Vienna 'drop-out' rate
JERUSAL^
immigrants to Israel, who speak Russian, m the high rate of drop-outs among Soviet Jewish emigres Who opt to go to countries other than Israel chiefly the United States — after they reach Vienna. According to the latest information, the drop-out rate is running close to 60 percent ^ The plan, suggested by Raphael Kotlowitz, chairman of the Jewish Agency's immigration department, would send the Russian-speaking Americans to, Vienna as emissaries to try to persuade the drop-outs to change their minds. Kotlowitz believes the Americans would be more credible than the Israeli-settled Soviet immigra^ts who now counsel their former countrymen at the Vienna transit centres. The Americanscan dispel the image that America's streets are **paved with gold," according to Kotlowitz who thinks it is, that imageiwhich attracts,the emigres to the US. rather than to Israel.
Thursday, Septenriber 14. 1978 — THE BULLETIN — 11
schools
NEW) YORK - The Al Tidom association reported it had learned that Soviet Jewish refuisniks in Mosc(i|W have begun two new projects in Jewish education, one for kindergarteners and the^second for the seven to I S-year-old age group.
A group of woman activists has recently organized a nursery school-kindergarten for refusnik children and the sons and daughters of Prisoners of Conscience. The school is held in a private apartment and no tuition is charged:
Boris Ghernobolsky and his friends also opened a Sunday school-cheder for refusnik children from seven to" I5-years old. The curriculum will'include the fundamentals of Judaism, Hebrew language, Jewish songs and Bar-Mitz-
vah preparation.
The son of a noted refusnik celebrated his Bar-Mitzvah in a joyous celebration in the family's Moscow apartment, according to Al Tidom. Alexander Kreman, son of Mikhail and Galina Kreman, was feted at a celebration in the Kreman apartment attended by about 40 fellow refusniks. ,
Mikhail delivered an emotional address to those assembled.
The woman activists gave Alexander a cake on behalf of the POCs. Among the other gifts given to the Bar-Mitzvah boy was a Siddur printed in Israel a treasure in the Soviet Union.
Afterwards, a festive musical program was staged including the singing of Jewish and Israeli songs. •
By ZVIARENSTEIN
BENrGURION AIRPORT ^ Former Prisoner of Zion Israel Zalmanson arrived here aboard an El Al flight from Vienna.
Greeting Jiim were his sister Silva Zaflmanson Kuznetsov, other relatives, government ministers and the local and foreign press.
Zalmanson emotionally told the gathering that "I cannot be completely happy because I am not the last. There are still more people in So^^et camps and prisons; My two brothers and Silva's husband Edu-ard are still being held capitve,"
Zalmanson recently finished an eight-year prison sentence in the Soviet Union for his part in planning ^ an unsuccessful hijacking of an airliner to Scandinavia. He was sentenced at the Leningrad trials on June 15, 1970.
His twin Shmuel is serving a 10-year sentence on bribery charges. His brother Wulf is also serving 10 years and Eduard Kutznetzov a 15-year sentence, for their roles in the hijacking. Silva was released after four years due to public pressure from the West.
Zalmanson, looking healthy and sporting a newly-trimmed beard, was whisked off to a Jewish Agency reception Centre Where he signed his
NEW YORK — The Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry and Union of Councils for Soviet Jews reported that 30-year-old Kishinev refusemlc Mikhail Roiz, a radio engineer, has been sentenced to ja year's imprisoh-rneht for "di^ft ev^^ he has already served three years in the Red Army.
first Israeli forms, was given his immigrant's allotment of money and was issued an immigrant identity
■card. ■' ^ - ■ '
In welcoming the new arrival, Minister-without-Portfolio Haim Landau said that Israel is not interested in **changing the world" in the Soviet Union. "We have only one purpose. The right for every Jew in Russia to make aliyah."
Absorption Minister David Levy informed Zalmanson about Israel's geographical features but especially told the bachelor about the "beauti^ ful women in our country."
*'I hope you will have children who will grow up in an atmosphere of freedom and in that area I can give you some advice," said the father of
Zalmanson thanked all those who
had written letters to him and his •friends while he was in prison. **We know that many people are writing but not enough of the letteis are getting through," he said.
Asked what might be done to improve the dropout rate of Soviet Jews in Vienna, Zalmanson said that he had discussed the problem with his friends in prison.
"Some people suggested that if the planes would fly direct to Israel this would be better. There also should be more information about what is happening in Israel and more should be done to convince them that they wiU only be outsiders in America and will find discrimination there."
Zialmanson spoke in excellent Hebrew. He said that he began learning the language before entering prison. (Jerusalem Posti
ISRAEL ZALMANSON, sporting a newlyrtrimined beard, is greeted by his sister, Silya Zalmanson Kuznetsov, on his arrival at Ben-Gurion sarport. (Jerusalem Post)
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