Soviet Jewry Box: 31

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ADDRESS BY AMBASSADOR JEANE J. KIRKPATRICK UNITED STATES PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS TO THE WORLD CONFERENCE ON SOVIET JEWRY . JERUSALEM - ·· ~- ·· MARCH 15, 1983

Mr. Presi~ent, Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. Mayor, distinguished

guests of the dais, distinguished delegates:

It is fitting -- indeed, it is a matter· of the deepest symbolic

significance -- that we have come to the city of Jerusalem on the eve of Passover, the commemoration of the first exodus, to express our solidarity with Soviet Jews in their struggle to exercise their most basic human rights -- freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, and freedom of exit. In this city of faith and history, the determination of Soviet Jews to resist cultural annihilation takes on a very special meaning -:- one that spans the ages and transcends, even as it illuminates, the harsh realities of our world. In this season of freedom and renewal, the struggle of

Soviet Jews to liberate themselves from bondage burns with special brightness -- a brightness that cannot be dulled or extinguished as

I long as there are people with courage and dignity and a desire for freedom that cannot be denied.

Just as the Jewish people retell each Passover the story of the exodus so that every generation may understand the timeless and universal meaning of the Jewish freedom struggle, so too must all freedom-loving people Jew and non-Jew alike -- recognize and affirm that the cause of freedom means the freedom to be oneself; it requires eternal vigilance and human solidarity. - 2 -

I speak to you tonight not merely as an individual who believes

in freedom and the need to defend it, but as a citizen of a country

founded on the principles of freedom, and as the representative of a

government dedicated to the protection and extension of freedom

throughout the world. By virtue of this belief, the United States

is bound morally and by common interests with all those who share

this commitment -- above all with those who uphold this commitment

in the face of violence and oppression.

Surely no people understand the meaning of freedom more clearly

than the Jewish people, because no people has been more brutally

.. _.yictimized by the ene~ies _ of . freedo~, and never more than . in this .

century when civilizati6n has been menaced as never before by the

forces of modern totalitarianism. Just last month, at a ceremony

marking the SOth anniversary of Adolf Hitler's rise to power,

President Reagan declared it is "incumbent upon us all, Jews and

Gentiles alike, to remember the tragedy of Nazi Germany, to recall

how a fascist regime conceived in hatred brought a reign of terror

and atrocity on the Jewish people and on the world, and to pledge

that never again will the decent people of the world permit such a

thing to occur. Never again can people of conscience overlook the

rise of anti-semitism in silence." "In truth," the President

continued, "the defeat of Hitler did not mark the final triumph over

anti-semitic bigotry and persecution. Even today in the free

world," he continued, "we hear o{ swastikas painted on synagogues,

of holy books and scrolls desecrated by hoodlums, and of terrorist

attacks. We see Jewish schools in Europe forced to employ armed

guards to protect children, and many congregations, even in America,

hiring guards to protect worshipping during the high holy days." - 3 -

This anti-semitism, which offends and menaces free societies,

dQe~ not take place in a vacuum but thrives in an international

environment in which hatred of Jews and violence against them is

actively promoted by the enemies of freedom. Having now spent more

than two years at the United Nations, I am not unfamiliar with this

international campaign against Jews which masks itself in propaganda

against Zionism, in an effort even to equate Zionism with Eacism and

to have it declared criminal under international law. The denunciations of Zionism have become so commonplace in what is

euphemistically called the community of nations that it is easy to

forget th~ origins of this campaign of anti-semitic vilification.

In fact~ ·it dat~s back to the summer of 1967 when, in the wake of the Six-Day War, the Soviet Union launched a massive propaganda assault against Zionism and against Judaism itself. Not only was

Zionism equated with every conceivable evil from racism to militarism to Nazism -- but even the Torah and the Talmud were depicted as preaching racism, hatred and violence. Significantly, this campaign drew upon and echoed the themes of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, the infamous anti-semitic tract, first published in Russia in 1905, which alleged a Jewish conspiracy to dominate the world through control of banks, press, and the infiltration of the

Freemasons.

The small and exceedingly vulnerable Jewish minority in the

Soviet Union has been subjected to increasing persecution and, largely as a result of that, hundreds of thousands of Soviet Jews have sought to emigrate. t-

- 4 -

The plight of Soviet Jews has many different dimensions. On one

level, it is the denial of the right of emigration and reunification

with families. On another level, it is the denial of cultural and

linguistic rights. On still a third level, it is the flagrant

discrimination · and anti-semitic propaganda and practice. In each

case actions against Jews violate principles of international law

contained in covenants, conventions and declarations which the

Soviet Union has ratified or endorsed and is therefore peculiarly

obligated to respect. The right of emigration is a cornerstone of human rights and has been regarded as such for literally thousands of years. It was Socrates who called it an "attribute _of personal

liberty" and the Magna Carta which incorporated it into "natural law." John Locke derived the whole idea of political obligation to the State from the right to emigrate, since he believed that the moral basis of a citizen's allegiance and obedience was his decision to remain. The corollary to this view is, of course, that the right to emigrate is a necessary guarantee for other rights ~ince it ensures a citizen the ability to emigrate from a country where these other rights are denied. Thus did the United States Congress declare in 1868 that "the right of expatriation is a natural and inherent right of all people, indispensable to the enjoyment of the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." For a racial community facing discrimination and persecution, which is the case of the Jewish minority in the Soviet Union, the denial of the right to leave may be tantamount to the total deprivation of liberty, if not of life itself. In recognition of this basic truth, Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares: "Everyone - 5 -

