His arrival is a historic event and it gives us the opportunity to unite our voices with Shcharansky. who long ago became a cornerstone in the human rights movement. The reunion of Anatoly and Avital Shcharansky in February was a victory for the human spirit and a triumph for freedom. His walk to freedom over the Glienicke Bridge was clearly the high point in a year that has been marked by both joys and frustrations for Soviet Jews wishing to emigrate. The November summit between President Reagan and Soviet leader Gorbachev and the release of other prominent refuseniks such as Yakov Gorodetsky and Dr. Mark Nashpitz. raised our hopes that things might get better. But. since Shcharanskys release. whatever faint hopes may have faded. The signs that the Soviets are sending to us are not encouraging. In March. only 53 Jews were allowed to emigrate. which is the smallest number since last August. Last year only 1.140 Soviet Jews emigrated compared to the peak year of 1979 when over 51.000 Jews left the Soviet Union. Brutal arrests continue for no other reason that these Russian citizens have expressed a desire to emigrate. Anatoly Shcharansky. upon his release announced he will continue to fight for the hundreds of Soviet Jews who remain in the Soviet Union waiting for their freedom. Shcharansky and his wife.
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emigrate emigrated