Each year. hundreds of thousands gather to express their solidarity of purpose with men and women whose only desire has been to practice their religious and cultural heritage freely. Unfortunately. each year the need for such a demonstration becomes more and more important. For a high point of more than 51.000 emigration permits having been granted in 1979. only 1.140 Soviet Jews were released last year. Emigration remains pitifully low. yet harassment and arrests continue to rise. This past year has been one of joys as well as sorrows. With the impending summit meeting between President Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev last fall. there were some bright spots. Some longstanding refuseniks and former prisoners of conscience were allowed to emigrate to Israel on an individual basis. One of these was Dr. Mark Nashpitz. a Soviet dentist with whom I corresponded for almost 15 years.
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emigrate emigration Emigration