Vladimir Meshkov, a 10-year refusenik who has been extremely active in the “poor relatives” group in Leningrad, has just received permission to emigrate, according to Marilyn Tallman, co-chairperson of Chicago Action for Soviet Jewry.
Meshkov, who first applied to emigrate in 1977, is a religious Jew who travels to other places to teach Judaism and uses his Hebrew name, Ze’ev. He has three children, Miriam, Michal and Yonatan, and is a computer programmer by profession.
The 36-year-old Meshkov received his first refusal in 1979. A relative had refused to sign the necessary waiver of financial obligation, thus making him what Soviet Jews call a “poor relative.”
His wife, Luba, received the postcard with the good news while he was away teaching.
Tallman, who has spoken to Meshkov every week on the phone, said “He almost always discusses with us the Torah portion of the week or, in the discussion of a political issue, he quotes the Talmud. He’s like my teacher.”
Meshkov was beaten up by the KGB during a demonstration for refuseniks and has been arrested as well.
“He’s been a very brave, a very religious man. He’s been an inspiration to us,” Tallman said.
Meanwhile, the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews commended Sister Ann Gillen for engaging in an 18-day fast of only bread and water on behalf of four long-term Jewish refusenik families.
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.
