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PAGE 2 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE February 14, 1986 25 DAY T0UR/i4 touring days NETANY A INC AIR FARE FROM NY ISRAEL'S ■ RIVIERA" $1795 MOV FSB loHttr iwrffis iiUI cost I Plus 10% a in'lift 2 MEALS DAILY —FULLY ESCORTED IN ISRAEL—SUPERIOR 1ST CLASS HOTELS H , Liiwre Time Toins 145 98 Brewer Blw! Queens NY 11434 < ny 718-528 -0700 other states 800-223-2624 Come To Israel - Come Stay With Friends m is what your Mercedes Benz and BMW receive at GARVIN’S. We are one of the best equipped shops in the Southeast area. GARVIN’S PAINT & BODY SHOP 3163 Roswell Rd., N.E. Specialists in Mercedes Benz and BMW repa tBEADAZZlES “Jewelry Designed And Made By YOU” Bridal Attendant Gifts And At A Discount, Too! Bring in Your Wedding Invitation and receive a 20% Discount When making 3 or more gifts for your bridal party or trousseau Our experienced Accessory Consultants will assist you in designing & coordinating beautiful accessories to be worn long after the wedding. The Balconies 290 Hilderbrand Dr. M-F 10-5 (off Roswell Rd.-by Sat 10-4 the Punchline) 843-8606 Credit enough for everyone in Shcharansky’s release by Joseph Polakoff TSI's Washington Correspondent W ASHINGTON —Why did So viet authorities release Anatoly Shcharansky at this particular time' 1 Who was primarily responsible for bringing about his freedom after he had'served eight of the 13 years imposed upon him by Soviet courts? What are the objectives now of the “Save Soviet Jewry" movement that had Shcharansky’s imprison ment as a central case to its cam paigns for human rights in the U.S.S.R. These were among questions raised once Shcharansky and his beloved wife A vital, who had strug gled for 12 years to have him freed, were reunited in Frankfurt. On arrival in Israel, Shcharansky was embraced by Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Foreign Minis ter Yitzhak Shamir. Peres asked him in Hebrew. “How are you?” Shcharansky replied: “Everything is OK.” Israeli President Chaim Herzog 'said on CBS that Shcharansky did not spy or violate any law. Shcha ransky w ished to be identified as “a proud Jew." Herzog also said in Israel that Shcharansky was a “symbol and a flag" for Soviet Jews wishing to emigrate. At the White House, chief spo kesman Larry Speakes said: “Shcha- ransky’s release is a product of close U.S.-German cooperation over an extended period of time. The president has expressed his warm appreciation of Chancellor (Helmut) Kohl for the substantia! contribution of the government of the Federal Republic of Germany in bringing about Mr. Shcharan- Father Drinan sky’s release.” At the Stale Department, spo kesman Bernard Kalb read a state ment that said President Reagan and Chancellor Kohl "welcome the fact that it has been possible to gain the release of Anatoly Shcha ransky—a Prisoner of Conscience.” The statement reiterated that the outcome was “a product of close cooperation" between the U.S. and West German governments. Kalb added, “We do not con sider this to be a spy case. There have been releases in the past of human rights activists. As a matter of fact, we consider Shcharansky’s release to be an additional and separate benefit to a package arrangement which otherwise dea : s with intelligence matters on both sides. “We would have preferred that the Soviets simply release Shcha ransky, but it was clear that the Soviet authorities were not re sponding to the numerous appeals family, governments and private organizations around the world. Our overriding concern in making the trade was Shcharansky’s per sonal health and well-being out. not in. in short. “We have made absolutely clear," Kalb continued, “that the circum stances of Shcharansky’s release do not in any way corroborate Soviet allegations of his involve ment in espionage. The bottom line for us is that this courageous man has finally been given his freedom.” “Presidents Carter and Reagan,” Kalb added, “have stated publicly that Shcharansky was not an agent of the U.S. government, it was clear that the Soviets in 1978 ar rested Shcharansky for his acti vism as a highly effective leader of the Moscow-Helsinki monitoring group and a proponent of freedom of emigration. He has consistentlv maintained his own innocence, as has his family. So by way of em phasis and re-emphasis, Anatoly Shcharansky was never an agent of any kind of the U.S. government, despite the trumped-up evidence. However, the Rev. Robert Dri nan. the Jesuit priest who had served for years as a Democratic congressman from Massachussetts, named Avital Shcharansky as “the person most responsible" for her husband's freedom. “It was Avital who brought about the miracle on Feb. II, 1986," Drinan said, re sponding at a news conference ar ranged by the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews to a question about the White House statement. Dri nan. who is chairman of the Inter national Committee to Free Anatolv Shcharansky. predated intense Ahavath Achim Synagogue Singles Shabbat Dinner Come and share in a traditional Shabbat experience! The evening features a multi-course meal, services, and an Oneg Shabbat to follow. Dinner - 6:45 PM W i" - 1 Services - 8:15 PM reO. Oneg - 9:15 PM Make your reservations immediately by sending a $10.00 check by February 17, 1986 to: Ahavath Achim Synagogue 600 Peachtree Battle Avenue Atlanta, GA 30327 Attn: Singles Dinner Please include your name, phone number and address. For more information or to phone in your reservation, call the Synagogue Office at 355-5222. Your Chance To Honor The Astronauts The JEWISH NATIONAL FUND is a private non-profit charitable organization, which, since 1901, has planted millions of trees in Israel. The JEWISH NATIONAL FUND within hours of the recent tragedy that befell the Challenger and the seven brave Astronauts, set aside land in the American Independence Park outside of Jerusalem to create the CHALLENGER MEMORIAL FOREST Your generous donation is urgently needed so that this forest can immediately be created. You will be rewarded with the knowledge that you have directly helped in keeping the memory of our Astronauts alive. Your Tax Deductible contribution of $35 will plant 7 trees one for each Astronaut. Any number of trees may be planted at $5 per tree—the number will come from your heart. Please fill out this coupon today and mail to the JEWISH NATIONAL FUND 1644 Tullie Circle, Suite 118 Atlanta, Georgia 30329 (404) 633-1132 Enclosed please find $ for of trees ($5 each) in the CHALLENGER FOREST outside„ Planted by above—please print Street City state the planting leru salem. f/J „rcwtSH rwnofWL FlfllD Zip future efforts by the Shcharanskys for Soviet Jewry. Drinan said that Shcharansky’s release is “a victors that has many fathers. There arc many victors today,” he said. He said. “President Carter deser\es a lot of credit. He proclaimed to the world that Shcharansky had no connection to the CIA. Today, we can all claim victory.” “What is the new struggle'. 1 " Dri nan was asked. He pointed to Dr. Alexander L.erner, who is among the earliest refusniks in Moscow, w ho has said, “We are all jubilant for Anatoly, but how about us? Drinan added. “We w ill seek to get more good-faith commitments from the Soviet Union." Why did the Soviet Union release him now in a spy exchange? a reporter asked. Drinan replied. "We don’t quarrel about that — if a victory has come about. Human rights is now a code word and no nation can violate human rights and get away w ith it Mark Epstein, director ot the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews, quoted Alan Dershowitz. the Har vard professor who was a lawyer for Avital, as having said. “Take one minute to rejoice and then return to what we are doing ’ Ep stein said that if he were asked whether there is a change in Soviet policy of immigration and Jewish cultural activity he would say, "Not yet.” V* mm