Dear Friends,
As the summer season unfolds, it’s a pleasure to stay connected with you and share what’s new at SJMAP.
In recent months, we’ve reflected on how to make the greatest impact in the years ahead. With the world very different today compared to when SJMAP was established just three years ago, we see a growing need to focus more on education — ensuring future generations can learn from and be inspired by the Soviet Jewry movement. If you are interested in supporting this effort in any way, please be in contact with us here.
It’s because of your support that the stories and lessons of the Soviet Jewry movement will continue to inspire future generations.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to be in touch.
Warmly,
Simon Klarfeld
Executive Director, SJMAP
June Parlor Meetings
On June 8, SJMAP held two parlor meetings in the Bay Area – the first at the Covenant Winery in the East Bay, the second at the home of the Farber family in the Southern Peninsula.
Both offered wonderful opportunities for people to learn about SJMAP’s mission and vision, reminisce about their roles in the Soviet Jewry movement all around the globe, and to discuss ways in which we can pass on lessons learned from this critically important chapter in history and see its relevance to today.
Tatiana Menaker (right) visits with others at Covenant Winery
Simon Klarfeld, SJMAP’s executive director, describes SJMAP’s mission with guests at Covenant Winery
(left to right) Morey Schapira, Boris Kelman, and David Waksberg at the home of the Farber family
Upcoming Event
SJMAP is proud to co-sponsor the screening of Anat Zalmanson-Kuznetsov’s “Operation Wedding” in partnership with the Souza Mendez Foundation.
The documentary tells the dramatic story of the so-called Leningrad Hijack – also known as the Dymshits-Kuznetsov Affair – of June 1970 which, despite its failure, focused international media attention on the plight of Soviet Jews.
Click here for more details of how to access the screening and to reserve your ticket for a panel discussion with Glenn Richter and Anat, moderated by former activist Janna (Lipmanova) Kaplan, on Sunday, September 14 at 2:00 p.m. US Eastern Time.
Board of Advisors Updates
We are delighted to welcome three new members onto our Board of Advisors – all of whom played key roles in the Soviet Jewry movement from different parts of the world – although all now live in Israel: Enid Wurtman, Yossi Abramowitz, and Michael Beizer.
Click here to see their bios along with those of all Advisory Board members.
Our hearts and prayers are with all our friends and family in Israel today.
An Addition to Our Literature
Michael Beizer has recently launched his new book “A Time to Sow: Refusenik Life in Leningrad, 1979-1989”.
It is a fascinating look into the struggles, activism, and hopes of Soviet Jews during the 1980s. Highly recommended.
To order your copy click here.
A Video from Natan Sharansky
In a recent short video, Natan Sharansky said the following:
“[The Soviet Jewry movement] is a unique example of what we can achieve as a people; and it is ignored. It is not told by those who participated in the struggle to their children – and is absolutely ignored in Jewish education. That is why it is so important that there is an organization like SJMAP, whose mission is to preserve the memory about the past and to pass it on to the younger generations.”
To see the video and read the complete transcript, click here.
Archives Update
As more and more archives are becoming digitized and therefore far more accessible online, we want to highlight the following fascinating collections at SJMAP’s partner institutions:
- Enid Wurtman’s activism in U.S. and Israel – at the National Library for Israel
- Adele and Joel Sandberg’s collection including their activities in Southern Florida – at the American Jewish Historical Society
- Alexander Smuckler’s Samizdat collection – at the Wende Museum
We remain committed to ensuring the preservation of the history of the movement. Please be in contact with us at archives@sovietjewryarchives.
- travel reports of trips to the USSR, including photos of refusenik meetings
- letters to and from refuseniks and Prisoners of Zion
- paraphernalia (badges, bracelets, t-shirts)