Speech #980184994

Jewish religious instruction. and the celebration of Jewish holidays in the Soviet Union. Iii the view of some observers. the Soviet authorities have embarked upon a campaign of cultural genocide with the aim of eliminating any vestige of Jewish culture within the borders of the Soviet Union. Coinciding with the increase In official harassment of Soviet Jews has been a precipitous decline in Jewish emigration. In 1983 only about 1.300 Jews were allowed to leave the Soviet Union. and only 3.000 the year before. By comparison. in 1979 approximately 51.000 Soviet Jews were permitted to emigrate. The Union of Councils for Soviet Jewry. sponsor of the Congressional Call to Conscience Vigil. and the Student Coalition for Soviet Jewry are among the U.S. groups working year round to provide moral and material assistance to Jews living in the Soviet Union. Both organizations have called on Members of Congress to speak out about the treatment of Jews In the Soviet Union and to remind the Soviet leaders of the commitments they have made to respect human rights and facilitate family reunification through immigration. I am proud to associate myself with the work of these fine groups. and commend them for their efforts on behalf of Soviet Jewry. Mr. Speaker. there are an estimated 500.000 Jews in the Soviet Union seeking permission to settle in other countries. Among them is Ida Nudel. a courageous 53yearold woman who first applied to immigrate to Israel in 1971. Denied permission to leave. she continued to press her case while also serving as the guardian angel of Jailed Jewish Prisoners of Conscience. giving them food. medicine. and encouragement. In 1978 these actions led to her being arrested for malicious hooliganism and sentenced to 4 years exile in Siberia.