The International Struggle and Freedom Museum on Soviet Jewry

c/o  Jewish Covenant Alliance, R.A. # 580536027,     This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it    

Jewish Service to the Nations in the Struggle against Totalitarian Idolatry

  March 2024

Dear Fellow Soviet Jewry Activists and Supporters,

The struggle for the freedom of Soviet Jewry is the fascinating and unique story of the victory of the forces of Good against the forces of Evil. It could only have happened when the determined struggle of Jewish activists inside the USSR was complemented by the persistent struggle of a multitude of freedom fighters in the West. 

This struggle gained enormous publicity in the West and drew untold numbers of people to its ranks, Jews and non-Jews, famous leaders and politicians along with students and housewives, all united by the determination to overcome the formidable power of the USSR.

One cannot assess how many participated in this struggle; historians say that at its pinnacle event in 1987 – the NCSJ-sponsored Freedom Sunday -- over 250,000 Jews and non-Jews from all over the country demonstrated in Washington, DC. https://ajhs.org/blog/look-back-solidarity. 

The outcome of this struggle is clear – more than one million Soviet Jews immigrated to Israel having a major impact on its science, technology and demographics, thus also causing a major change in Middle East geopolitical realities. Others chose freedom elsewhere in the West thereby also making their contribution to the thriving of democracy and free endeavor.

A lot of time has elapsed since then; the new generation hardly knows anything about this epochal struggle; there is a considerable chance the whole saga will sink into oblivion and, with it, important messages for Jews and all people around the world about freedom.

This is exactly what we need to prevent!  So many accomplishments and miracles -- you name them --- need to be preserved for new generations to draw pride and learn from this historic struggle. Please note the Rotary Talk on this subject at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=279mJDE_U40

Therefore, we call upon everyone who participated in one way or another, whether big or small, in the Struggle to join forces towards creation of the Freedom Museum. As a first stage, we have established a broad public group of over 120+, attached, in collaboration with former Prisoners of Zion and Jewish activists. Collaboration with the Government of Israel is now the second stage.

We acknowledge the splendid temporary exhibit on this Struggle at the Museum of the Jewish People (Beit Hatfutsot).  It calls out for a permanent and expanded home with enhanced dual international mission – Jewish unity of action worldwide and its int’l repercussions. The Freedom Museum will stand witness to this glorious chapter in human history that has impacted 100s of millions. 

In our view, the Museum will incorporate a major archive and research center, lecture-hall, galleries for tangible exhibits as well as a virtual center. The virtual center, utilizing the most advanced state of the art technologies for virtual reality and enhanced reality, will require a more modest budget than the physical Museum itself, and can be implemented as a first stage of the project. 

Please sign this letter, adding your struggle details.  Alternately, please email to this effect via the above address. Your affirmation, of course, will lend further weight to our promotion of this endeavor.

The International Freedom Museum’s Mission Statement

from particularism to universalism

To provide an enhanced sense of pride in the Soviet Jewry Struggle to all Jewish youth in Israel and across the globe, especially to those of Soviet and Soviet Satellite ancestry;

• Document, research and educate on all aspects of the Struggle -- print, audio and video, including living testimonies while it’s not too late;

• Advance the impact of millennia Jewish Civilization, rooted in the Hebrew Bible and its Exodus saga, inspiring the hearts of hundreds of millions;

• Affirm the vindication of the Jewish Diaspora’s international role alongside that of Israel.

• Inquire into the relationships between the Struggle and the fall of Marxism as a Religion; the diabolical impact of Soviet antisemitic propaganda in the USSR and abroad; the social impact of direct satellite broadcasting of Western TV programs; 

• Analyze the paradigm shift from Freedom from Religion to Freedom for Religion & Spirituality;

• Research and educate on the struggle of one people for freedom as a guide and inspiration to all others;

• Highlight the multiple Christian initiatives, joined to Zion, to help break down the Soviet Gates of Brass;

• Reach out to all freedom-loving individuals and peoples worldwide;

• Impart to current and future generations the pride and power of united action;

• Elucidate the geo-political, sociological and technological benefits of the Struggle and its victory;

• Analyze the role of the Struggle’s other international dimension in leading, in some part, to freedom for 100s of millions in Eastern Europe and beyond: the Russian nation itself; the other nations of the Soviet Union; its satellite states, including the reunification of Germany;

• Study the traits of personality that produce an activist and how such character should be promoted through democratic educational systems; advance positive, affirmative approaches in such education;

• Establish productive partnerships with museums as well as research and educational institutions around the world.

