European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 28, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Her of her measure of Cuc toss by an Amtruan child mansard from Ichii living room the fur mans or Al pfc in Leningrad with fondness and a in pc of adventure even the Tough pm and most dangerous times that would have Hern their final collision with the Kab in december w87 on he eve of the Gorba Chev Reagan Summit in Washington do. Lev and Marina lied themselves to the handle on Rajiya s stroller and pressed their demand for exit visas in the Pahic Square next to the Hermitage the onetime Winter Palace of the Czar. Marina carried a sign on behalf of the baby my father has been in refusal 13 years. My Mother for 10 years. I for nine months. How much longer the family was arrested and Aliya and the stroller were almost crushed As the Kab rushed them into a Paddy Wagon. I shouted at them arc you a fascist she s Only a baby " Marina Furman remembered. Aliya Furman became one of the youngest soviet refuseniks to Sec the inside of a Kab prison. She stayed there with her Mother for several hours before protests by the furans friends prompted their release. But lev was not released. Five years later Marina held a precocious Aliya on her Lap and laughed Over How she scared the Kab into letting her communicate with lev. Jailers refused to allow her to Send to lev a Towel and bar of soap in which she had hidden a message telling him she and the baby were of. So gambling that the guards did t know English she returned with the november 1987 edition of jewish monthly. The Magazine carried a cover photo of the Furman family and Marina warned guards their actions could jeopardize the Summit meeting in Washington. This is time Magazine. This Magazine says that president Reagan is very concerned about lev Furman not having any soap Marina remembered laughing. The guard agreed to pass on the soap and then asked a favor of Marina would you Call president Reagan and Tell him lev Furman got his soap lev got out in 10 Days and Marina and the baby were each fined 25 rubles. I told them when she is 16 Shell write you Check Marina said. The Price was much More. Marina blames the stress of the events for her miscarriage shortly after the de Cember demonstration and arrest. The furans have lots of those were the Days stories memories of the difficulties they overcame through commitment and Friendship. They Are Happy stories because they managed to get out. But the Tell ing reveals a hint of sadness for times gone by. The past is always idealized said Marina Furman. We miss our Young years. I miss Leningrad said lev Furman remembering the museums and Parks the wide streets and music and the friends who were always there for one another. There was a Little group of us against this big country and this government said lev. Here you Don t even need your friends that much. Now we have cars and we can drive to see each other but we Don t even do  in Russia explained Marina Furman the problem was How to survive. In Israel the problem is How to live which wine to buy.". It s a luxury that is taking some getting used to but the furans have Aliya to help them remember Why they  hebrew Aliya Means exodus or immigration to Israel. We gave her this name Marina Furman explained in 1987, so Shell have a Long Long memory so that when sometime thanks to god she goes to Israel Shell  Aliya Furman who Speaks russian hebrew and English Deadpan for the camera from behind her Mother s sunglasses and runs a baby doll fashion show for visitors. Her Mother recalls a time when she had to discipline Aliya when she was just a i. She told me Only in the soviet Union do parents abuse their children. I m a free israeli " Bob Klose originally interviewed the furans in 1987 in what was then Leningrad. Is Bob Kose Enid Wurtman says it s Tough whoa jews come to Israel and can t find work in their  Israel ready for another jewish flood from russian worsening conditions in the former so Viet Union could spark a new wave of jewish immigration to Israel a re settlement official in Jerusalem said. Now More people Are interested in leaving again Given the poor Economy civil unrest and Cost of food said Enid Wertman a representative of the Israel Public Council for soviet jewry. About 660,000 soviet jews have immigrated to is Rael since 1969. Of that group 500,000 were refuseniks jews who were refused permission to immigrate who were allowed to leave the soviet Union under the re forms of former president Mikhail Gorbachev that wave of immigrants peaked in 1989 and 1990 and then fell off As people waited to see the outcome of the disintegration  soviet Union and the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent states. But increasing problems in the old soviet republics Are causing Many jews to consider again the move to Israel. Many people fear the reforms Are nearly Over and that the right Wing will make a comeback said Wertman. Former soviet jews represent the largest minority group in Israel and it could grow. There Are now 1.2 million jews in the Cis who have received invitations from Israel said Wert Man. Wertman said efforts by the immigrants to assimilate into the country is a Strain on Israel but that the door remains open. It s the Raison d etre of the country to take All the jews of the world who want to come Here she said. On the other hand we Are a Small  Wertman is a native american who has worked on behalf of soviet jews since 1973 when she went to the soviet Union and visited with refuseniks. We were very moved and inspired by them. They had so much courage against such adversity she said. Wurtman a social worker and her husband Stew Art Wertman a lawyer worked with the Union of councils for soviet jewry in the United states. They moved to Jerusalem in 1977 ahead of Many refuse Niks. Some of our friends we met in 1973 did t get Here until 1989," she said. Now As an israeli citizen Wurtman helps soviet jews make the difficult transition to the new life in Israel. Most of the immigrants do not speak hebrew. They need jobs and new Homes in a totally new country and culture. It is especially hard for Middle aged people. People who arrive in their 40s and 50s have a very difficult time she said. In the soviet Union their identifies were their professions. So it is difficult when they come to is Rael and can t find work in their  Many of the immigrants arc skilled professionals. Wurtman said 7,000 new israelis Are former soviet " scientists. Israel enjoys one of the highest doctor rates per capita enough classical musicians arrived in the last Sev eral years to establish 11 Complete symphony orches tras. The Central coastal City of a Angunna has a population of Only 55,000 but has a symphony thanks to immigrants. The wave of immigrants is both a stress and boost on the israeli Economy. There Are not jobs for All the immigrants especially the skilled professionals. We need help in developing More Industry High tech Industry and extensive academic institutions Wurtman said. But they Are also stimulating the Economy Bob Klose february 28, 1933 sunday Page 5