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Shcharansky kisses the Wall. Shcharansky’s future includes visit to U.S. by Yaacov Ben Yosef Special to The Southern Israelite NEW YORK.—He is home—to his wife Avital, who struggled around the world for his freedom; to his new country, which has welcomed him with unprecedented enthu siasm; to his Jewish people, who proudly claim him as a genuine hero. On a bleak Tuesday last week in East Berlin, Anatoly B. Shcha ransky walked across a bridge to the western side of the city. In his last moments under captivity he walked in zig zag simply because his KGB guard had told him to walk in a straight line to a waiting car that was to take him to his freedom. Of all the Soviet refusniks, Shcharansky is perhaps the most famous, partly because he served so long in a Soviet prison but partly because no name was so often trumpeted in the Western press as an example of Soviet brutality. Shcharansky’s trip to freedom last week captured the hearts of millions. The American press treated his release as one of the top stories of the week. Some of the American newsmen who covered him in Russia before his im prisonment were sent by their newspapers to cover his arrival in Israel, a poignant assignment. He was, as the New York Times headlined its editorial on him this week, “One Who Made A Dif ference.” Synagogues around America made Shcharansky the main topic of sermons. It was, in short, a great moment for Judaism. Now, Shcharansky is free — free to live a life in Israel that he could only dream of for years. Duringhis first week in Israel he spoke little about the type of life he would lead now that he is a free man. But who could blame him? He was greeted at the airport by Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres; he held a major news conference later in the week; and he spent his first Sabbath in Israel being inter viewed by the New York Times. On Sunday, he and his wife Avital appeared live from Tel Aviv on “Meet The Press.” When he was asked on that TV program what he planned to do. whether he would lecture, or write, Shcharansky, without missing a beat, said that at first he must “get over these meetings,” meaning his interviews with the Western press which wanted to know every last bit of what life was like ioJ^Q^ret captivity. Shcharansky’s English is superb and he will certainly make a quick trip to the United States. New York Mayor Ed Koch asked Shcharansky when he planned to visit the United States. “When I’m invited,” he replied. “You’re invited,” shot back the mayor. Shcharansky told “Meet the Press” that he wanted to come to the U.S. to express thanks to all who helped in the struggle for his release. Though he himself has not given any hints about what part of the Israeli political spectrum he will fit into, others have already begun a guessing game to figure out how right-wing Shcharansky is. It has been noted that Avital, his wife, has openly professed sym pathy with Israel’s right-wing Gush Emunim movement. Whether her husband makes the same decision remains to be seen. He does not appear to be overly religious. Observers have quickly noted that Shcharansky did not wear a yarmulke during his first few days in Israel; only when he was at the Western Wall that first day did he put one on. Moreover, his statements at his news con ference and in other interviews did not suggest he is overly religious. One question already being asked in Israel is which political party Shcharansky will join. He will probably be courted by all of them. Should he wish a political career he would probably have no trouble winning a high place on any party’s list, so strong is his popularity. The Southern Israelite The Weekly Newspaper For Southern Jewry 'Since 1925' . Vol. LXII Atlanta, Georgia, Friday, February 21, 1986 No. 8 Kidnappers murder third Lebanese Jew in Beirut by Edwin Eytan PARIS (JTA) - The body of a Jewish hostage shot and badly beaten before his death was found Sunday morning in west Beirut. Ibraham Benesti. 54, is the third Jewish hostage to be murdered in two months by a Shiite fundamenta list group. The gang, “The Organization of the Oppressed of the World,” said they have kidnapped two more Jewish hostages. They are believed to hold already five other Jews. Benesti’s body was found dumped near a vegetable market in the Kaskas area, which borders on the green line separating de facto the Christian east from the predomi- juuitty Moslem west Beirut. He had been shot once in the back of the head, but medical examiners say he had been badly tortured and beaten before his “execution.” His chest and stomach were covered with cuts, bruises and burns. A statement found pinned on the body said he had been killed “for having been an Israeli spy” and as an example “to all other Israeli agents.” Police found in one of his pockets Polaroid photographs showing the victim and two other middle-aged bearded men with visible scars on their faces. They were identified as Yehuda and Yossef Benesti, presumably mem bers of the same family. Yehuda Benesti was reported last year as one of the seven Lebanese Jews who were abducted last spring. Two months ago “The Organization of the Oppressed of the World” murdered two other Jewish hos tages. Professor Isaac Tarrah, 59, and Haim Cohen Halala, 38. Since these killings, most members of Beirut’s already small Jewish com munity are said to have fled. Some reports say there are now less than 20 Jews left in the city. T he group had also claimed respon sibility for the hijacking of a TWA airliner to Beirut in June 1985. The hijackers had then demanded that Israel set free all Shiite prisoners held in Israel and in south Lebanon. Israel had refused to deal with them or give in to their demands. The statement lound pinned tc the group’s latest victim renewed this demand. It said that 300 Shiites are being held prisoners by the Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army in a camp near the Israel border. The SLA has refused tc free the prisoners it holds in Khiam some 20 miles north of the border The group also said Benesti had been killed to protest “Israel’s violation” of the El Aqsa mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It callsthe victim“a pillar of Israeli espionage in Lebanon." The dead man was known, Jewish circles said in Paris, asa quiet businessman who minded his own business. He settled in Beirut, coming from Sidon. 35 years ago. It is not known if he was married and had children. There are still contradictory reports on how many Jewish hos tages are still held by the terrorists. According to most counts and to the terrorists themselves, the group now holds five of the original seven kidnapped in spring 1985, plus the two kidnapped last week. Israel Week at Emory Heading Israel Week 86 committees are (standing, from left) Jonathan Teitelbaum; Danny Israel, general chairman; and Amy Lesnick. Seated are Andy Warner and Dan Bildner. by Andrew Fein and Patricia Prigoff Israel Week ’86, sponsored by Emory Hillel, will hit Emory University Feb. 25 through March 6 to call attention to the cultural, educational, political and eco nomic opportunities that Israel has to offer. A pantomimist, musical events, speakers, films, and an Israeli market are among the events that will highlight Israel Week ’86. Danny Israel is chairman of Israel Week ’86. The week begins Tuesday, Feb. 25 with a performance by world- famous pantomimist Eno Rosenn. Following introductory remarks by SGA former president Lonnie Brown and Israeli Consul General, Issachar Katzir, Rosenn will portray the emotions and ex periences he felt growing up and living in Israel. The performance is free and will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Medical School Auditorium. Refreshments will be served. On Wednesday, Feb. 26, and Thursday, Feb. 27, a transported Israeli marketplace, called a shuk. will be open for business in White Hall lobby between 1 1 a.m. and 2 p.m. Booths will display a variety of Israeli treats. Parts of the shuk used by the Atlanta Jewish Community Center last year in Israel Expo ’85 will be on display. Booths promoting Israel’s many summer and school-year educa tional programs will be in operation, informing Emory stu dents of the possibilities for study in Israel. A VHS tour of Israel will run continuously so passers-by can visualize the sights and sounds of Israel. Falafel, among other kosher edibles, will be prepared and sold by the Yeshiva High School PTA. Since the shuk coincides with the student solidarity days for Soviet Jewry, the Soviet Jewry Committee of Hillel will have a booth emphasizing Israel’s role in the emigration of Soviet Jews. In Sec Israel Week, page 28. Crik' I ST I At C S AOA N UA NHASPAPEP PPUJhLT MAIN LIBkANY,UUA ATHENS UA 30o0 2