Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my best wishes to Lev Elbert of Kiev on the occasion of his 37th birthday on September 30. Lev. his wife Inna. and their son Carmi are among the many Soviet Jews who inspire us all with the courage. dignity. and determination that characterize their struggle to win the rights to worship freely and to emigrate. The past few years have been difficult ones for the Elberts. In 1983. Lev was sentenced to imprisonment in a labor camp for refusing to report for reserve military duty. His refusal stemmed from his concern that the authorities would claim that he was exposed to military secrets during the additional military service and use this excuse to permanently deny him permission to emigrate. Innas health has suffered from a hunger strike that she began to protest phony drug charges against Lev. which were eventually dropped. Their son Carmi was injured in antiSemitic attacks at his school. In May of this year. Levs most recent application for permission to emigrate was turned down. Levs brother has received antiSemitic hate mail. But the family has shown immense inner strengths throughout their ordeal.
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