Despite attempts to repress it. a vibrant revival of Jewish culture is taking place in the Soviet Union, and involves, thousands of people in many parts of the country.
Many young people who have not yet applied to settle in Israel belong to independent modern Hebrew song groups; cultural magazines circulate in "samizdat" editions; books on Jewish history, philosophy, belles-lettres and literature which are brought in from abroad pass from hand to hand. In Kishinev, there is a private Jewish theater group. This is apart from the annual Israel Independence Day assemblies in the forests outside Moscow and the regular "ulpanim" for the serious study of Hebrew.
Details of the Jewish renaissance appear in a massive review of 1976 written by seven Moscow Jewish leaders. The document, the fourth report of its kind since autumn 1973, found its way to London where a translation was obtained by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
DISCUSS JEWISH CULTURE ISRAEL
The seven authors include organizers of last week’s Moscow culture symposium, such as Prof Alexander Lerner and Anatoly Sharansky. They note that the seminars organized by the scientist-refuseniks have long since turned into groups for the discussion of questions of Jewish history and culture and the problems of Israel. "Occasionally lectures are given at them by Jews from the U.S. Western Europe and even from Israel."
In June, there was the 100th session of Lerner’s scientific seminar, which is officially recognized by the Weizmann Institute. The seminar, begun by Prof. Alexander Voronel five years ago, is now conducted by Prof. Mark Abzel following Voronel’s emigration, Similarly; the philosophy and history seminar begun by Dr. Vitaly Rubin is continuing successfully after its founder’s emigration to Israel.
Seminars of science and culture have also begun in Riga, led by Dr. Arkady Tsinober; in Vilna, by Dr. Naum Salansky; in Kishinev, by Piotr Roitberg, and several other towns. While focussing on Zion, these seminars "have even begun to debate the question of a re-birth of Jewish culture in the USSR," the authors write.
This year, an amateur theater in Kishinev performed sketches based on stories by Israeli humorist Ephraim Kishon. "The theater was so popular that the authorities decided not to interrupt the performance," the report says. Afterwards, though, they started to intimidate members of the company.
The Soviet authorities also disapprove of remembrance services for Jews killed by the Nazis. But under pressure, this year they allowed a service at Babi Yar, although wreaths referring to Jewish victims there were banned and several Jews in other cities were barred from attending.
NEW HURDLES IN EMIGRATION PROCEDURES
On the question of emigration, the report says that although the Soviet authorities made some concessions prior to the Communist Party Congress in February, difficulties intensified as soon as it was over, and meetings according to the authorities, were due to be re examined had their refusals confirmed.
This year, too, the movements of activists were restricted and their contacts with the West became far more difficult. Tourists from the West wishing to meet would-be emigrants were harassed.
New difficulties also have appeared in the procedure for obtaining emigration documents. A person may have to wait a year or more before receiving the invitation from relatives in Israel, which the authorities demand. The longer an applicant has to wait, the more difficult his situation becomes, a fact which has an intimidating effect on many would-be emigrants.
Since September, the authorities in a group of towns in the Ukraine–notably Kiev and Odessa–refuse to accept applications from people of any age whose parents are not applying to emigrate with them. This happens even when the parents want their children to leave without them. This objection is based on a rigid interpretation of the Helsinki agreement under which the Soviet Union commits itself to the principle of "reunion of families."
The head of the All-Union Ovir, V. Obidin, is quoted as saying: "We are now putting a stop to all arbitrary emigration. In accordance with the decisions of the Helsinki agreement, we shall let people go only where it is for reunification of families. And a family, in accordance with the code on marriage and family of the USSR. consists only of husband, wife and their unmarried children."
The authors conclude that if a truly free emigration were allowed from the Soviet Union, very many more Jews would leave.
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