Day of Concern for Soviet Jews in an international display of solidarity with the beleaguered Jewish minority in the Soviet Union. Across America special meetings. rallies and seminars will take place. It is sincerely hoped that this worldwide demonstration of concern and outrage will cause the new Soviet leadership to take notice of its abhorrent human right violations and reassess its oppressive policy toward Soviet Jews. By abiding by the pledges and promises it made in the Helsinki accords in 1975. the Soviet Union could open up a new era of understanding between East and West. At a time when international tensions are high. the release of the many Soviet Jews held in Soviet prisons and the relaxation of strict emigration policies for Soviet Jews would do much to pave the way for this new era. Such actions on the part of the Soviet Union would also restore to many Soviet Jews the dignity. selfrespect and honor that has for so long been denied them.*