The Women’s Plea for Soviet Jewry will take place in more than 80 cities in the United States and Canada Dec. 10, Human Rights Day, it was announced by Sylvia Bermack, B’nai B’rith Women national chairperson for the 11th annual Women’s Plea. This is the second year B’nai B’rith Women serves as national convenor for the Women’s Plea.
“Not only has there been a radical curtailment of emigration” from the Soviet Union, Ms. Bermack said, “but the number of Jews permitted to apply and begin the long process also have been drastically reduced. Soviet authorities have again curbed the possibilities of emigration by severely restricting the eligibility of applicants.”
She noted that during August, only 430 Jews left the Soviet Union, the smallest monthly figure in a decade. Few permissions were being issued, making it likely that the year’s total also will be the lowest in 10 years.
Taking the theme, “Our Concern, Their Hope,” the Women’s Plea will dramatize and publicize the sharp decline in emigration figures, the news of increased harassment of refuseniks by the authorities, and the continued plight of the Prisoners of Conscience.
The Women’s Plea is under the auspices of the Leadership Conference of national Jewish women’s organizations, in cooperation with the National Conference on Soviet Jewry and the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council.
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