Speech #980166530

I would like to commend my colleague from Florida for bringing this issue to the attention of the House on the International Day of Concern for Soviet Jews. On this day. which marks the eighth anniversary of the arrest of Soviet Jewish activist Anatoly Shcharansky. it is important for America to stand up to the values which Shcharansky sought to express: Freedom of religion. and freedom of speech. By speaking out. we are calling upon Chairman Chernenko to make an important gesture of his interest in improving relations with the United States by easing the repression of Soviet Jews who seek to emigrate from the Soviet Union. Last year. only 1.314 Soviet Jews were allowed to emigrate. Thousands of families were denied exit visas. and we received reliable reports of increasing governmentsanctioned antiSemitic activity. The American commitment to Israel is more than a pledge to stand beside our democratic friend in the Middle East. It is also a personal commitment on the part of many Members of this House to human rights and religious freedom. I have become personally involved in this ongoing call to action through adoption of a refusenik. Kim Fridman. who has been trying for almost 10 years to get permission to join his wife and daughter in Israel. Since refusal of his initial emigration application. Kim has been involved in appeals to governmental officials. demonstrations. and hunger strikes. He has conducted ulpanim and bimonthly Jewish history seminars which were frequently interrupted by the KGB.