In response to appeals from the Chief Rabbis of Israel, Boris Begun, son of Soviet Prisoner of Conscience losif Begun, has ended a 45-day hunger strike, the National Conference on Soviet Jewry said it learned. The 19-year-old Begun fasted to protest increasing measures to isolate his father from his family, and the failure of Soviet officials to answer concerns about losif’s health. In violation of Soviet law, Begun’s family has repeatedly been denied the right to visit him at the camp, with officials declaring no meeting will be allowed before late 1985.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.