Rabbi Feldman has led a remarkable life. Growing up in the Soviet Republic of Moldavia. where the open practice of Judaism was forbidden. he was unaware that he was Jewish. At age 21. he had learned enough to become a passionate Zionist and applied for a visa to emigrate. For this. he was imprisoned by Soviet authorities as a "refusenik." Eventually. Rabbi Feldman was allowed to leave the Soviet Union and emigrated to Israel. where he became a citizen and served honorably in the Israeli army. Following his time in Israel. he became Director of Education for Soviet Emigres in Italy. Rabbi Feldman eventually came to the United States. where he decided to attend the Jewish Theological Seminary. becoming the first and still the only Sovietborn Conservative rabbi in America.
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visa emigrate emigrated