Events such as this unfortunately are needed now more than ever. Despite commitments it made under the Helsinki final act. the Soviet Union has intensified its persecution of Jewish citizens. Hebrew classes are disrupted. religious celebrations are prohibited. and harsh sentences are handed down to Jews that have committed no other crime but to ask permission to emigrate. And concerning emigration. the repression has increased. In 1979 the Soviets allowed 51.320 Jews to leave. Yet. in 1983 they allowed only 1.314 to leavea number that represents the lowest level of Jewish emigration from the Soviet Union in 20 years. Persecution of Soviet minorities is not something Congress can legislate away. Nonetheless. we can and should let the Soviets know that we disapprove of it and consider its reduction to be essential to better EastWest relations.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration