Conference taveng::bagels

970.0. "Letter to the president" by AISG::POLIKOFF (DLB8 E3 Marlboro 291-8875) Wed Aug 22 1990 03:31

    	The following is a letter my son sent to President Mikhail
    Gorbachev. We thought that the custom of sharing our Bar Mitzva with
    someone in the Soviet Union in absentia does not go far enough.

    				Arnie

     =====================================================================
    
  President Mikhail Gorbachev
  The Kremlin
  Moscow, Russia
  U.S.S.R.
     						            March 31, 1990
     
     Dear Mr.Gorbachev;
  
     	It has been the custom of American Jews to share our Bar Mitzva 
  with someone in the Soviet Union in absentia who is denied freedom of 
  worship. My Bar Mitzva will be Saturday, September 8, 1990 and I would 
  very much like you to share this special day with me. This act on your 
  part would show the world that you truly believe in the statements you 
  have made about reform in your country. It would also make a positive 
  statement to the citizens of your country that anti-Semitism is not good.
     
  	My grand parents came from Russia so you and I have a common 
  heritage. I would like the people of the Soviet Union to respect the 
  customs of all ethnic groups not only the Jews. If you would honor me
  by sharing my Bar Mitzva, I am sure that the people in your country that 
  are killing their fellow countrymen just because they have a different 
  religion or national origin will see that they are doing a very bad thing.
     
     	Rather then sharing my Bar Mitzva in absentia, I would be honored
  if you were standing beside me in my Temple on my special day. I am sure
  that our governments could work out the details but if it is not possible
  for you to come to America, maybe I could have my Bar Mitzva in Moscow
  with you by my side.
  
  	I really hope that you will look deep in your heart and know that 
  this would be the right thing for you to do.
  
  
  				Yours truly,
  
  
				Don Polikoff
				64 Chapel Street
				P.O. Box 1322
				Shirley
				MA 01464
				USA

Did Gorbachev respond in any way?


Waky

Re: .1

>Did Gorbachev respond in any way?

Here's a direct quote from the form letter Gorbachev sends in
response to all Bar Mitzva invitations:

 	Maziel Tovski!