Israeli youth have a new hero in the person of 23 year-old Yasha Kazakov who has been fasting in front of United Nations headquarters in New York since last Wednesday to dramatize his demand that Soviet authorities allow his family to leave Russia and join him in Israel. Thousands of Israeli high school students from all parts of the country gathered in a four hour vigil in front of the Knesset today to demonstrate their solidarity with Kazakov. Chief Rabbi Itzhak Nissim published a statement praising the youth for “honoring the name of Israel” and observing the commandment, “Thou Shalt Honor Thy Father and Mother.” The student demonstration was organized by the National Union of Students in Israel. Other youth organizations participated.
Young Kazakov was permitted to leave Russia a year ago. He came to Israel where he enrolled at the Haifa Technion, leaving behind his father, Joseph, his mother, Sophia and his brother and sister, Alexander and Vera. They were repeatedly refused exit visas. Chief Rabbi Nissim said, “His (Kazakov’s) cause is worthy of awakening every person in the world to whom morality and conscience have meaning so that they join in his struggle until justice becomes obvious to all ” (A mass rally in support of Kazakov, to have taken place near UN headquarters yesterday, was called off because of a snow storm. One of the organizers said it might be re-scheduled for next Sunday.)
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