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Page 2 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE December 12, 1986 State Rep. Cathey Steinberg, at right, and Bella Khomak, second from right, during a moment of prayer at the Women’s Plea. Rep. Steinberg, refusnik urge increased pressure on Soviets by Richard Bono I SI stall writer Bella Khomak, 41, left the Soviet Union with her daughter in 1978. She was forced to leave her mother and father behind in Moscow because the elderly pair were not granted exit visas by Soviet authorities. “It was a difficult decision to leave,” said Mrs. Khomak, an only child. “We didn’t know how long it would take us to be to gether again.” But, Mrs. Khomak did opt to leave lest her chance to emigrate be forever lost. She hoped that after a year of living in Israel with her daughter, the Soviet emigration mandate for “sufficient kinship” would be sat isfied and her parents would no longer be denied exit visas. This did not come true. And, today, almost eight years after their daughter, Bella, immigrated to Israel, Mr. and Mrs. Khomak, both now 74, remain in Moscow. Bella Khomak told her story Dec. 4 at the I Ith annual Women’s Plea for Soviet Jewry. Represen tatives of some 47 Jewish and non-Jewish women’s groups gathered at the Georgia State Capitol to call for fair treatment forthose Jews in the Soviet Union who want to leave that country, but cannot. Each year the Wom en’s Plea is hosted by a different women’s group. This year it was the Atlanta Jewish Federation’s Women’s Council. The presence of non-Jewish groups at the annual Women’s Plea for Soviet Jewry shows that there is support beyond the Jew ish community, according to State Rep. Cathey Steinberg, honor ary chairperson for the event. “This is not just a Jew ish cause,” she said. “It is a human rights issue." Rep. Steinberg joined Bella Khomak in urging for increased political activism from all con cerned people, especially those with political power. “The more support you have from elected officials, the more impact it is going to make on President Rea gan and, hopefully, on the Soviet Union," said Steinberg, noting that Georgia’s politicians can play as vital a role as anyone in fighting for fair treatment for Soviet Jewry. “It is our local officials,” she said, “who become our gover nors, our United States senators and presidents.” The more they understand the issue ot Soviet Jewry, she indicated, the better they can effect some diplomatic and political change down the road. Mrs Khomak. who has since remarried and had a second child, said there are many families with stories similar to hers. They are stories that tell a tale of separated families—parents allowed to emi grate while their children stay behind or vice versa, apparently for no better than arbitrary and capricious reasons. “If you seek for some logic, you will not find any,” Mrs. Khomak told some 85 women gathered at the state capitol. “There was no reason for the Soviets to refuse my parents’ visas,” she said, her voice quaver ing. “My parents are elderly peo ple. They are sick and there is no one to take care of them.” Mrs. Khomak further bemoans the fact that her parents have never met their new son-in-law, nor seen their new grandchild. As they sat in Georgia’s state capitol, a working symbol of democracy and free speech, the Jewish and non-Jewish partici pants were reminded that the plight of Soviet Jewry is essen tially a political fight. “Putting pressure on the Soviet Union during talks with the U nited States is very important,” Mrs. Khomak said, indicating that Soviet Jewry emigration ought to be the first condition of any agreement forged between the two superpowers, be it dis armament, scientific or cultural. “Please go on working,” she told the Women's Plea assembly. “The only hope that we have is in you.” Rep. Steinberg (D-I)ist. 46), the only Jewish legislator in the Georgia General Assembly, con tended her fellow law makers share the commitment to further human rights wherever injustices occur. She called on several lawmakers w ho were present at the Women’s Plea to sign a petition “which calls upon President Reagan to press for the release of all prison ers, for the granting of exit visas for refusniks and for the resump tion of emigration in an expedi tious manner." Focal lawmakers who signed the Women’s Plea petition Dec. 4 were State Reps. Georganna Sinkfield. Barbara Couch and Kil Townsend and State Sen. Bud Stumhaugh. Nearly 50 of Atlanta's Jewish organizations have “adopted” a refusnik, a symbolic effort to show solidarity to their plight and in whose behalf letters of support are written. I n addition, each of the organ izations brought an empty mez- uza case bearing the name of the refusnik they’ve adopted. In the event the refusnik is granted an exit visa, the scroll will be re placed in the mezuza and sent to him or her in Israel as a memento from Jews who share in the nachas of a free life. weekly specials Fresh Empire Chicken Legs 1.09 1b. Chuck Roast blade cut 1.99 lb. Shoulder Roast square cut 2.79 lb. Freebie! 