Delegates to Second Brussels Conference on Soviet Jewry Urged to Set Up a World Actions Committee

Delegates to the Second World Conference on Soviet Jewry in Brussels have been urged to form a permanent “world secretariat” to “work for the defense, support, repatriation and resettlement of every Soviet Jew who wishes to exercise his inherent right to return” to Israel.

The urging was in the form of a letter to all the delegates from Morris Brafman, an American industrialist, speaking for a group that is being organized which calls itself “The Action Committee for a World Secretariat for Soviet Jewry.”

Brafman, who organized the International League for Repatriation of Russian Jews in 1968 and the American Federation for Soviet Jews in 1971, said the first Brussels conference in 1971 helped unite world Jewry around the struggle for Soviet Jewry. But he charged the conference was a disappointment because it failed to transform the “noble sentiments and critical resolutions is into a program of political and social action on a global scale.”

“Brussels I left nothing permanent in its wake.” Brafman declared. “It reduced the global impact by delegating its recommendations back to the national groupings in each country on an optional elective basis. And Soviet Jews have paid a bitter price ever since.”

PROPOSALS OUTLINED

Brafman’s proposal is to set up a permanent secretariat at Brussels, Geneva or some other centrally-located European city staffed by professionals, including Soviet Jews, the creation of a protected fund to provide support and maintenance for Soviet Jewish refuseniks who can no longer support their families since they have lost their jobs after applying for exit visas; the publication of a bi-weekly newspaper on Soviet Jewry; and a telex “hotline” linkup with all Soviet Jewry organizations so that they will receive the latest information on developments.

Also the training and direction of an international group of “ambassadors” from Soviet Jewry to all Western parliamentary bodies; the establishment and coordination of a core of legal advisors to assist Soviet Jews, especially the Prisoners of Conscience; and the creation of a task force of psychologists, sociologists, educators and professional and vocational guidance counselors to help Soviet Jews with their absorption in Israel.

Brafman is the author of “Trade for Freedom: Detente, Trade and Soviet Jews,” and co-author of the forthcoming “From Moscow to Jerusalem” which describes the experiences of some Soviet Jewish activists.