Officials later alleged that opium was found in the search. and Edelshtein was convicted on that basis. Apparently it is common practice to use either drug possession or "antiSoviet behavior" charges to harrass leaders of the Jewish community. "Parasitism" is another common charge. applied to those who do not work. regardless of why or how they lost their Jobs. Prior to his arrest Yuli Edelshtein was refused permission to emigrate to Israel on the grounds that his father had access to "secret materials." This. however. was a transparent attempt to justify the Soviet policy preventing Jewish emigration. Edulshtein had not spoken to his father for more than 20 years. Obviously his real crime was not the possession of drugs. but the rejection of the Soviet way of life and the desire to emigrate to Israel. where he could practice his faith freely. The fact that he was a teacher of Jewish culture and language made Edelshtein a leader in the Jewish community. and a target for harassment by government officials. Mr.
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emigrate emigration