Aleksandr Kushnir, 38, a refusenik since 1977, has been reunited with his family in Israel, after 13 years separation, according to the National Conference on Soviet Jewry. His mother, Rachel, and his brother, Efim, have been in Israel since 1973, where his grandparents live. His father, Semyon, was killed in a tragic work accident in Odessa in 1970, at the age of 42.
Aleksandr, a construction engineer, studied nights and worked as a porter to support himself while living alone in Odessa. Having served in the Soviet Navy, he waited the customary five years from his demobilization to apply. However, since his application, he lived under constant threat of arrest. He could not find work in his profession and was forced to work as a building technician in a small town near Odessa.
In a related development, Leningrad refusenik Isaac Kogan, 40, and his family were promised exit visas. Kogan, who applied for a visa in 1974, is an observant Jews. He gave classes in Torah, and was recognized by Soviet Jews as one of the most knowledgeable Jews in the Soviet Union.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
