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MMMHMHMI nwaraa Nudel Photo at left: Ida Nudel in Krivosheino, 1982. Right: Ida Nudel in Bendary, 1986. Continued from page 14. sions. Her barracks-mates were 60 hardened criminals; she was the only woman. More than once she was physically attacked, so to pro tect herself she slept with a knife under her pillow. Nonetheless she persevered, confident that after four years she would be free. “All the time she was in Siberia, she didn't complain,” recalls her sister. When people asked her where she got strength to carry on, she answered, “1 feel as though three million Soviet Jews are standing behind me.” In March 1982, Ida Nudel was officially released from exile. But when she returned to her Moscow apartment, KGB agents welcomed her. They told her that she had 72 hours to leave Moscow'. “Ida had no place to go. We have no family in the Soviet Union,” explains her sister. Ida became a wandering Jew. For eight months she traveled from city to city seeking a haven. More than once, she spent the night on a bench in the railway station. With neither a steady job or a permanent address, Ida lived in fear of being arrested for the crime of “parasitism.” In November 1982, Ida reached the town of Bendary in Moldavia and for some reason, the authori ties allowed her to settle there. However, Bendary is hardly a home for Ida. She is an outcast; the townspeople shun her, learlul ot KGB warnings that they will face severe recriminations if they approach her. Ida lives in isola tion. Her dog is her only com panion. Yet even in distant Bendary Ida remains the “angel.” She continues to correspond with her boys, the prisoners, and sends them care packages of food and vitamins whenever she can. She is visited occasionally by refusnik families and she does receive some mail from the west although none of her letters are allowed to go out. Ida’s sister spoke with her recent ly by telephone. She reports that her sister is ill and broken in spirit. “When I left, my sister was a strong healthy woman,” recalls Friedman. “Now she suffers from chronic heart, liver and kidney ailments and her eyesight has badly deterio rated.” Friedman points to the most recent photograph of her sister as prool ot this deterioration. Meanwhile, the authorities con tinue to refuse the sisters’ requests to be reunited, although according to Obir, the Soviet emigration authority, Ida’s visa refusal expired in 1977. Still the government holds on to her claiming that they cannot release her because she knows state secrets from the days when she worked as a government econo mist. Friedman says that this is ludicrous. “First of all, she worked in an open public agency and never had access to classified informa tion and even if she had, what could she possibly remember after 15 years?” asks Friedman. Back in Rehovot, Friedman con tinues her letter-writing campaign. She has gathered a small group of supporters called “Israeli Women for Ida Nudel,” who some years ago published a book about Ida. She has other supporters as well. JNF plans 2nd ‘Adventure Israel’ The Jewish National Fund ex pects more than 120 participants, including singles and married cou- plesages 25-40, to participate in its second 10-day “Adventure Israel” tour for young professionals, leav ing New York Wednesday. Aug. 13 and returning Sunday. Aug. 24. While traveling w^th peers from across the country, participants will experience the nightlife of Tel Aviv; a yacht cruise on Lake Kin- neret; a trip around a quaint artists’ colony in Safed; a climb through the haunting, twisting paths of Masada; a walk through the ancient streets and marketplaces of Old Jerusalem, and a special concert recital at the mountaintop home of renowned pianist Yitzhak Tavior. Adventure Israel tourists will also visit the Volcani Institute, site of JNF-sponsored agricultural re search, where new technologies provide solutions to fighting plant diseases and parasites, improve ir rigation systems and introduce genetically-engineered fruits and vegetables. These advances, which have resulted in substantial in creases in Israeli food exports, oiler hope for Third World nations des perate to increase food yields in areas with climates similar to JAGUAR * “Over 35 Years Experience” I offer all my new Jaguar customers... • Free loaner while your new Troncalli Jaguar is serviced • 4 years free oil changes (limit 12) • Saturday Service • 24-hour emergency road service • Over 35 years experience at Atlanta s oldest Jaguar dealer Nobody but nobody ever underleases or undersells me! % I W I 1625 Church St., Decatur, GA 30033 Israel’s. A JNF Cleveland-Tampa mis sion recently returned from Israel, and, according to Sam Hoenig, JNF Cleveland director, “We’ve been receiving rave reviews from the mission participants, w ho found that the trip had the propet dos ages of excitement, relaxation and intellectual stimulation.” For more information, call the Atlanta JNF office, 633-1 132, or call or write to Adventure Israel, Jewish National Fund, 42 East 69th Street, New York. N.Y. 10021, (212) 879-9300. Irving Silver Salesman of the Year 1985 Fleet Manager Sales & Leasing Personal sales of over ; 51 000,000 Days: 292*3853 Night: 391*9567 Recently. World Jewish Congress President Edgar Bronfman ap proached the Soviet government on Ida’s behalf. But mostly Friedman fights her battle alone, composing her letters in Hebrew or Russian. An Ameri can man from nearby Ra’anana translates them. “My husband met him on miluim (reserve army duty). One night they were doing guard duty and my husband told him our story. He wanted to help,” Fried man explains. After 14 years, liana Friedman is tired of fighting. She would like to have more free time to spend with her husband and son. But more than anything, she would like Ida back. The release of Anatoly Shcha- ransky has given the sisters renewed hope. Shcharansky was one of Ida’s “boys.” He has vowed to work for the release of Ida and other Soviet POCs. Other close friends of Ida’s, the Goldstein family, have recently arrived in Israel and have prom ised to work for her release. Despite the release of Shcha ransky and the Goldsteins, Fried man restrains herself from build ing up hope for the release of her sister. She has had her hopes dashed before. Two years ago, when actress Jane Fonda visited Ida in Bendary, Kremlin watchers predicted that Ida’s release would be imminent. It was not. Still Friedman carries on, each day writing another letter or pes tering another official. “I cannot rest until 1 have Ida back,” she explains. “Perhaps it will be some day soon,” she says longingly, her large eyes filling with tears. 2 For your special day we’ll create] the perfect atmosphere. . Visit our facility and discuss) your needs with Mary Fie!en\ 1 Smith —Bar or Bat Mitzva or{ 1 other special event. Then we’ll create our very best( \for your special day. fit HOLIDAY INN' POWERS FERRY 6345 POWERS FERRY HD NW ATLANTA GA 30339 955-1700 ■^the Classic Collection 220 Sandy Springs Circle Springs Festival Atlanta, Ga. 30328 (404) 256-4847 Mon.-Sat. 10-6 bleyfe STUTTGART • PA«H> «£ A V<JtHC • Ml CANO WEEKLY QUOTE FROM LESTER S BOOKS “A person’s peace of mind can be measured by the temptations he can refuse." Lester Pazol 20 YEARS HENNESSY '(fac/iffbc JAGUAR CALL FOR A TEST DRIVE 261-5700