Drafters: Aaron Braunstein, Ephraim Kholmyansky (Author, The Voice of Silence)

The International Freedom Museum – Sponsors and Signatories

Note:  POZ = Prisoner of Zion in the USSR;   Mission = visit into the USSR to meet w/Soviet Jews

ztz’l = righteous of blessed memory

Co-Sponsors,

Ambassador Alan Baker (ret.)  -- former member and activist in the UK Universities’ Committee for Soviet Jewry, former legal adviser to Israel’s Foreign Ministry, former Israel ambassador to Canada  --  Jerusalem.

Yosef Begun, POZ (1977-87)

Identity through Education, Founder

Author, The Ties that Bind (Russian; English, pending)

Jerusalem

Aaron Braunstein, USFSO (1966-96, ret.)

Washington Committee for Soviet Jewry, Co-Founder (1968)

Jewish Covenant Alliance, R.A, Founder

New York, Washington, DC and Jerusalem

Michel (Michael) Calvo, Esq.

International Lawyer – Complaints at UNESCO re SJ

France and Jerusalem

Ephraim Kholmyansky, POZ (1984-86)

Jewish Freedom Movement, Founder

Author, The Voice of Silence

Ma’alei Adumim

Isi Leibler, ztz’l

Australian Jewry Executive Council – global SJ campaigns 

Book, Lone Voice: The Wars of Isi Leibler

Australia and Jerusalem

Shimon Shnirman, POZ (1978-80; 1983-86), Haifa

Cecile Sportis

Special Human Rights Advisor

President Mitterrand, France

Sylva Zalmanson, POZ (1970-74)

Film, Operation Wedding, Jerusalem

The Int’l Struggle & Freedom Museum – Signatories 

Advisory Board

Amb. Alan Baker, Esq. Israel MFA Chief Legal Advisor (ret.)

Judy Lash Balint Seattle/Jerusalem Founder, Seattle Action, 1974, 

Vice Pres. UCSJ 1986-95.

Bobby Brown New York/Takoa Missions 1986 etc

Karin Calvo-Goller, Esq. Paris/Jerusalem Committee of “The 15”

Pere François Celier Paris                      Priest

Pamela B. Cohen Chicago       Pres, Union of Councils for SJ, 1986-96

Author (Hidden Heroes), 

Ariella Cotler Montreal/Israel “The 35s” – Canada

Wendy Eisen Toronto/Montreal Co-Founder, “The 35s” – Canada

Stuart E. Eisenstat, Esq. Washington, DC US Ambassador (ret.), European Union

Elaine Dubow Harris Montreal Co-Founder, THE 35s -- Canada

Zelda Harris London/Israel Co-Founder, “The Thirty-Fives” - UK

Yitzchak & Phyllis Heimowitz, Esq  New York/Israel Center for Russian Jewry, 1965

Hadassa Hirschfeld Amsterdam Dutch Coordinator of Missions

Barbara Oberman Katz       London/Herzliah Pituah   Co-Founder, “The Thirty-Fives"

Col. (Res.) Olivier Rafowitz   Israel             former IDF Spokesman, Int’l Media

Drs. Jay & Meridel Rawlings Canada/Israel Video Producer, The Gates of Brass

Glenn Richter New York Co-Founder & Director, SSSJ

R Awraham & Sira Soetendorp The Hague Dutch Solidarity Committee SJ

Barbara Stern Montreal Co-Founder, “The 35s”, Canada

Enid Wurtman Philadelphia/Jerusalem Pres, Union of Councils for SJ

Signatories 120+ (in alphabetical order)

United States

Joshua Adler Harrisburg/Jerusalem Demonstrations

Steve Adler NY/Jerusalem Econ. Planning for SJ Integration, 1968-96

Raphael & Rachel Arzt /Jerusalem “Adopt a Family”

Judy Lash Balint Seattle/Jerusalem Founder, Seattle Action, 1974, 

Vice Pres. UCSJ 1986-95.

