Russian Jews Appeal to Western Intellectuals to Help Them Emigrate

A copy of an appeal to Western intellectuals by seven Russian Jews has been smuggled out of Moscow and been delivered to the home of Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman, it was reported here today. The telegram was addressed to Bergman; Benjamin Britten, the English composer; Charles Chaplin, the English-born actor and director who now lives in Switzerland; Federico Fellini, the Italian film director; Arthur Miller, the American playwright, and Paul Robeson, the American singer. The appeal was smuggled out of Moscow after it failed to arrive at the homes of the six celebrities. It was signed by Pavel Goldstein, Israel Slvasyinskly, Grigoriy Slvasyinskly, Gabriel Shapiro, Rosita Rozenblum, Vladimir Rozenblum and Benjamin Preigerson. They asked the celebrities to help them obtain the right to migrate to Israel. Bergman commented: “It is extremely interesting to know about the problem of anti-Semitism in the Soviet Union, and I shall do whatever I can to help the Soviet Jews.” The director was one of 55 Western intellectuals who this past February signed an appeal for Soviet Jewish rights that was sent to the Soviet authorities.