A unique program of briefing prospective tourists to the USSR on contact with Soviet Jews and on Soviet life in general has been initiated by the New England Region of the American Jewish Congress. The sessions describe how and how not to deal with Russian officials and the Intourist Agency, which makes all travel arrangements, meet with Soviet Jews and make gifts of money and packages to them. Information is given on where synagogues and other places of interest to tourists are located. The briefings are available to individual travelers, as well as member of professional, business and student groups. They are conducted by members of the Soviet Jewry Committee of the New England Region–some speaking fluent Russian–who have traveled in Russia and are knowledgeable about the country, its customs and the condition of its Jewish population. The AJCongress’ New England Region includes on its Commission on International Affairs and Soviet Jewry Committee members of faculties of nearby colleges, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brandeis and Harvard Universities. After an evaluation of the New England program, the Congress will consider adopting it on a national basis.
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