has the right to leave any co~ntry i ncluding his own, and return to

his country." The International Covenant on Economic, Social and

Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and

Political Rights affirms, in Article 12, that "~veryone shall be

free to leave any country, including his own." The International

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

expressly forbids discrimination on the basis of race, color or

ethnic origin in the application of the right to leave or enter any

country. More recently, in August, 1975, the Soviet Union signed

the Helsinki Final Act which stresses in the provisions included in

basket three that the parties are to "expedite" and "facilitate" the

"reunion of families" - ~nd that those appliing for e~it vi~as · should

not be deprived of their rights.

Far . from honoring the pledges contained in these various documents, the Soviet Union today virtually denies members of the

Jewish minority in that country the right to leave. Between 1979 and 1982, the yearly emigration of the Soviet Jews has been cut by

95 percent, and it continues to fall. During the first two months of this year, only 206 Jews have been allowed to emigrate, less than one-half the rate of emigration for 1982.

The magnitude of the denial of the right to emigrate may be seen in the fact that the 260,000 Jews who were permitted to leave over the last 15 years have left behind them at least half a million relatives who are awaiting the opportunity to be reunited with their families in Israel and elsewhere. The 381,000 Jews still . in the

Soviet Union who have requested and received from their relatives in

Israel "vyzovs" (the possession of which is a precondition for ·- - 6

submitting a request to emigrate to Israel) find themselves in an

especially vulnerable position. Having become known to the KGB,

they are routinely classified as "unreliable elements," with all the cruel disabilities implied in this classification.

There are also many other Jews who have been sent "vyzovs" from I their relatives in Israel but have never received them, presumably because they were intercepted by Soviet authorities. And then there are untold thousands of Jews who wish to leave especially since there is now little likelihood that they will be allowed to leave in any event.

There are also more than 8,000 Jews who have received refusals to their applications for permission to emigrate. The situation of these so-called "refuseniks" ~s even more tragic, for most of them have been fired from their jobs and their children have been expelled fr9m universities. The professors, scientists and scholars among them are even denied the use of libraries and laboratories and thus lose proficiency in their professions readily.

And then there are those who have been arrested and imprisoned for desiring to emigrate or because they studied or taught Hebrew or wrote samizdat articles on Jewish culture. These "Prisoners of

Zion," as they are known throughout the world, have become famous for their courage in the face of cruel oppression. They include

Anato~y Shcharansky, sentenced to 13 years in labor camp in 1978 on a trumped-up charge of treason. Cruelly persecuted and denied all communication with his family, his very life is now in danger. They include as well Kirn Fridman, Dr. Victor Brailovsky, Iosif Begun, and most recently Feliks Kochubievskiy, who was arrested for his efforts - 7 to found a USSR-Israel Friendship Society. And they include Ida

Nudel and Vladimir Slepak who -have served their sentences but are still denied the right to leave.

These are among the . heroes of the Soviet Jewry struggle. Their cause is our cause, their ideals are our ideals. They shall not be I forgotten. They are not alone.

The second measure of minority rights in the Soviet Union is the right of cultural, linguistic, and religious freedom. Principle seven of the Helsinki Final Act, citing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, states in Article 27 that "in those states in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities exist,

. . . . persons belonging to such minorities shall not be denied the right, in community with the other members of ~heir group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practice their own religon, or to use their own language."

Yet for the Jewish minority, and in different ways for other minorities as well, these obligations -- cultural, linguistic, educational and religious -- are all observed in the breach.

Virtually all Jewish institutional life has been eliminated and

Yiddish language schools liquidated. Indeed, here are no Jewish schools in the USSR, not even in the so-called Jewish Autonomous

Oblast. The Hebiew language has no official status, and as for the private teaching of Hebrew, teachers are threatened with possible arrest and trial. For example, ~osif Begun, fired from his job as a mathematician after he applied to emigrate to Israel, was arrested in 1977 for "systematically engaging in vagrancy." His "crime" was that he took up the private teaching of Hebrew as a means of earning a livelihood. - 8 -

Article 18 of the Covenant states that each individual has the

right "to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom,

either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifesc his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching." Yet the Jewish religious community is denied the right to form a national or regional organization. It is the only denomination prevented from maintaining organized iinks with co-religionists outside the Soviet Union. No authentic Jewish religious periodical or bulletin is permitted, the publication of religious Jewish literature is virtually nonexistent, and its importation from abroad has been sharply restricted. Jewish ritual objects cannot be manufactured and Jews are not permitted to receive matzoh from abroad for the observance of Passover. Rabbinical training is non-existent and the 1975 law on religious associations has been used by the authorities to prevent religious services held in private homes -- a necessity given the virtual absence of synagogues.

The third measure of denial of rights is anti-semitism and anti-Jewish discrimination. Compounding the Soviet assault on the integrity of its Jewish community, on their culture and religion, is the massive anti-semitic propaganda campaign referred to earlier.

