Jewish Emigration- Soviet Union?

Question

I am reading a book entitled, "Reagan's War" by Peter Schweizer. Page 124 discusses the 1980 pres campaign. J. Carter's reelection bid was in trouble partly due to the tense intrnt'l situation caused by Soviet incursions into Latin America, Africa and Afghanistan.

Towards the end of the campaign, the White House sent Armand Hammer to the Soviet embassy for a secret meeting with Ambassador Dobrynin. This is a passage lifted directly from the book:

Hammer bluntly told Dobrynin that the President was "clearly alarmed at the way things stood in the election campaign." Then he asked if Moscow might be willing to help. Could the Kremlin expand Jewish emigration to bolster Carter's standing in the polls? Hammer asked.

Per Schweizer, this might make a difference in several key states & may bolster Carter's image as a man who could deal effectively w/ the USSR.
I don't get it. Why this particular issue? Why was Jewish emigration such a hot topic? What is the history? Ty.

Answer 1

First of all, most Jews at the time were Democrats (a lot still are) so of course this would have an effect on Carter's popularity. At the time, Jews who wanted to leave the Soviet Union were not only denied visas, they often lost their jobs for even asking. These people were known as "refuseniks." (One of the best-known cases was Alexander Solzhenitzin (Sp?), the writer.) Also, the only place the USSR would allow Jews to emigrate to was Israel, but since the USSR was not recognizing Israel this was a catch-22. Soviet Jews wer also not allowed to obtain religious objects such as prayer shawls, prayerbooks in Hebrew, etc. (However, foreigners could bring in one of each prayer item for thier own use. It was very common for American Jews who for various business reasons went to the USSR to "lose" these items from their luggage -- in reality they were giving them to Soviet Jews. )

The American Jewish community at the time was very active in trying to get Jews out of Russia. Many synagogues at the time displayed signs in front that said "Free Soviet Jews." The oppression of Soviet Jews was included in the Passover liturgy (which focuses on the sotry of the Exodus -- "Let my people go.") Elements of the Christian community were also involved -- and since Carter was/is openly a Christian, this would have impressed that constituancy also.