Sent to gulag for teaching Hebrew, refusenik speaks to Russian parliament

According to a report on Ynet, Mr Edelstein continued: “I was imprisoned because I worked to disseminate the language in which Abraham, the founder of the Jewish religion, was told: 'Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you’."

The politicians heard how he was barred from making aliyah for nine years – three of which were spent in the gulag. But he finally made the historic move to Israel 30 years ago.

He continued:  "This is the state in which the miracle of my people's revival, from the ashes of exile and the Holocaust, happened; where my people made the desert bloom, defended themselves, and lived in prosperous national liberty; where Hebrew, the holy language, was revived, after being dormant for 2,000 years.”

He spoke of historic relations between the two countries and praised the growing rapprochement, while also addressing the scourge of global terrorism. 

"Terrorism has taken the place of Nazism as the ultimate evil of the 21st century, and the spirit of 1945 must be revived to fight it,” he said.

 "Today, I stand before you as the Speaker of Israel's Knesset, and, in the same language which I was imprisoned for teaching, I bless you with the ancient Jewish blessing: 'Shalom Aleichem'!"

Mr Edelstein had been invited by chairwoman Valentina Matviyenko, who visited the Knesset last year. At that time, the two countries signed a cooperation agreement.

While in the city, he took the opportunity to revisit some of his old haunts, including the Moscow Choral Synagogue, a former meeting point for Zionist activists. His packed schedule included stops at the courthouse where his trial took place, the prison where he was jailed and the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. 

During his vist to the court, Mr Edelstein had a pleasant surprise. He tweeted: "After 33 years I was surprised to have my birth certificate returned to me by the manager of the courthouse."