State Department Officials Pledge Continued Diplomatic Efforts for Soviet Jews

Officials of the State Department have pledged to continue their diplomatic efforts to win the easing of Soviet restrictions on Jewish religious life and emigration. This statement was made here in meeting this week between a leadership delegation of Zeirei Agudath Israel of America and Herbert Okun, assistant director of the State Department’s Soviet Desk and other State Department officials. The Orthodox youth organization, which had been invited by the State Department, told Okun that they and “the vast majority of religious Jewish youth in the United States (are) vehemently opposed” to extremist actions on behalf of the Jews of Russia. The Department officials in turn stressed their readiness to help any Jew seeking to emigrate to the U.S. and promised to speak up at international bodies for the rights of Soviet Jews. Following the Department meeting Rabbi Menachem Lubinsky, spokesman for Zeirel Agudath Israel, stated: “We are satisfied by the active concern that the U.S. government has shown concerning the welfare of Soviet Jewry. We reached a full understanding on the damaging effect on Jews in Russia of any provocative acts in this country.” Rabbi Lubinsky informed the JTA today that further meetings with State Department officials are being planned.