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fife gotrrHEfrN i^rAeL^te bctoUr 3i, Wfe va# V Record attendance 1,500 show solidarity for Soviet Jewry by Richard Bono TSI staff writer Thousands of letters were col lected Monday night at The Temple in Altanta on behalf of those Jews in the Soviet Union who want to leave, but cannot. They were written by Jews and non-Jews, well-known and influ ential Atlantans and the less well known. Letters were penned by children, young professionals and the elderly. All expressed, as if in a single voice, a heartfelt desire that Soviet Jews be af forded their religious and politi cal freedom. The occasion was the annual Simhat Torah Rally for Soviet Jewry sponsored by the World wide Jewish Affairs Committee of the Atlanta Jewish Federa tion. Nearly 1,500 people jammed The Temple’s sanctuary in an eloquent show of solidarity. It was the plight of refusniks in the Soviet Union that took cen ter stage Monday evening. In a brief, but dramatic program the names of more than 50 refusniks were read aloud and as their pic tures were shown on two large screens, representatives of nearly 90 Jewish organizations in Atlanta stepped up to place bundles of letters into a bin—letters that will be sent to President Ronald Reagan. The letters urge the president to forcefully broach the subject of Soviet Jewry with his Soviet counterpart, General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, during any and all negotiations in which the two world leaders engage. They call on Reagan to press for the release of all Prisoners-of-Con- science and refusniks and to stress freedom of emigration for all Soviet Jews so they may be re united with their families around the world. Rally co-chairmen Raida and Martin Reish and dozens of oth ers worked months to plan the annual rally, which by most ac counts was the best Atlanta has seen. “It was superb,” said Noah Levine of the Atlanta Jewish Federation. “I heard comments that it was the best Soviet Jewry rally they’ve ever been to in At lanta.” Scarcely a single politician’s name was omitted from the list of supporters that were acknowl edged at the rally. Letters to President Reagan were written by every member of Georgia’s congressional delegation, the state’s two U.S. Senators, the governor and lieutenant gover nor and every leader of the Geor gia General Assembly. On hand for the rally Monday night were Atlanta City Council members Barbara Asher and Robb Pitts, state Sen. Joe Burton, state Reps. Betty Jo Williams and Kil Townsend. Democratic congres sional candidate John Lewis and Vivian Jones, wife of congres sional candidate Ben Jones were also present to send their letters on behalf of Soviet Jews. Given special acknowledgement Monday night were those people who had been to the Soviet Union and actually visited with refus niks and their families. “We got my brother out of the Soviet Union 18 years ago,” said Atlantan Alex Gross of his broth er Phillip, who lives in New York. “Rallies like this are very impor tant. They not only heighten the attention of the United States, they put pressure on the Soviet Union, which is the only thing they seem to understand.” In addition to young children attending the rally with their parents and grandparents, many young professional men and women were present to show their solidarity with Soviet Jewry. “This rally is very important,” said 28-year-old Meyer Green berg, a Savannah native now liv ing in Atlanta. “It lets the people of the United States and the pres ident know that American Jews care about the Jews in Russia and that they should share the freedom we share.” AJF’s Levine said that interest and concern about Soviet Jewry has been so heightened in Atlanta that next year they expect thou sands of people to participate in the Simhat Torah rally and spec ulated that it might take a sta dium to handle the throng of Soviet Jewry supporters. Marcia Schwarz gives refusnik roll call. Students of the Epstein School Chorale sing “We Are One.” The choice is clear: Wyche Fowler WYCHE FOWLER....During almost a decade in Congress, a strong and consistent supporter of economic and mil itary aid to Israel. WYCHE FOWLER....Cosponsored the Free Trade Agree ment with Israel permitting an expansion of trade between the U.S. and Israel. WYCHE FOWLER....Consistently opposed U.S. weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and other Arab states. Unlike Senator Mattingly, Wyche Fowler opposed the sale of sophisticated AWACS aircraft to Saudi Arabia. Wyche Fowler cosponsored legislation disapproving the sale of warplanes to Jordan. VOTE WYCHE FOWLER FOR SENATE NOVEMBER 4th Paid For by Wyche Fowler for Senate WYCHE FOWLER....Co-Chair of the Congressional Coali tion for Soviet Jews. Has traveled to the Soviet Union to seek the release of Soviet refusniks. WYCHE FOWLER....Cosponsored a Resolution opposing President's visit to Bitburg Cemetery, authored letter urging trip be canceled. WYCHE FOWLER....Recipient of prestigious “Lion of Judah" Award for his efforts on behalf of Israel and Soviet Jewry. WYCHE FOWLER....A proven, consistent record in Con gress.