None of the approximately 50 synagogues are permitted to join one another in regional or national associations. Because Jews are denied the fight to pass on their traditions to younger generations. the Jewish religion may well face extinction in the Soviet Union. And Jews have little hope of emigrating to freedom. In 1979. the peak year for Jewish emigration. over 51.000 Jews departed. In 1985. only 1.139 were allowed to leave. Soviet authorities claim that those who wanted to leave have already done so. Many find this hard to believe. The Soviet Union is a signatory to the Helsinki accords and the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights and subscribes to the principles of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. They have agreed to honor freedom of worship. freedom of expression. and the right to emigrate to the country of ones choice. Yet the Soviet Union refuses to allow Jews to emigrate to their homeland and live with dignity and in freedom. The Soviet Union must honor these agreements and allow Soviet Jews to exercise their basic human rights. It is most unfortunate that the fate of Soviet Jews has been linked to the ebb and flow of superpower relations. effectively making them hostages and pawns in an international game of strategy. During these days of improved dialog with the Soviet leadership. we can only hope to increase the numbers of Jews allowed to emigrate. We must call on President Reagan and Soviet Leader Gorbachev to address the human rights of Soviet Jews at their next summit meeting. It is imperative that we. in the United States. make our voices heard and continue to show our concern for the plight of the Soviet Jews.
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emigrate emigration emigrating