Here, too, the Soviet Union stands before the international community in blatant violation of its ·own solemn international undertakings.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial

Discrimination stipulates in Article 4 that contracting parties condemn and are pledged to eradicate racial hatred and - 9 -

discrimination in any form. The International Cove nant on Civil and

Political Rights states in Article 20 that "any advocacy of

national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to

discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law."

The Soviet Union callously violates these obligations through

its massive anti-semitic propaganda campaign, the basic thrust of

which -- according to one Trifum Kichko, the author of "Judaism and

Zionism," who was awarded a certificate of honor by Soviet

authorities -- is that Judaism is a religion that "teaches thievery,

betrayal, and perfidy," along with "poisonous hatred of all

peoples." Even the pogroms of a century ago are now justified as merely "so-called outbursts of anti-semitism" which were

"artificially exaggerated and widely used by Jewish entrepreneurs

and rabbis" but were, according to the Soviet view, really "a

reaction to the exploitation to which the broad masses were

subjected in capitalist enterprises." These quotes are from a book

entitled "Zionism as a Form of Racism and Racial Discrimination," by

Lydia A. Modzhorian, a prominent l e gal scholar active in the Soviet

Academy of Sciences. These same themes have been echoed in many

Soviet military journals, indicating that anti-semitic propaganda is now part of the political indoctrination of the armed forces in which all males over the age of 18 are required to serve.

With the exit gates virtually closed to Jews, with their right

to enjoy their culture and practice their religion denied, with their schools closed and their nati onal language outlawed, with the

_propaganda of hatred being increas i ngly disseminated against them, is it any wonder that the Jews of t he Soviet Union seek to exercise their fundamental right to emigrate? • - 10 -

I began by noting the universal character of the Jewish freedom

struggle. It is, of course, the struggle of a people, of a national

group, and as such it is significant and important of itself. But

this struggle, by necessity as it were, poses a moral challenge to a

system of totalitarianism that cannot tolerate the independent

existence of any group, especially one with a clear identity and a

long and noble history of resistance against persecution. In

striving to preserve their cultural and religious identity and to

live as Jews in freedom, the Soviet Jewry movement strikes directly

at the principle of totalitarianism, which by its very nature must

deny the most fundamental human rights guaranteed in international

law -- freedom of thought, freedom of conscience, freedom of

religion, freedom of association and the right to emigrate to secure

liberty and enjoyment of these rights. In this sense, it dramatizes

and invigorates the universal yearning for freedom and is an

inspiration to peoples throughout the world in their opposition to

totalitarian oppression and to oppression of all kinds.

In closing, I want to read a message from President Reagan to

this Conference. It reads:

I want to express to you my deep concern for the tragic plight of the Soviet Jews. The issue of Soviet Jewry is of utmost importance to this Administration, just as it is to you who are gathered at this Third International Conference on Soviet Jewry. We have stated repeatedly that active concern for human rights is integral to our national interest and our foreign policy. Spiritual freedom is a fundamental pillar of human rights. Hence, the rights of all religious groups in the Soviet Union will remain in the forefront of U.S. human rights policy. Such Soviet actions as denying Soviet Jews their freedom to emigrate are an affront to all of us who cheris h individual liberties. Unfortunately, the situation continues to worsen...... <. - 11 -

The rate of emigration has plummeted, instances of harassment have increased, and new applicants are regularly denied exit visas. The world community must intensify its effort to stem and reverse these trends. I can assure you that the United States will help to lead this effort.

The tragic plight of Soviet Jews, however, is not solely limited to unreasonable visa denials and harassment of would-be emigrant~ and refuseniks. Their persecution in the Soviet Union has continued and has reached its current level primarily as a result of official government policies. We are told that many talented young Jews cannot gain admission to institutions of higher learning and cannot secure jobs commensurate with their education and experience. Under the guise of anti-Zionism, the Soviet press frequently publishes slanderous articles and books deriding Jewish culture, traditions and religion.

Despite the rights enumerated in the Soviet constitution and despite the fact that the Soviet Union is a signatory to such international agreements as the Helsinki Accords, Soviet Jews are. not permitted to study about their own culture and the H~bre~ · language; · ·· ..

Western political leaders must convince their Soviet counterparts that. a more flexible and humane approach to the questions of freedom of movement and fundamental rights is in the Soviet interest. Durable progress in East-West relations cannot be achieved without concurrent progress in human rights. U.S. officials will continue to discuss individual cases of visa denials, harassment, and family reunification with Soviet authorities. Moreover, the plight of Soviet Jews will remain a key issue on the agenda of such international forums as the Madrid review meeting on CSCE and the meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

We will continue to urge the Soviet Union to live up to the international standards it has freely accepted in a series of solemn agreements. Our commitment to basic human rights is borne by the spirit of freedom which is the soul of a democratic society. In refusing to accept Soviet mistreatment of its own people, we believe that actions by concerned citizens of other countries are extremely important. In saluting your meeting, I recognize that governments and private citizens are engaged in a common struggle for the rights of men and women everywhere. We ·stand with you.

Let all Jews in the Soviet Union -- whether refuseniks, prisoners of conscience or citizens seeking to maintain their human dignity -- know that we will not forget them. We will firmly support their just cause, for it is a major concern to freedom loving people everywhere.

