He serves a 13year term in prison. His plight is one of the more infamous examples of the Soviet Governments treatment of Jews who speak out for their rights as citizens as well as their rights as Jews. 1983 was a grim year for Soviet Jewry. Two trends troubled me in particular: the continuing decline in emigration and the rise of statesponsored antiSemitic propaganda. Only 1.300 Soviet Jews were granted emigration visas in 1983. In 1982. 10.000 visas were denied. Meanwhile. 400.000 people have applied to Israel for invitation to emigrate but they must wait while the Soviet Government refuses to give its permission. These stark numbers are of even greater concern when we consider that 51.000 Jews were allowed to emigrate only 4 years ago. This is further evidence of the increased rigidity of the Soviet leadership under Yuriy Andropov. His brief term of office not only included the sharp decline in emigration but the institution of tougher laws which allow the extension of prison sentences by 3 to 5 years for breaking camp regulations. One trend of potentially longterm significance is the return of statesponsored antiSemitic campaigns. The AntiZionist Committee of the Soviet Public was announced in 1983. and it continues to spew noxious propaganda against Jews. "The ClassEssence of Zionism." a government produced and endorsed book resurrected myth and slander that has not been heard since the Tsarist era.
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emigrate emigration visas