Page 6-The Canadian Jewish News^ Thursday, September 14, 1989
World-National
M-T
Jews may still be considered refuge
)pgsal to
WASHINGTON (JTA) -
The Bush administration reportedly has dropped a proposal to temporarily restrict Soviet immigration to those with family ties to the United States.
An estimated 50 to 60 per cent of Soviet Jews applying to enter the United States would have been barred by this proposal, which was to be put into effect during the first six months of the 1990 fiscal year, according to David Harris. Washington . representative of the American Jewish Committee,
The 1990 fiscal year begins Oct;. 1.
News that the adminjs-tratiori had dropped the profxisai was confirmed by Mark Talisman. Washington representative of the Couricii of Jewish Federations,
The Bush administration denied last week that it was considering a change in 'policy that would make some Soviet Jews ineligible for immigration to the United States.
The State Depariment is-
sued a statement to that effect, in response to reports in The New York Times and The Washington Post that the [ United States would give refugee status only to those who have immediate relatives in the United States. ° "Disgusting and shameful" were the words' one congressman used to describe the plan.
"I don't think the Bush administration is correctly sensing the mood in Congress," Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
Engel. who had just returned from visiting the U.S. refugee processing centre for Soviet refugees in Rome, called the Bush administratiori "hypocrites.''
"They talk about people not being admitted unless : they have family-membersr. here. Arid the policy of the United States government in recent months has been to separate families,!i-he said;
He was referring to decisions by US; immigration official.s to grant
refugee status to some members of Soviet Jewish families and not to others.
Buoyed by Engel's support, a group of Soviet Jews temporarily suspended their hunger strike after he joined them outside the _U.S. Embassy in the fashionable Via Veneto in Rome.
The protesters were in the vanguard of several thousand recent arrivals from the Soviet Union whose applications for refugee status have been twice rejected by the American immigration authorities.
Although they hold Israeli visas, they do not want to. immigrate to that country.
More than 5.000 Jews have been denied adniis-sion to the United States as refugees since October 1988. Those denied more than once had little official recourse, which led them to resort to the hunger strike.
When the first reports of the U.S. plan to restrict Soviet immigration surfaced, the reaction from
American Jewish groups was muted.
' 'The majority of federations will not fight the government on this because of their own financial problerns,'' said Ben Ziori Leuchter, president of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, which assists Soviet Jews in immigrating to the United States.
"Some Jewish communities are saying that their resources are limited and that they are nearing the f)oint where they can only fund family-reunification cases.'' Leuchter said.
What Leuchtercalls "the Israel- factor" may also push American Jewish leaders toward agreeing to limitations on.Soviet Jewish emigration to the United States.
For years, the Israelis have contended that since: emigrating Soviet Jews hold Israeli entry visas, they should not be deemed refugees. In 1987, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir asked President Ronald Reagan to discontinue the granting of such status.
State Department
spokesman Margaret Tut- . wiler acknowledged that the Bush administration has not completed work on a new proposal to handle the explosion of Jews and others leaving the Soviet Union. • Tutwiler read a statement reaffirming the U:S. policy to assist the im--rnigfation of Jews and other Soviets, but left Unclear whether the administration plans to limit the
number of Jews and others entering the country as refugees.
She would only go as far as to say diat the administration intends to give priority as refugees to those with families already in dife United States, whether they. came from the Soviet CJn-" ion or other parts of the world.
Meanwhile, President Bush was urged Thursday by House Majority
Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) to allow 100,000 Eastern Europeans to enter the United States as refugees in 1990.
Ill a letter also signed by Rep. William Lipinski CD-Ill.), the lawmakers asked Bush to create a 12-month refugee category "for those who have fled Communist regimes in the. Soviet Uniori and Eastern Europe."
Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University
seeks an experienced
Executive Director, Central Region
Executive will be responsible fqr the development of lay leadership, programming, and fundraising on behalf of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Toronto and surrounding communities. ------------------™
Candidates must demonstrate strong interpersonal and organizational skills and "successful track record in fund-raising. ' ■■■
Resumes rnay be mailed in strict confidence to; Mr Shimon Ar-bel, Executive Vice-President, Canadian Friends of the Hebrew Univer-Tity, 3080 Yonge St., Ste. 5024, Toronto. Ont. M4N 3P4.
Soviet Jewish immigrants to Israel prompted this Tel Aviv New Immigrants. We Speak Russian."
owner to proclaim: "Special Prices for
NEW YORK (JTA/JPFS) -
More Jews emigrated from tlie Soviet Union in August than in any single month on record, according to the National Conference on Soviet Jewry.
The tally was 6,756, of whom 793, or 11.7 per cent, went to Israel, according to the NCSJ's Soviet Research Bureau, which began tabulating emigration from the Soviet Union in 1968.
The previous monthly high was in October, 1979, when 4.746 Jews departed; That, year, Jewish emigra-_ tion totaled 51,320, a Jigure that has not been-matched in recenf^yearsT Total Jewish emigration so far this year stands at 33,444.
- This year's second-highest monthly figure was
4,557, recorded in April.
"We welcome the August increase, which surpasses the previous month high for 1989 by more dian 2.000,'' Shoshana Cardin, NCSJ chairwoman, said in a statement. "This is a de-yelopment oC major; significance."
Cardin expressed hope that the upward trend, will continue. However, she added. "While we rejoice for those who have been able to leave the Soviet Union, we remain mindful of the fact that capriciousness is still part of the Soviet emigration procedure.
I'Fw example, only last
fused" because she lacks the requisite "security" clearances, Cardin said.
In Jerusalem, the Jewish
Agency reported that, during August, 1.700 Christians also left the Soviet Union on Israeli visas.
week, long-term refuse-niks Igor, Inna and Sla--Va Uspensky received offkial permisskMitoani-grate, while Igor's 77-yeair-old mother, a retired biologist, is still re-
Canadian Zionist Federation
requires
Executive Director with Quebec/National Responsibilities
Location: Montreal
The candidate will have extensive Jewish and Zionist background with experience in related community work, and possess degree in political science (preferred) or related fields.
He/she will be a team person with strong interpersonal skills and will possess the ability to communicate effectively at all levels with officers, management, staff. Knowledge of Hebrew and French an asset.
Salary commensurate with experience. Excellent fringe benefit package. ; - ^ ^^j.
Please send curriculum vitae detailing relevant ex-. perience and background with salary requirements to: Canadiam Zionist Federation, Personnel and Finance Committee, 5250 Decarie Blvd.. Ste. 550, Montreal, Que. H3X 2H9
All inquiries will be treated confidentially.
One Great
As this season of joyous family celebration approaches, we at Mrs. Whyte's would like to add to your traditional Holiday table our own fifty years of tradition. .
Throughout the years we have taken great pride in the variety and freshness of our products. Our fine offering of pickles; herrings, appetizers and garnishes are carefully prepared for your every occasion.
•u.
■ I
I
I
ifii.
■ -
■St
f
5^33