Please accept my best wishes for a most successful meeting.

Ronald Reagan - 1 2 -

Our meeting here in Jerusalem i s part of our common struggle for

the rights of the oppressed Soviet Jews. We are all proud to be

here. We are honored to be in soli darity with brave people like

Anatoly Shcharansky, who give meani ng and hope to the fundamental

values of Western civilization.

--. For Shcharansky, Brailovsky, for Ida Nudel, for Vladimir Slepak, and for all their brethren in the Soviet Union, I say we stand with

you in h~aring and honoring your determination to be free.

Thank you. [ 2-12- - s€6"- oo 1( The Greater New York Conference on Soviet Jewry 8 West 40th Street. New York. N.Y. 10018 I 212-354-1316

Chairman Herbert Kronish Exocutlve Director Zeesy Schnur May 22, 1984 Honorary Chairman Elie Wiesel Immediate Past Chairman Dr. Seymour P Lechman Past Chairmen President Ronald Reagan Hon. Robert Abrams Hon. Eugene Gold The White House Robbi Gilbert Klopermon St anley H Lowell Washington, DC 20500 Mervin Riseman Vice Chairmen Edith Everett Hon Howard Golden Plot Howard Greenberger Alvin Hellerstein Dear President Reagan: Dr Albert Hornblass Seymour L Katz Ezra Levin Rabb• Haskel Lookstein Alan Pesky Kenneth Smilen Thank you for the message of support for Soviet Jewry you forwarded to Melvin Stein us on the occasion of the 13th annual Solidarity Sunday for Soviet Recording Secretary Naomi Cohen Jewry march and rally sponsored by the Greater New York Conference on Corresponding Secretory Soviet Jewry on May 6, 1984. We and the record crowd of 200,000 Nech1 Shudofsky Financial Secretary Americans who participated in this year's event appreciate your under Leonard S Kesten standing of the plight of the third largest Jewish population in the Treasurer Joshua Vogel world. Exocutlve Committee Carole Abramson David Bar-Ilion Although we are aware that many other issues must compete for your Dorothy Bergman attention, we would like to convey our disappointment that your Prof Hd~~R ~~~~~ Ira B1lus Administration was not represented at Solidarity Sunday for the first Jacob Birnbaum Dr Judi Bleich time. Because Soviet Jewish emigration has been cut off and the Bernard Breslin Hon Karen Burstein harassment of refuseniks and Prisoners of Conscience has increased Nancy Dubler - Da nny Duman Samuel Eisenstat markedly in the past year, Solidarity Sunday 1984 would have been an ~~7'~~:;:, ideal opportunity for a high-level Administration spokesperson to Robbi M~ron Fenster provide more than 2,500,000 Soviet Jews with a significant boost in t,o"orZ'~er, 1 ;;,~~ Ira Geitner morale by personally reaffirming our Government's devotion to their cause. Soul Glads one HoNeyGlick Amy Goldberg Robbi Jacob Goldbelg Now that Solidarity Sunday 1984 is history, we would like to take this Hon Hamson J Goldin No um L Gordon opportunity to urge you to renew your efforts both publicly and privately Hon Kenneth Gnbetz Pearl Hock to win freedom for the Jews of the Soviet Union. We appreciate the Dr Robert Hess Robbi David Hill commitment which you and Secretary of State George Shultz have Bernard Kobak Rabbi Shlomo Kohn expressed, and we are confident that appropriate American initiatives Abraham S ort1kow Alisa Kesten can bring about improvements in the current situation. George Klein Robbi Norman Lamm Dr Robert Lekochman Naomi Lippman We stand ready to be of assistance to you and m'embers of your Beverly Lvchfeld Sharon Monn Administration at any time, and we hope you will make the fate of Matthew J Moryles Plot Robert B McKay Soviet Jews a high priority in the coming months. Hon M lton Mallen David ussboum Robbi Alvin Poplock Dr Horal Ploshonsky ~ith all best wishes. Burton Resnick Irwin Robins Milton Roth Jud1t Shapiro Dr Noam Shudofsky Hon Sheldon Silver Sincerely yours, Lynn Singer Robbi Ronald Sobel Dorothea Ste1ndl Moshe Stillman ·?«..( <-1 /& tk {j_ .1<_; //,etie4 . ~ Dov1dWe1l Louis Weiser Zeesy Sthnur Herbert Kronish Robbi Av1 Weiss SomW1gder Executive Director Chairman

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GNYCSJ Is the coordlnottng agency for a coolltton of organizations and community groups In New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Rockland and lergen Counties. r

April 3 , 1985

As A erlcana. we know the antn of f • e t asure our lib rrt7 and aha.re t e aln f every p r on d nled the oppmthmtty to Uve 1n f •

y Admlnlatratto:n • alway n COl!itmt' for human rights for . th l w of the tbt occa8ion, the fourteenth annual So.tet Jewry, I would Uke to reafftrm • specific pl ge. Th Vffll ent of t Drtft d tates will do everything ln tu . w r to p auad Union to speet the fundamental Ira cltt1ena.

