The parents of Judy Silver said today that Sen. Robert Taft, Jr. (R.Ohio) has promised to ask the White House to intervene with Soviet authorities to extend the visa of their daughter so that she can remain with her new husband. Miss Silver was married in Moscow Thursday to Gavriel Shapiro, a Soviet Jewish activist, in a religious ceremony performed by an American Orthodox rabbi. Soviet authorities have refused to grant the couple a civil marriage. Miss Silver’s visa expires tomorrow.
Dr. and Mrs. Nathan Silver, of Cincinnati, have "implored" the Soviet Government "not to separate these young people," according to Glenn Richter, national coordinator of the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry. He said the Silvers expressed "confidence" that the Soviet authorities would "release" Shapiro who has applied for a visa to go to Israel.
The couple was married at Shapiro’s home. The ceremony was performed by Rabbi Harry Kranz, of Silver Springs, Md. under a bridal canopy which Miss Silver brought with her to Russia. The bride is a Cincinnati social worker who has been active in behalf of Russian Jews. Shapiro was one of 14 Jewish activists who went into hiding last month after receiving orders to report for military duty. All were officers in the Red Army Reserve and had previously completed their required military service. Their call-up was believed intended to keep them out of circulation during President Nixon’s summit trip to Moscow.
Shapiro came out of hiding last Thursday for his wedding. It is feared that he will be either inducted or jailed, Richter told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Shapiro and his bridge visited the Soviet Palace of Marriages twice last week but were refused a civil ceremony that would legalize their marriage under Soviet law. On the first occasion they were told, "We will put all obstacles in your path," Richter reported. On their second visit they were told to return Aug. 30.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
