As a dinner guest in their home. I was privileged to witness their courage and determination despite the years of hardship they have endured because of the Soviet Governments policies. On September 24. 1987. the official Tass news agency reported that a newly formed government commission. established to review emigration applications that have been rejected by the Soviet Government. has reversed years of rulings against the Yakirs. The commission has recommended that the Yakir family be allowed to leave the Soviet Union. I am especially pleased by this report and I hope that the Yakir family will be allowed finally to realize their dream of emigration to Israel as soon as possible. I only regret that it took so long for the Soviet Government to grant their request. The Cincinnati Jewish Community has worked tirelessly on behalf of the Yakir family and I have no doubt that their efforts have prompted the Soviet Government to act favorably toward Yevgeny and his family. I am gratified that the Soviet Government has taken steps to resolve numerous refusenik cases over the past few months and that many refuseniks have already been allowed to emigrate. Nevertheless. it is important to recognize that thousands of others are still waiting to leave the Soviet Union and that hundreds of thousands more are still afraid to apply for permission to emigrate. I sincerely hope that the favorable resolution of the Yakir case heralds a new beginning for Soviet Jewry.
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emigrate emigration