The Kremlin has begun to impose new regulations which might well have a serve effect on future emigration, according to reports from the Soviet Union reaching the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry and Union of Councils for Soviet Jews. Emigration authorities are now beginning to bar Jews from exiting with work documents, official papers which serve to prove their job qualifications in the free world.
The goal of this action seems to be to deter an ever greater number of Jews from applying than the current anti-Jewish press campaign has accomplished, the two Soviet Jewry groups said. This new regulation “is even more insidious than the notorious ‘ransom education tax’ of some years back, which at least some Jews could afford to pay,” they stated.
Meanwhile, the Long Island Committee for Soviet Jewry said that 50 Kiev Jews were given exit visas last week–but no refusniks.
In Leningrad, it was reported, young Jewish activists have formed unofficial soccer teams named Hapoel and Maccabi, after the Israeli teams. The team colors are blue and white for Hapoel, and blue Stars of David on white for Maccabi. Hebrew teacher Lev Furman acts as the referee.
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.
