Anatoly Shcharansky says he is feeling “quite well.” The 38-year-old aliya activist who spent nine years in the Soviet Gulag told reporters here Monday that reports that his health deteriorated since he arrived in Israel February II are untrue.
“According to the newspapers I am in very bad health. But the truth is that I actually feel quite well. I am only tired, and regret that vacation is over,” he said. He was referring to his month-long vacation with his wife, Avital, which kept him out of the public view. That apparently gave rise to rumors he was ill.
Shcharansky returned to his job at the Council for Soviet Jewry Sunday. He is scheduled to undergo another series of medical check-ups at Hadassah Hospital Monday. His only complaint is that he is unable to sleep more than four hours a night. He said it might be the result of the excitement attending his arrival in Israel. He also admitted he suffers from nightmares.
“Actually, there might be some good in it since at night I dream of prison and when I wake up, I am here,” Shcharansky said.
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.
