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Two American Jewish Tourists Deported from Soviet Union; One is a N.Y. Rabbi

August 21, 1967
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The Soviet Union expelled two American Jewish tourists, one a rabbi, because they had publicly criticized Arab and Soviet anti-Israel policies, it was learned here this weekend from official sources. Rabbi Solomon Freilich, Mt. Vernon. N.Y., was deported August 13. The name of the other tourist is not yet available here.

Rabbi Freilich planned to visit Bucharest and Budapest after his visit to the Soviet Ukraine. He was restricted to Kiev after being charged with violating Soviet hospitality and criticizing Soviet leadership. The rabbi arrived in the Soviet Union on August 8. Both Rabbi Freilich and the other expelled person were permitted to telephone the U.S. Embassy before being placed aboard outbound planes. (Rabbi Freilich arrived in Israel yesterday.) U.S. sources noted an increased sensitivity by Communist authorities to contact between foreign Jews and Soviet citizens.

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