October 14, 1968
Page 31501
HUMPHREY-MUSKIE CALL FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
HON. HERBERT TENZER OF NEW YORK IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Monday, October 14, 1968
Mr. TENZER. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend thousands of Americans throughout the Nation met in demonstrations of solidarity with Soviet Jews on the eve of the celebration of the Jewish holiday, Simchas-Torah.
The Vice President of the United States HUBERT H. HUMPHREY sent his message of solidarity to these demonstrations in major cities across the Nation, including New York's Central Park and the Washington Monument.
The message of the Vice President and his running mate Senator MUSKIE was clear, unequivocal, and of importance to all Americans.
The Vice President has long been a friend of Israel, of the Jewish peopleand an outspoken critic of Soviet oppression of Jewry. Senator MUSKIE has also been a leader in the fight to bring world opinion to bear on the Russians for their treatment of Jews. Senator MUSKIE – a man who has fought for minority groups and who recognizes the problems of minorities abroad as well as at home – joined the Vice President in the following telegram which I place in the RECORD at this point:
RABBI ISRAEL MILLER,
Chairman, American Jewish Conference on Soviet Jewry,
New York, N.Y.
I want to take the occasion of this weekend's nation-wide Simchas Torah demonstrations of solidarity with Soviet Jews to reaffirm my long-standing opposition to continued restrictions on Jews in the Soviet Union.
We must continue to protest these restrictions on the Jewish community in the Soviet Union and to decry anti-semitism not only in the U.S.S.R. but where it exists. We should encourage the Soviet leaders to make religious freedom and cultural expression, including the training of spiritual leaders, a reality for millions of Russian Jews. Senator Muskie joins me in our expression of solidarity. We pray that the joy of the Simchas Torah festival will, in the future, have meaningful year-round expression for Jews all over the world.
Sincerely,
HUBERT H. HUMPHREY.
I am sure my colleagues in the House will join me in a call for restoration of cultural and spiritual dignity to Jews in the Soviet Union.
The Vice President and Senator MUSKIE, by their statement of solidarity with Soviet Jews, have made the point that when the basic rights of any person or any group are threatened, then the rights of all of us are in danger.