1 lb. Ground Beef w/ s 30 meat purchase Hebrew National Franks and Salami 12 ounce .... 2.39 Isaac Gellis Franks 2 ibs 5.99 Empire Potato Latkes 1.29 215 Copeland Rd., N E 252-4396 2166 Brtarcllff Rd., N.E. 634-6881 c 53 tfhur& kpshei rut ats &deli ’oo,i« RaOti n ca< Sup HJcws Bricis Mubarak says he wants peace JERUSALEM (JTA) President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt has sent a message to Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir express ing hope that Egypt and Israel would continue to cooperate to “promote peace in the area.” I he message was conveyed to Shamir by energy minister Moshe Shahal who returned recently from a visit to Egypt. In Cairo, meanwhile, Mubarak told reporters that he expected Palestine Liberation Organization chairman Yasir Arafat to be in Egypt soon to discuss “further steps toward peace.” He said Egypt was trying to solve the issue of Palesti nian representation at an international peace conference on the Middle East. Mubarak is scheduled to visit Iraq shortly for a meeting with President Sadam Hussein. Nicaraguans nix trip to Israel TEL AVIV (JTA)—A delegation from the Nicaraguan Ministry of Agriculture which was to have visited Israel in January at the invitation of Mapam has indicated it will cancel the trip. It would have been the first official delegation from that Central American country to visit Israel since the Sandi- nista government came to power in 1979. The apparent cancellation follows widespread reports that Israel was instrumental in transferring money paid by Iran for American weapons to the Reagan administration-backed con tra rebels seeking to overthrow the Sandinista government. Germany seeks arms deal BONN (JTA) —West Germany is actively soliciting Saudi Arabia to buy arms here and is likely to sell the Saudis eight modern submarines in the near future. According to government spokesman Friedhelm Ost, a West German shipyard has already offered the underseas craft to the Saudis. Ost said, however, that the stage has not been reached where the government will have to approve the sale. That decision will be made if the Saudis decide to accept the multi-billion mark deal, he said. Jewish studies grants awarded NEW YORK (JTA)— The National Foundation for Jewish C ulture has announced that it has awarded eight grants totaling $44,000 for original research in the field of Jewish studies this year. Submissions tor doctoral dissertation fellowships for the 1987-88 academic year are due Dec. 31 to: National Founda tion for Jewish Culture, Grants Department, 122 E. 42nd Street, Suite l 512, New York. N.Y. 10169; (212) 490-2280. Jewish home opens in Toronto IORONT O (JTA) A 150-unit apartment complex owned and managed by the National Council of Jewish Women- I 01 onto Section is set to open this month with affordable accommodations for seniors, families and disabled people w ho require minimal care. The Canadian Jewish News reports that the first-of-its-kind endeavor was lunded by the local NCJW Foundation and monitored by what foundation president Patti Star called a determined group of “Jewish mamas.” I he integrated S-shaped complex, attached to a mini- community center of athletic and entertainment facilities, is intended to create a community of caring and nurturing people. State control sought forkashrut DI l ROl I (.1 1 A) I hree men have filed suit in Oakland County Circuit Court to force the Michigan Department of Agriculture to supervise the sale of kosher meat in the state, according to the Detroit Jewish News. I laintiff s attorney Eli Kaplan criticized current rules under which 1 abbis can t enforce violation of the criminal statute 1 csr violation of kashrut. but can only withdraw certification ot institutions that do not meet rabbinic standards. I he plaintiffs hope Michigan adopts the model of New \oik state, m which a kosher enforcement division has the powei to investigate, test and confiscate smpeet foodstuffs