Our hearts go out to tho retu d ton te emigraw, to those imprisoned for act• of coned nee, to those baras ed and persecuted for tryln to p !'Te eul- tural and r Hgioua valu a and to all tho who ntfer officially eneour d anti- lttam. The p whtcll brought about tht appalling sftuatlo relations an to Improve betw n th C oviet Union, and if we a to ve tive path tn our relatlone which we k.

Ith their coura , their termination, d th tr devotion to freedom, th J we of the nfon an: tttng an xample tor all of us. As a nation anc.1 a people . our pl CE is t th tr aid • I commend the t n of thcue&ndo of Am ricans particlpetlng in th Solidarity Sundey arch d rally . I support you nd you haYe y best wiehe tor euceea 1 our g:re t ndeBvor.

SENT EXPRESS l\1AIL TO: Mr. Kenneth Smilen Coalition to Free Soviet Jews Suite 602 8 West 40th Street New York, New York------..... cc: K.Osborne/ .Lew· 7C.Korte/S.Herring/CF EVENT: May 5 DUE: May 5 RR/SRH/Nl\1/AVH/efr PMI Freedom ,- THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON

May 1, 1985

TO: CLAUDIA KORTE FROM: ZEV LEWIS RE: Presidential Message Request for Solidarity Sunday for Soviet Jewry Sunday, May 5, 1985 I would be grateful if you could arrange to provide a Presidential message for the above captioned organization activity. It is important to note that in light of recent events, the message might be tailored to reflect the Jewish community's concern regarding the Administration's awareness and sensitivity to the plight of Soviet Jewry. Kindly mail the message, by Friday, May 3, 1985 to: Mr . Kenneth Smilen Coalition to Free Soviet Jews 8 West 40th Street Suite 602 New York, New York 10018

Thank you for your attention to this matter. The Coalition to Free Soviet Jews I A~ission Ticket for Leadership Contingent SOLIDARITY SUi~DAY FOR SOVIET JEWRY MAY 5, 1985

Registration:

11:00 AM - Arsenal Building, West side of 5th Ave., at 64th Street.

or 12:30 PM - 48th Street & 1st Ave.

Please present this ticket at the registration desk. It is not transferable, ' The Greater New York Conference orl Soviet Jewry 8 West 40th Street. New York. N.Y. 10018 I 212-354-1316

Chairman Herbert K1on1sh Executive Director Zeesy Schnur Hono rary Chairman December 14, 1984 Elie Wiesel Immediate Post Chairman Dr Seymou1 P Lechman President Ronald Reagan Post Cha irmen Hon Robert Abrams The White House Hon Eugene Gold Robbi G1lben Klope1mon Washington, D. C. 20500 Stanley H Lowell Mervin R1semon Vice Chairmen Dear President Reagan: Edith Everett Hon Howard Golden Piaf Howard Greenberger Alvin Hellers1e1n We are writing to congratulate you on your re-election as D1 Albert Homb1oss Seymou1 L Kotz President of the United States, and to invite you or Vice President Ezra Levin Robbi Haskel Lookste1n Bush to deliver the keynote address at the 14th annual Solidarity Alon Pesky Kennetn Sm1len Sunday for Soviet Jewry rally, to be held in New York City on May Melvin Stein 5, 1985. The Solidarity Sunday event, which is annually attended Rec o r ~~%~c~~o'X by tens of thousands of Americans from throughout the northeast, is Corresponding Secretary N -hi Shuoofsky widely recognized as the single largest and most significant annual Flnanclol Secretory public demonstration in the world on behalf of more than 2,500,000 Leonard S. Kesten Trea surer Soviet Jews, the world's third largest Jewish population. Joshua Vogel Exec utive Co mmittee Carole Abramson In the past, Solidarity Sunday marches and rallies have always had David Bot-Ilion Dorothy Be1gmon a significant impact, but there is reason to believe that the 1985 Prof H~~~ J::~~~ event will be uniquely important. The wave of oppression which has Ira B1lus Ja cob B11nboum swept the Soviet Union this fall, a wave punctuated by numerous Dr Judith Bleich Bernard Breslin arrests, searches and threats directed against key Jewish Hon Koren Burstein Nancy Dubler activists, by intense anti-Semitic propaganda, and by an almost Donny Duman Sornuf'I E1senstot total halt in emigration, has brought the Soviet Jewry movement to Henly ~verett Cecile Feder a crossroads. We are the ones who hold in our hands the key to the RobHb~~l~\~~ 1~en~1~~ future of the Jews of the Soviet Union, and years from now, 1985 Dr. Norman ~1mer Ira Geffner may become known as the moment in time when decisive American Soul Gladstone Harvey Glick action ensured their survival. Arny Goldbo1g Robbi Jacob Goldb01g Hon Hamson J Goldin Nahum L Gordon We believe that your personal participation in Solidarity Sunday Hon io.enneth Gnbetz "earl Hack 1985 would dramatize in unmistakable terms your Administration's Dr r\vbt-.'rl H SS Robbi David Hill enduring connnitment to this struggle for freedom. Your presence t'emord Kobak Robbi Srdorno Kohn would be a fitting recognition of the paramount importance /\brohorn S Karhkow Aliso Kesten thousands of Americans attach to the Soviet Jewry issue. George Klein Robb: No1rnon Lamm Solidarity Sunday 1985 would also afford an extraordinary Dr Robert Lekochmon Noon» Lippman opportunity for you to convey a message the Kremlin could not Beverly luchfeld Sharon Monn ignore, while simultaneously providing vital moral support for Matthew J Moiyles Prof Robert B McKay thousands of refuseniks and Prisoners of Conscience at their hour Hon Milton Mellen David Nussbaum of need. Robb• Alvin Poplock Dr Harold r1oshonsl..y B.Hton Resnick liwin Robins In the past, such prominent Americans as Senator Robert Dole, the f,'.11ton Roth Judith Shapiro late Senator Henry Jackson, Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick, former Dr Noam ShudDIS

