Twelve American Jewish Committee chapters have “adopted” Jewish scientists who have been denied permission to leave the Soviet Union. Announcement of the project was made this weekend at the annual meeting of the agency’s top policy-making National Executive Council here.
Chapters in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, Virginia and Washington each have undertaken to correspond regularly with several of the scientists and their families in a morale-building effort. In addition, the chapters will write to Soviet and U.S. government officials on behalf of these scientists, and attempt to mobilize public opinion through academic and other contacts.
David Geller, Director of European Affairs for the AJCommittee stated: “This type of people-to-people project can be invaluable not only in mobilizing public opinion in our own country, but in impressing upon the Soviet government that its treatment of Soviet Jews is under close scrutiny.”
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