Speech #990194302

Further. scores of Jewish dissidents are arrested yearly and convicted either for their attempts to observe their religious beliefs or the usual trumpedup charges of treason or espionage that are often used as excuses to isolate. banish and imprison Soviet Jews. As disturbing as these abuses of basic human rights are to the rest of the civilized world. the inability of Soviet Jews to escape this inexcusable treatment is perhaps even more outrageous. Only 1.139 Jews were allowed to emigrate in 1985 although some 400.000 more had invitations. or visovs. from Israel to enter the Jewish homeland. This represents a decrease of 98 percent from the alltime high in 1979. For the first three months of 1986. only 216 Jews emigrated. At this rate. Soviet Jewish emigration will fail to equal even last years appallingly low level. The focus of this years Congressional Fast and Prayer Vigil is the tragedy of the thousands of separated families of all religions whose relatives have been unable to leave the Soviet Union and join their families in the West. Earlier this year. members of this body rose in celebration over the release of Anatoly Shcharansky from the Soviet Union after 9 years in Soviet prisons and work camps. Twelve years earlier. when Shcharanskys wife. Avital. emigrated from the Soviet Union. Anatoly told her. "I will see you soon in Jerusalem." Shcharanskys celebrated passage to Israel must be tempered by the realization that hundreds of thousands of his brothers and sisters continue to be punished daily for the crime of wanting to live freely as Jews. and await the day when they can join him in freedom. Moreover. today we reflect upon the agony encountered by the countless individuals who faced their loved onestheir husbands or wives. children or parentsand were also forced to say painfully. "I will see you soon in Jerusalem." but knew in their hearts that their reunion would remain in doubt as long as the Soviet Union maintains its inhumane policies toward Soviet Jewry.