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GNYCSJ Is the c oordinating agency tor a coalltton of orga nizations a nd community groups In New Yoli< City, Long Island, Westches1'er, Rockland and Bergen Counties. ~-·

coverage of this event is always extensive, with reports frequently app~aring as front page news.

As we look ahead to May 5, 1985, we can think of no one who would be a more appropriate choice to serve as our keynote speaker. In this spirit, we hope that after you have looked at the enclosed materials describing the current situation and previous Solidarity Sundays, you will agree to be with us on this occasion next year. We stand ready to answer any questions you might have, and to meet with you or members of your staff to work out the necessary details.

Thank you for your consideration and support. We will look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

?ee~ JLuw /~ t -t J /~~--H; / £ Zeesy Schnur Herbert Kronish Executive Director Chairman

Encl. --·-·--~-=~-=...... ,.,...... ------ll!!!!!!!ll!!!!!!!!!!!!l!!l!ll!!!l!I _____

The Greater New York Conference ott Soviet Jewry 8 West 40th Street. New York. N.Y. 10018 I 212-354-1316

Chollmon Herbert Kron1sh Executive Director December 14, 1984 Zeesy Schnur Honorary Chairman E1teW1ese1 Vice President George Bush Immediate Post Chairman Dt Sc>vmour P Locnmon .The White House Post Chairmen I Ion flobort Abrams Washington, D.C. 20500 Hon Eugene Gold Rabbi G1lber1 Klape1man 51an1ey H Lowell MeN1n R1semon Dear Vice President Bush: Vice Chairmen Edith Everett Hon Howard Golden We are writing to congratulate you on your r e-election as Vice Prof Howard Greenberger Alvin Hellerste1n President of the United States, and to invite you to deliver the Dr Abert HornblOS$ 5eymou1 L Katz keynote address at the 14th annual So lidarity Sunday for Soviet Ezra Levin Rabbi Haskel Lookstoin Jewry rally, to be held in New York City on May 5, 1985. The Aton Pesky Konnoth Sm1len Solidarity Sunday event, which is annually attended by tens of Melvin Stein thousands of Americans from throughout the northeast, is widely Recording Secretary Na0rn1 Coh1ir1 recognized as the single largest and most significant annual public Correspo~~~9 ~~~f~~ demonstration in the world on behalf of more than 2,500,000 Soviet Flnonc lol Secretory Jews, the world's third largest Jewish population. Leonard S l\esten Treasurer Joshua Vogel In the past, Solidarity Sunday marches and rallies have always had Executive Committee Carota Abramson a significant impact, but there is reason to believe that the 1985 Oovtd Rot Ilion D01onw !lorvmon event will be uniquely important. The wave of oppression which has Irving llornstoin Prof I lerberf B1enstock swept the Soviet .Union this fall, a wave punctuated by numerous Ira B1lus Jacob [lirnt)Qum arrests, searches and threats directed against key Jewish Dr Judith Blc1cl1 Bernard Bros1in activists, by intense anti-Semitic propaganda, and by an almost Han Karen Burstein Nancy Dubler total halt in emigration, has brought the Soviet Jewry movement to Danny Duman Somuc,1 E1sensta t a crossroads. We are the ones who hold in our hands the key to the Hvrny [ verett Coc1le Foder future of the Jews of the Soviet Union, and years from now, 1985 Robt'' M$ron Fenster may become known as the moment in time when decisive American o7o~r~°an~e{. 1 ~n:, Ira Gettner action ensured their survival. Saul Gladstone Harver, Ghck Amy Go,dberg Robbi Jacob Goldberg We believe that your personal participation in Solidarity Sunday Hon Humson J Goldin Nahum L Gordon 1985 would dramatize in unmistakable terms both your devotion and Hon Kenneth Gnbetz Pearl Hack the Administration's enduring commitment to this struggle for Dr Robert Hess Rabbt David Hill freedom. Your presence would be a fitting recognition of the Bernard Kobak Rabbi Shlomo Kahn paramount importance thousands of Americans attach to the Soviet Abraham S Korh>-ow Alisa Kesten Jewry issue. Solidarity Sunday 1985 would also afford an Geor,1e Klein l

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GNYCSJ Is the coordinating agency for a coalltton'OI organizations and community groups In New Yorti City, Long Island, Westchesler, Rockland and Bergen Counties. ,. coverage of this event is always extensive, with reports frequently appearing• as front page news.

