Mrs. Shcharansky Discusses Plight of Soviet Jewish Prisoners

Avital Shcharansky declared last night that her husband, Anatoly, and other imprisoned Soviet Jewish refusniks are able to endure the harsh conditions of Soviet prisons because of their belief they were fighting for the “renaissance” of the Jewish people.

She told an audience of some 2000 people at Manhattan’s Congregation B’nai Jeshurun that Soviet Jewish activists were acting not only for themselves or their families but for all Jews so that the Jewish people could live as “one family” in Israel.

Answering questions from Dr. William Berkowitz, rabbi of the congregation, at its “Dialogue “79” series, Mrs. Shcharansky said that Jews in the Soviet Union were awakened to their Jewish heritage by the Six-Day War. It was this event that brought the desire to emigrate to Israel, she said. She noted that when some Jews get visas to emigrate the ones left behind are “happy” because they believe that eventually all of them will be united in the Jewish State.

Mrs. Shcharansky, who has been in Israel since Soviet authorities forced her to leave the USSR the day after she was married some five years ago, said that when she arrived in Israel and traveled throughout the country she “recognized my dream.” She said in Israel “we’re free… we’re at home.” Mrs. Shcharansky said she admits there are many problems in Israel but believes they will be overcome.

CONDITION OF SOVIET JEWS

Jews cannot be free in the Soviet Union, Mrs. Shcharansky said. She said the Soviet Union is an anti-Semitic country in which the conditions of Jews, she charged, is worse than it was in Germany before World War 11. Conditions for Jews who apply for emigration visas are even worse, she said. They lose the benefits of the law and get no services. Those who apply for visas lose their jobs, their children are beaten up in school and they are refused such things as medical services.

On the condition of her own husband, she said Anatoly, who is in Chistopol Prison some 800 kilometers from Moscow, does not receive needed medical attention. She said neither he nor the other Jew in the prison, losif Mendelevitch, receive any of the mail sent to them.

Mrs. Shcharansky called on Jews and non-Jews in the United States to continue the fight for the freedom of her husband and other Soviet Jewish prisoners. She said the struggle must be continuous, writing letters one day, demonstrations another. She said that quier diplomacy to be effective must be buttressed by public demonstrations.

Noting that when her husband was first charged falsely as working for the CIA, she and others feared that he might be sentenced to death. “Maybe because of you he is still alive, “she told the audience. He was sentenced to 13 years prison and exile.

Mrs. Shcharansky urged the audience to write to the Soviet Minister of Internal Affairs about why her husband is not receiving medical attention and the head of the Chistopol Prison on why he does not receive his mail. She nevertheless urged that letters be written to him and other Jewish prisoners.

Mrs. Shcharansky, who lives in Jerusalem, said that since her husband was charged with espionage her life has been “crazy.” She has spent it traveling and speaking on behalf of her husband and other Soviet Jewish prisoners. She noted that she has been to the United States seven times and will be back here in 10 days to promote the book she has written about her experiences, “Next Year in Jerusalem.” But she said she will continue because “I want my husband free.”