Soviet Jews Increase Actions Against Barriers to Emigration; New Harassments Cited

Soviet Jews are stepping up their agitation against the barriers to emigration. According to reliable Jewish sources, the new tack is to declare Israeli citizenship before obtaining visas and leaving the Soviet Union. This has been done already by Riga activists Ovsei Elyashevich and Mr. and Mrs. Faitelson, whose first names are unavailable. They recognize, it is understood, the possible adverse effect their announcements may have on the fate of their emigration applications, but are willing to take the risk in their attempt to dramatize their plight. Meanwhile, it has been learned that 23-year-old. Yosif M. Mendelevich of Riga, who was sentenced to 15 years at last December’s Leningrad trial, has been denied visits by his relatives. In addition, his requests for a copy of the Old Testament have been rejected. In addition, the American Jewish Conference on Soviet Jewry charged today that two recent incidents indicate a step-up in harassment of Soviet Jewish activists. Rabbi Herschel Schacter, AJCSJ chairman, quoted tourists returning from the USSR as reporting that a Muscovite Jew. David Drabkin, has received threatening letters, one stating:

“We warn you. David Drabkin, that your anti-Soviet Zionist activity will bring you troubles. A stone might accidentally bruise your head or a car might trample you or you might not be living after getting involved in a fight. Take into account that we are not speaking idly.” Drabkin has signed petitions protesting emigration roadblocks. The second incident involved another. Muscovite Jew, Pinhas Krugler (or Klugliak), who, it was reported in today’s JTA Daily News Bulletin, was beaten near his home toward the end of January. Rabbi Schacter added today that according to his informants, the 33-year-old man was attacked by two well-dressed men carrying lead pipes and yelling; “This is for the song ‘Let My People Go’ that you sing, and for your applications for emigration to Israel.” When the victim reached the police station, his face covered with blood, he was warned he might be sentenced to 3 to 7 years in fail for false testimony, according to the report. “Both of these instances,” Rabbi Schacter said, “are but the latest examples of a campaign designed to intimidate Jews from applying for emigration to Israel. The Soviet authorities place Jews in the impossible position of being denied the ability to express themselves as Jews, and then frustrated as well in their attempts to leave the Soviet Union for Israel, where they feel they can be fulfilled as Jews.”