Thank you for your consideration and support. We will look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely, -?ee.stt ~ Zeesy Schnur Executive Director Chairman

Encl. The Greater NewYork Conference on ·Soviet Jewry 8 West 40th Street, New York, N.Y. 10018 I 212-354-1316

Chairman Herbert Kronish Executive Director Zeesy Schnur Honorary Chairman Elie Wiesel Immediate Past Chairman Dr. Seymour P. Lechman December 14, 1984 Past Chairmen Hon Robert Abrams Hon. Eugene Gold Rabbi Gilbert Klaperman Stanley H Lowell Mervin Riseman Dr. Marshall Breger Vice Chairmen Edith Everett Special Assistant to the President Hon. Howard Golden Prof Howard Greenberger for Public Liaison Alvin Hellerste· Dr. Albert Hornblass The White House, Room 197 Seymour L Katz Ezra Levin Washington, D.C. 20500 Rabbi Haskel Lookstein Alan Pesky Kenneth Smilen Melvin Stein Dear Marshall: Recording Secretary Naomi Cohen Corresponding Secretary For your information, we are pleased to share copies of letters Nech1 Shudofsky we have addressed to President Reagan and Vice President Bush, Financial Secretary Leonard S. Kesten inviting them to speak at next year's Solidarity Sunday rally. Treasurer Joshua Vogel We are hoping that by notifying them now, we will not face the Executive Committee scheduling conflicts which have made it impossible for them to Carole Abramson David Bar-Ilion attend in the past. Dorothy Bergman Prof. H~~~~ ~~~~~ Ira Bilus We will keep you informed of any responses, and we would Jacob Birnbaum Dr. Judith Bleich appreciate any assistance you can provide in this connection. Bernard Breslin Hon. Karen Burstein Nancy Dubler Danny Duman Sincerely, Samuel Eisenstat ~er::7ii~~:, Rabbi M~ron Fenster D7°~br~aan~e!Yn~~ Ira Geffner Saul Gladstone Zeesy Schnur Herbert Kronish Harvey Glick Amy Goldberg Executive Director Chairman Rabbi Jacob Goldberg Hon. Harrison J. Goldin Nahum L. Gordon Hon. Kenneth Gnbetz Encl. Pearl Hack DrRobertHess Rabbi David Hill Bernard Kobak Rabbi Shloma Kahn Abraham S. Karlikow Alisa Kesten George Klein Rabbi Norman Lamm Dr Robert Lekachman Naomi Lippman Beverly Luchfeld Sharon Mann Matthew J. Maryles Prof. Robert B McKay Hon. Milton Mallen David Nussbaum Rabbi Alvin Poplack Dr. Har~~rt~~~~~f~k Irwin Robins Milton Roth Judith Shapiro Dr. Noam Shudofsky Hon. Sheldon Silver Lynn Singer Rabbi Ronald Sobel Dorothea Steindl Moshe Stillman David Weil Louis Weiser Rabbi Avi Weiss SamWigder

S11/>fx1rted b)' tbe I ·uited feu·1sh 1V>J>ea/ aud the Federation ofje1u'.\h J)hilc111tlw<1/Jies

