A 60-year-old Russian-Jewish immigrant who arrived in Israel last night with his wife and daughter told newsmen at Lydda Airport that the family had been trying to leave for 18 months and when their permit finally came through they were given 20 days to depart from Russia. Nathan Therolinkov, an engineer from Leningrad, said he left many relatives behind, among them the husband of his 23-year-old daughter Alexandra whom she married only four months ago and who was not given an exit visa. Therolinkov said he was too “excited” to answer reporters’ questions about the condition of Jews in Leningrad. He was greeted by Immigration Minister Nathan Peled who presented him, his wife, Rahel and their daughter with official identity cards. Therolinkov thus became Israel’s three-millionth citizen. Peled said Israel was now opening its gates to its fourth million and hoped that they would include many Russian Jews. The Therolinkov’s speak only Russian. Peled translated their remarks into Hebrew for the benefit of newsmen. Therolinkov spoke of his excitement at landing on “the soil of the homeland of which we have dreamed so many years.” He expressed thanks to all who have helped his family on their way from Leningrad to Israel, “especially Golda Meir.”
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