Parallels to Egypt : Soviet Jews: New Exodus

A modern parallel is unfolding of the ancient Passover story of liberation--the rising exodus of Jews permitted by the Soviet Union.

The resemblances were cited as the weeklong Passover observance started Wednesday evening, marking the Jewish flight from bondage in Egypt.

However, Jews today don’t have to rely on rituals of the past, says Theodore Ellenoff, president of the American Jewish Committee.

“Before our very eyes, the gates of the Soviet Union have been thrown open, and Jews are using the opportunity to stream out,” he said

During the first three months of this year, 9,281 Jews have been allowed to emigrate from the Soviet Union, triple the number in the same period last year. The 1989 total may reach 40,000.

That would be the third year of a steadily rising surge of departures under the more open policies of Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev.

Shoshana Cardin, chairman of the National Conference on Soviet Jewry, applauds the increased emigration and improvements in religious and cultural rights of Soviet Jews, but adds: “Our priority this Passover remains our often voiced demand, ‘Let our people go.’

“We will not be silent until every Jew who wishes to emigrate is free to do so, until every Jew who wishes to remain in the Soviet Union is allowed full cultural and religious rights.”

The demand “Let my people go” originally was flung by the ancient Jewish leader Moses at the Egyptian Pharaoh in the world’s earliest struggle for religious freedom nearly 4,000 years ago.

As in the case of the ancient Israelites, the troubles aren’t over for Soviet Jews allowed out. About 7,000 are stranded at a center near Rome, most wanting to come to the United States but exceeding U.S. quotas or refused U.S. refugee status as fleeing persecution.

Israel accepts all wishing to go there, but the logjam has persisted.