Jewish Community Council Appeals to Mrs. Nixon. Soviet Officials to Free Soviet Jewish Prisoners

The Jewish Community Council of Washington has sent messages appealing for the relief of Soviet Jews to Mrs. Richard M. Nixon; Leonid Brezhnev, Secretary General of the Communist Party of the USSR, and V.A. Gusev, Chief Procurator of the Ukraine. The Council cabled Gusev that he “free immediately” nine young Soviet Jews arrested in Kiev Feb. 18 for standing together and talking following religious services at the Kiev synagogue. “Again the KGB is manufacturing baseless charges,” the cable said, and asked Gusev “Where is your justice which you claim to champion?”

In its telegram to Brezhnev, the Council asked for his support to bring about the release of Mrs. Silva Zalmanson, one of the Soviet Jewish prisoners of conscience held in the Potma prison complex. Mrs. Zalmanson is reported in extremely poor health and losing her sight. A copy of the cable to Brezhnev was sent to Mrs. Nixon with an accompanying letter which stated:

“Your concern for human welfare and human rights is well known throughout the world. We respectfully suggest that your personal appeal on behalf of Silva Zalmanson may help to bring freedom to a sick, suffering and innocent woman.” The letter was signed by Dr. Isaac Franck, the Council’s executive vice-chairman.

The Council has called an “emergency” community meeting for Sunday afternoon at the Bnai Israel Congregation following persistent reports during the past week of a new wave of arrests and harassments of Jews in the Soviet Union and the sharp decrease in the number of Jews being allowed to leave that country for Israel. Less than 2,000 were permitted to leave in February, the Council said. It feared the March total may be half that.

Mrs. Faye L, Schenk, president of Hadassah, received a proclamation from New York Mayor John V. Lindsay at City Hall today declaring this week “Hadassah Week.”