Workmen’s Circle Seder Urges U.S. to Help Obtain Passover Amnesty for USSR Jews

The Workmen’s Circle, the largest Jewish labor fraternal order, has asked the United States government to intervene with Soviet authorities to obtain a Passover amnesty for all Jewish political prisoners in the Soviet Union, it was disclosed here tonight. Joseph Mlotek, the Circle’s education director, said a cable was sent to U.S. Ambassador Jacob Beam in Moscow on April 3 with a copy to the Soviet desk at the State Department. No response has been received so far. Mlotek addressed 2,000 persons at the Workmen’s Circle annual Third Seder. He said Beam was asked to request amnesty and release from prison “for Soviet Jews incarcerated for demonstrating their desire to emigrate.” He said “We did not indicate that we sought exodus for them–just freedom which includes the right to leave if they choose or to remain within Soviet borders as free and unfettered citizens.” The amnesty would apply to 11 Jews convicted in the Leningrad hijack trial last December and now serving prison terms as well as Jews in Riga, Leningrad and other Soviet cities now imprisoned and awaiting trial on related charges.

Students from nine campuses in the New York area conducted an “exodus” seder in Washington Square Park today to dramatize the efforts of Soviet Jews to emigrate. The event featured the reading of the “Exodus Haggadah,” an account of Jewish difficulties in the Soviet Union and their growing resistance. The “seder” was sponsored by the University Community for Soviet Jewry in cooperation with the Center for Russian Jewry. Meanwhile the Long Island Committtee for Soviet Jewry has called on the Jewish community of Long Island to observe a “ninth day” of Passover on Sunday evening as an expression of commitment and concern for the plight of Soviet Jews. Harold Applebaum, coordinator of the observance, said that 150 Jewish and Christian leaders are expected to participate in a “Freedom Seder” at Temple B’nai Sholom of Rockville Center. The seder, he said, has been endorsed by the Right Rev. Jonathan G. Sherman, Episcopal Bishop for the Diocese of Long Island and will be co-sponsored by a number of inter-faith organizations. On Sunday morning, demonstrators will gather at the gates of the Soviet Mission Compound in Glen Cove in a program featuring Cantor Shlomo Callback, Appelbaum added.