The teaching of Hebrew and the study of Judaism are strictly forbidden under Soviet law. This is true despite the fact that other ethnic and religious groups are allowed and even encouraged to study and preserve their cultural traditions. Jews who apply for exit visas face the prospect of immediate dismissal from their jobs and are then able to find work only as lowskilled laborers. In the current spirit of Glasnost. the Soviet authorities have released a few prominent dissidents. However. the numbers of Jews allowed to emigrate has not increased greatly nor has internal persecution of Jews decreased. In 1979. over 51.000 Jews were allowed to leave the Soviet Union. In 1986. no more than 1.000 were issued exit visas. The Kremlin has been using the status of refuseniks as a political bargaining chip. Congress must emphasize its commitment that the status of Soviet Jews remains an important criteria in assessing United StatesSoviet relations.
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emigrate visas