Refuseniks

Abstract

Contains news Bulletin on Soviet Jewry": newspaper articles regarding the Action Committee in Soviet Jewry. Union of Councils for Soviet Jews created massive lists of Refuseniks and political prisoners in the Soviet Union (Prisoners of Conscience)." The Union set up action committees in cities across the U.S. and began the "Adopt a Prisoner" program.

Abstract

(31) file folders include: Action Committee of Newcomers from Soviet Union; Anti-defamation League; Bay area council; Jews in the USSR; Multiple committee papers. The Union of Councils for Soviet Jews created massive lists of Refuseniks and political prisoners in the Soviet Union (Prisoners of Conscience)." The Union and set up action committees in cities across the U.S. and began the "Adopt a Prisoner" program.

Abstract Soviet Jews who wanted to emigrate from the Soviet Union were known as "Refuseniks." American Jewish students formed the Struggle for Soviet Jewry (SSSJ) in 1964 and the American Jewish Committee on Soviet Jewry (AJCSI) was also organized that year. Rabbi Samuel Adelman, rabbi of the BMH synagogue, spoke at Temple Emanuel and urged the liberal congregation to help Soviet Jews. Rabbi Raymond Zwerin, Sheldon Steinhauser, and Lillian Hoffman formed what became the Colorado Committee of Concern...

Scope and Contents From the Collection:

Most of the records consist of letters, educational materials, bulletins and published newspaper accounts of activities by world-wide, national and local groups on behalf of Soviet Jews. Rhoda Friedman collected most of this material. The Records also have scrapbooks about Lillian Hoffman.