Three Soviet Jews, in U.S. on Tour to Tell Story of Plight, Reject Violent Tactics

Three Soviet Jews who emigrated to Israel in Nov., told a press conference here yesterday that “bombing is not the right method to use in protesting against the persecution of Jews in the Soviet Union.” The three were among the 10 signers of the first collective appealed addressed by Moscow Jews to their fellow Jews outside the Soviet Union in September, 1969, Dr, Esther Aisenstadt, a former professor of language in Moscow colleges; her husband Leizer Napomnyasty, a Russian-English interpreter; and Mark (Mordecai) Elbaum, 25, all former Moscow residents, had come to the U.S. to lecture throughout the country on behalf of the American Conference on Soviet Jewry. In response to questions, Dr. Aisenstadt, speaking for herself and her husband, said “the right way of protesting is to rouse world opinion, governments and leaders to speak up on behalf of Soviet Jewry.” She said that public opinion “really helps” and “has an influence on Soviet policy” as shown by the results of the Leningrad trial. There is no way of knowing how many Soviet Jews want to leave the USSR, Dr. Aisenstadt said, “But if Jews knew that by applying for exit visas they would be allowed to leave, many more would hand in applications than have done so up to now,” She admitted that “If I had relatives in the USSR, I would not speak as freely as I do now.”

Elbaum said the growing interest in Israel that is found among Soviet Jewish youth was “part of the general feeling among Soviet youth for a free life.” Soviet society had tried hard to assimilate the Jews, he said, “but we have always felt like strangers and this has helped us in our approach to Israel and Judaism.” Asked about the reaction in the Soviet Union after the Six-Day War, Elbaum said. “The Russians people don’t like the Arabs very much. Life there (in the Soviet Union) is not comfortable, and everyone knows the money is being spent to help the Arabs,” Many Russians admired the Jews for their strength during the war, he noted and added that “The anti-Semitism lessened in the Ukraine and Lithuania after the Six-Day War.” As for the alleged plane hijacking plot, the subsequent trials, and the commutation of death sentences of two Jews, Dr. Aisenstadt was pessimistic. “At this time world opinion interfered and we have seen their results. (Now) it may mean a slow death instead of instantaneous death.” Dr. Aisenstadt stated that it cost her and her husband 400 rubles for the exit visa it took them a year to get it – and 500 rubles (the sum total of about $900) for giving up the privilege of Soviet citizenship. “I don’t remember getting paid for having it in the first place.”