FINAL R C H Soviet Politics Slows Local Emigration Rate SUSAN GRANT Staff Writer A lthough a slow, steady flow of Soviet Jews continues to ar- rive in Detroit, Jewish Resettlement Service offi- cials are not sure how long the influx will last. Recent political changes within the Soviet Union have created a feeling that the doors to freedom may soon close, said Lydia Kuniaysky, resettlement caseworker. "The Soviet Union in gen- eral has made a sharp turn to the right," Ms. Kuniaysky said, adding the conse- quences have been dramatic from what she has been told by recent immigrants. "No one pronounces the words `glasnost' or 'perestroika' anymore," she said. Democrats are quickly be- ing pushed out of the Com- munist Party and right wing leaders are taking com- mand, she said. The military seems to have a firmer hold on Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev's position, she added. The turn to the right has made getting out of the Soviet Union more difficult, Ms. Kuniaysky said. Even those who already have their permits to come to the United States are now being denied exit visas by the Soviet government, she said. While the number of refuseniks has dropped con- siderably in the past few years, Soviet officials are again denying people the right to leave the country, Ms. Kuniaysky said. According to figures from the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews, the number of refuseniks between October and January was higher than for the entire previous year. For every refusenik given permission to leave, there are two new refusals. When Soviet Jews do get their exit visas, finding and paying for the Aeroflot plane to take them to the United States is another struggle, Ms. Kuniaysky said. Pan Am has stopped its flights to Moscow and there is only one daily Aeroflot flight to the United States, she said. Because Aeroflot only accepts dollars, not rubles, for its international flights, many Soviet Jews find it difficult to pay the plane fare. They also must get past other economic barriers, in- cluding Gorbachev's newest edict prohibiting large amounts of rubles to be withdrawn and the 700 rubles per person tax to emigrate to Israel, said Pamela Braun Cohen, na- tional president of the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews. The numbers of Jews ar- riving in Israel diminished in January to 13,360, a 62 percent drop from previous months, Ms. Cohen said, who has no immigration rate figures for the United States. While some Jews rather not risk going to Israel in the midst of the Persian Gulf war, the Union believes the slowdown can also be attributed to Soviet controls. But others are so frighten- ed to be in the Soviet Union that the Gulf war doesn't scare them, Ms. Kuniaysky said. They are more worried about civil war breaking out within the Soviet Union, es- pecially in the Baltic states, Moldavia and Georgia. She knows of a few Soviet Jews whose relatives ex- pected them to come to Detroit, but at the last minute decided to go to Israel because they could leave the Soviet Union faster, Ms. Kuniaysky said. "It's difficult to tell when to expect new arrivals," Ms. Kuniaysky said. "I have one woman, her son and his wife who were supposed to be coming in March. But then they were unable to get tickets. Now they have tickets. But we don't really know (when they will come)." Since November, 95 Soviet Jews have come to Detroit, _including 10 who came in February, she said. She ex- pects 50 more to arrive in March, but she hasn't received any figures for either April or May. HIAS tells her that the bulk of the 40,000 Soviet Jews expected to arrive in the United States from now until the end of September will come after May, Ms. Kuniaysky said. Yet, that calculation can easily change, especially if the Soviet government denies more exit visas or getting plane tickets becomes even more difficult, she said. "Resettlement doesn't just stop when they come in," Ms. Kuniaysky said. "It's dif- ficult the first year or year- and-a-half." Save 50%-75% Ceresnie & Offen Furs has taken drastic reductions on their entire collection of fabulous furs for men and women! Leather-and-fur fashions from our new in-store boutique, Leathers by Studio 181 are also priced to sell at 50% to 75% off! Financing Available With No Payments Until September!* We will pick up the Federal Luxury Tax on all applicable items. All furs labeled to show country of origin. *With approved credit. 181 S. Woodward Ave., 1 Blk. S. of Maple, Next to the Birmingham Theatre Free Adjacent Parking • 642-1690 Mon.-Sat. 9:30-5:30 Tables • Desks Wall Units Bedrooms Dining Rooms 12 Years' Experience & Expertise in the Design of Affordable Laminate, Lucite & Wood Furniture LFor Appt. Call Muriel Wetsman 661.3838 I ❑ THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 15