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THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
January 30, 1976 19
Soviets Increasing Forced Conscription
to Deter Jewish Emigration From Russia
NEW YORK (JTA) —
Preliminary findings of the
Soviet Jewry Research Bu-
reau indicate that enforced
conscription is increasingly
being used by the Soviet
authorities to deter Jewish
emigration from the Soviet
Union. The Bureau is spon-
sored by the National Con-
ference on Soviet Jewry.
"The mere threat of mili-
tary conscription," said
Jerry Goodman, NCSJ exec-
utive director, "seriously
affects families who want to
emigrate, for fear of repris-
als against their sons of
draft age. In a serious abuse
of individual rights, the Red
Army is being used for pol-
itical purposes."
Many young Jewish stu-
dents have been expelled
from the universities and,
with their student exemp-
tions no longer valid, they
are subjected to an infa-
mous draft, Goodman
noted. "Such service can de-
lay one's emigration up to
seven years," he said.
Soviet authorities con-
sider that two years of mil-
itary service as an ordi-
,, nary soldier has exposed
these men to "secret infor-
mation." Thus, a five-year
quarantine period from
the date of discharge may
be required before an ap-
plicant may again reapply
to emigrate.
According to the bureau,
Jewish applicants for emi-
gration to Israel presently
threatened with enforced
conscription include: Se-
mion Pevsner and Rafael.
Ospovat (Moscow), Leonid
Levit (Tiraspol), Leonid
Grinshpun (Odessa), as well
as applicants in Derbent
and Kiev.
Meanwhile, the Student
Struggle for Soviet Jewry
charged that the new Soviet
regulations reportedly eas-
ing emigration procedures
"are merely a smokescreen
to cover the new and very
real campaign of harass-
ment and terror against
Russian Jews seeking free-
dom."
Reports from Moscow in-
dicate that the Soviet Union
is overhauling its emigra-
tion procedures by cutting
emigration visa fees from
400 to 300 rubles and by
simplifying the bureau-
cratic process. The aim is an
apparent show of compli-
ance with the Helsinki dec-
laration.
However, emigrants to
Israel will continue to
pay 500 additional rubles
($665) to renounce their
Soviet citizenship which
Moscow requires because
it has no diplomatic rela-
tions with Israel.
The SSSJ said that the re-
duction in exit visa fees is
"meaningless since most
exit applicants are dis-
missed from work or re-
duced to menial jobs after
asking to leave and have al-
most no money anyway."
The SSSJ said the other
changes are "tokenism at
best" because local officials
in many areas refuse to ac-
cept exit applications and
many young men are either
seminarians have been al-
lowed to study abroad, ac-
cording to Rabbi Arthur
Schneier of New York, who
negotiated the agreement
on rabbinical students.
In Tel Aviv Premier Yit-
zhak Rabin hailed Soviet
Jewry as the largest reser-
voir of Jews willing to come
to Israel and participate in
building the state.
Inna, left, and Julia, right, Belotserkovsky, flank-
ing Dan Rosenstein, are young victims of the Kremlin's
continual war against Jews seeking exit, according to
the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry. The girls and
their mother, Sofia, were promised and then denied vi-
sas ,after they demonstrated near the Kremlin. Dan's
father Grigory, a Moscow activist, has been threatened
many times by the KGB.
drafted or imprisoned after
In Washington, President
they apply for emigration.
Ford's 955-page budget for
The SSSJ has learned of a fiscal year 1977 shows that
new Soviet Jewish prisoner no funds have been specifi-
of conscience, Lydia Abato- cally earmarked for assist-
rovna Nisanova of Derbent ance to refugees from the
who was sentenced recently Soviet Union, including
to 11/2 years for speculation. Jews going to Israel. How-
Nisanova, 32, who applied ever, $25 million is re-
to emigrate in July 1975 and quested by the President for
was told last September "emergency refugee and
that she would be charged migration assistance" in
with speculation. The prose- contingencies that may ar-
cution witnesses during her ise any place in the world.
trial were six persons she
This sum, if appropriated
had never seen before, the by Congress, could be used
SSSJ reported.
within the President's dis-
Commenting on the re- cretion for Soviet emi-
port from Moscow that Dr. grants, budget authorities
Alexander Luntz, one of said.
Moscow's most active
It was learned that five
Jewish dissidents and a Soviet Jews will be al-
leading mathematician, lowed to study for the rab-
will be allowed to emigrate binate in the United
to Israel, the SSSJ said States, raising to 15 the
this is welcome confirma- number of rabbinical stu-
tion of the effect of public dents authorized to study
pressure. However, the outside the Soviet Union.
SSSJ added, it clearly de-
The last rabbinical school
flates the Soviet argument there closed in 1962, and
that Jews are denied exit - there now are only two rab-
for "state security" rea- bis and three Sephardic
sons.
chachamim, or sages, to
For the past three years, provide guidance for 3.5 mil-
Dr. Luntz has been told he lion Soviet Jews and their 62
possessed "secrets" and synagogues.
would not be allowed to
All faiths in the Soviet
leave, then continually per- Union suffer a shortage of
secuted for his Jewish activ- trained leaders, but Bap-
ities.
tists and Russian Orthodox
ON
VERTICAL and SLIM LINE BLINDS
WOVEN WOODS
CUSTOM DRAPES, SHADES,
BEDSPREADS
Addressing 540 dele-.
gates and several hundred
guests at The opening of
the third annual conven-
tion of the Association of
Russian Immigrants in
Israel at Kibutz Shafayim,
Rabin declared that the
struggle of Soviet Jews to
immigrate to Israel was
the most important sign of
Jewish vitality at a time
when Zionism is under at-
tack in many parts of the
world.
Absorption
Minister
Shlomo Rosen offered sta-
tistical evidence that the
integration of Soviet Jews
into Israeli society is suc-
ceeding: Yosef Almogi,
chairman of the World Zion-
ist Organization Executive,
drew applause when he de-
clared that the WZO
planned to improve the ab-
sorption process by placing
it in the hands of the olim
themselves.
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