GNYCSJ Is the coordinating agency for a coalltton of organizations and community groups In New VOite City, Long Island, Westchester, Rockland and Bergen Counties. Free Sons of Israel, Hashachar, A T 'X Rabbinical Council of America, American Zt0rnst Federation, oo~nL ITT'ON' f TO FREE so~' V 'IET];' , V VllS \ * American Jewish Committee, NewYorkBoardofRabbis, Re · d . . . N y kc· I I d "' h Ro kl d d B . CenterforRussianJewry, United Synagogue of America, presentmg concerne orgamzanons m ew or uy, Long s an , vvestc ester, c an an ergen Counnes. Westchester Jewish Conference, National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods, International Network of Children of Jewish Holocaust Survivors, New York Legislators Coalition for Soviet Jewry, B'nai B'rith Youth Organization, Women's League for Conservative Judaism, Queens Council for Soviet Jewry, Brooklyn Coalition for Soviet Jewry, Herut Zionists of America.Rabbinical Assembly,Betar, Council of Jewish Organizations in Civil Service, Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, N.Y. Legal Coalition to Free Soviet Jews, Survivors of Nazi Camps and Resistance Fighters, International League for the Repatriation of Russian Jews, Association of Orthodox Jewish Teachers, Poale Agudath Israel, Zionists Organization of America, Jewish Community Council of Canarsie, B'nai B'rith Metropolitan Conference, Warsaw Ghetto Resistance Organization, Rockland County Committee for Soviet Jewry, Association of Reform Rabbis of New York, Labor Zionists Alliance, Women's League for Israel, Staten Island Committee for Soviet Jewry, Americans For Progressive Israel, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, Jewish War Veterans, B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation, United Jewish Community of Bergen County, Manhattan Coalition for Soviet Jewry, American Jewish Congress, Oceanfront Council for Soviet Jewry, Jewish Association of College Youth/Hillel, American ORT Federation, Queens Jewish Community Council, Emunah Women, Alumni Association Teachers Institute of Seminary College of Jewish Studies, Religious Zionists of America, B'nai Akiva, Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry, National Council of Young Israel, Economists for Ida Nudel, Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst. Women's American ORT. Board of Jewish Education. Jewish Teachers Association . AMIT Women. United Synagogue Youth, American Federation of Jewish Fighters, Camp Inmates and Nazi Victims, National Federation of Temple Youth, B'nai Zion, National Conference on Synagogue Youth, Association of Orthodox Jewish Sc ientists. Noar Mizrachi , Long Island Committee for Soviet Jewry, Jersey Action for Soviet Jewry. Washington Heights-Inwood Council for Soviet Jewry, Jewish Labor Committee, Young Israel Collegiates and Young Adults, New York Federation of Reform Synagogues, Workmen's Circle, Pioneer Women, Jewish American Political Affairs Committee, Hadassah, National Council of Jewish Women, B'nai B'rith Women, Masada/ZOA 8 West 40th Street, Suite 602, New York, NY. 10018 (212) 354-1316 CHAIRMAN Herbert Kronish EXECUTI VE DIRECTOR Zeesy Schnur HONORARY CHAIRMAN Elie Wiesel PAST CHAIRMEN Dr. Seymour P Lachman Mervin Riseman April 18, 1985 Hon. Robert Abrams Hon. Eugene Gold Stanley H. Lowell Rabbi Gilbert Klaperman VICE CHAIRMEN Irving L Bernstein Edith Everett Hon. Howard Golden Prof. Howard Greenberger Seymour L Katz Ezra Levin Dear Friend, Rabbi Haskel Lookstein Alan Pesky Dr. Noam Shudofsky We hope that you are making plans to join us for Solidarity Sunday for Kenneth Smilen Melvin Stein Soviet Jewry on May 5, 1985. With the new Soviet leadership, this Rabbi Avraham Weiss RECORDING SECRETARY year's march is particularly important. It provides us with an Naomi Cohen important opportunity to demonstrate our determination to stand CORRESPONDING SECRETARY Nechi Shudofsky alongside Soviet Jews in their quest f or freedom. FINANCIAL SECRETARY Leonard S. Kesten TREASURER Please bring the enclosed registration card to the special registration Joshua Vogel EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE area indicated on your card. Beginning promptly at noon, the leadership David Bar-lllan Andrew Benerofe contingent will lead the march down Fifth Avenue to 48th Street, where Dorothy Bergman Jacob Birnbaum you will turn left and proceed to First Avenue. You will be entering Dr. Judith Bleich Dag Hammarskjold Plaza through checkpoints set up at First Avenue and Bernard Breslin Hon. Karen Burslei n 48th Street. Samuel Eisensradt Henry Everett Cecile Feder Rabbi Myron Fenster If you cannot participate in the march, you can register for the rally Hon. Stanley Fink at a separate registration area which will be set up on the southwest Hon. Harrisonj. Geidin Sally Goodgold corner of First Avenue and 48th Street. The rally will last from Blu Greenberg Hon. Kenneth Gribetz approximately 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Pearl Hack Alvin Hellerstein Rabbi David Hill Dr. Albert Homblass By participating on May 5, you will be sending a personal signal of Bernard Kabak vital importance to more than 2,500,000 Soviet Jews. We look forward to Abraham S. Karlikow Marilyn Katz seeing you there. Alisa Kesten George Klein Naomi Lippman Sharon Mann Sincerely, Matthew J Maryles Prof. Robert B. McKay Hon. Manfred Ohrenstein Dr. Harold Proshansky William Rapfogel ~Sc.Av....--- *1-~+ ~-1 Burton Resnick Irwin Robins zeesy Schnur Herbert Kronish Judith Shapiro Executive Director Chairman Hon. Sheldon Silver Lynn Singer Dr. Ronald B. Sobel Dorothea Steindl David Weil Supported by th< g~~c~!~~h :Offalof and the Federation of Jewish Philatllhropies

•formerly l he Greater New York Conference on Soviet Jewry THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHtNGTON April 30, 1985

As Americans, we know the meaning of freedom. We treasure our liberty and share the pain of every person denied the opportunity to live in freedom.

My Administration has always been committed to working for human rights for the Jews of the Soviet Union. On this occasion, the fourteenth annual Solidarity Sunday for Soviet Jewry, I would like to reaffirm this commitment with a specific pledge. The government of the United States will do everything in its power to persuade the Soviet Union to respect the fundamental human rights of all its citizens.

Our hearts go out to those refused permission to emigrate, to those imprisoned for acts of conscience, to those harassed and persecuted for tyring to preserve their cul tural and religious values and to all those who suffer from officially encouraged anti-Semitism. The practices which brought about this appalling sit uation must be ended if relations are to improve between the United States and the Soviet Union and if we are to move onto the more coopera tive path in our relations which we Americans desire and seek.

With their courage, their determinatiOn, and their devo tion to freedom, the Jews of the Soviet Union are setting an example for all of us. As a nation and a people, our place is at their side. I commend the tens of thousands of Americans participating in the Solidarity Sunday march and rally. I support you and you have my best wishes for success in your great endeavor. pril 3 • 1 8

SENT EXPRESS MAIL TO: Mr. Kenneth Smilen Coalition to Free Soviet Jews Suite 602 8 West 40th Street New York, New York 10018 cc: K .Osbornc/Z. Lewis/ C. Korte/ S. Herring/ CF EVENT: May 5 DUE : May 5 RR/SRH/NM/AVH /efr P~I Freedom