Eddy Barth New York/Jerusalem Demonstrations

Harvey Barnett, Esq. Chicago Chicago SJ Action, UCSJ

Missions – 1980 & 1983

Rachel Bernstein New York Demonstrations

Moshe Brodetzky ` Washington, DC/Jerusalem Pres., Washington Committee for SJ

Bobby Brown New York/Takoa Missions 1986 etc

Judy & Robert (ztz'l) Brown New York/Jerusalem Demonstrations

Myron 'Bucky' Buchman New York Demonstrations

Yechezkel Bund Long Island, NY Bar Mitzvah Twinning -- 1981

Alan (Hanan) Burghauser, MD   Springfield, New Jersey  Demonstrations 

Steven Buchzeiger Detroit Demonstrations

Pamela B. Cohen Chicago       Pres, Union of Councils for SJ, 1986-96

Prof. Raphale Catane Demonstrations

Zalman Deutsch Spring Valley, NY/ Alon Shvut Mission 1983

Rika Deutsch Boston/Alon Shvut Demonstrations

Michael Doniger Oakland/Jerusalem Demonstrations/Letter Writing, 1970-72

Don & Paula (ztz’l) Edelstein   Cincinnati/Jerusalem Demonstrations

Trudy Emanuel New York Demonstrations

Jonathan Feldstein Atlanta/Efrat Mission 1985;    ABC News (1988)

Chaim Fischgrund New York Demonstrations

Dr. Jonathan Friedman New York/Rehovot Betar, SSSJ, Demonstrations

Dr. Sheldon Gellar E Lansing/Tel Aviv Hillel Activism

Reuven & Rena Genn New York/Karkur Mission 1982

Robert Glick New York Demonstrations, 1968-78

Howard Gluckman Springfield, NJ Demonstrations

R. Shalom Gold New York/Jerusalem Mission 1984

Jerry Goodman New York Exec Dir, Nat. Conference on SJ

Steven Grau New York/Tel Aviv Demonstrations

Steve & Judy Gray /Kibbutz Hannaton Demonstrations

Prof. Edward Greenstein New York/Jerusalem Demonstrations

Yossi Klein Halevi New York/Jerusalem Action – Moscow 1972

Eric & Leah Kleinman New York Demonstrations

David Harris Brooklyn/Jerusalem Demonstrations

Yitzchak & Phyllis Heimowitz, Esq  New York/Israel Center for Russian Jewry, 1965

Chaim Kessler New York/Bnei Brak Demonstrations

Dan Krakov Philadelphia Mission 1986

David Kraus New York/Kfar Saba Demonstrations

Lisa Laster New York/Virgin Islands Demonstrations

Barbara Sue Levin Detroit/Jerusalem Mission -- 1988

Prof. Lee & Mara Levine New York/Jerusalem Mission – 1970

Larry Lewin Washington, DC/Jerusalem Co-Founder, Washington Comm. for SJ

Michael Liben New York/Jerusalem Donor, SSSJ

Ellen Llinas New York Demonstrations

Irving Lumerman Denver/Efrat Demonstrations

Veeda Margol New York/R Beit Shemesh Demonstrations

Yisrael Medad (Winkelman), USA-UK/Betar-Israel                  SSSJ, Demonstrations, Mission 1976

Hadassa Orenstein New York/Jerusalem Demonstrations

R. Jonathan Porath Waltham, Mass/Jerusalem Multiple Missions 1965+

R. Aaron Rakeffet New York/Jerusalem Mission Coordinator

Elliot & Maxine Rosen Penn Mission 1985

Lessa & Michael (ztz’l) Roskin Chicago/Alon Shvut Mission 1976

R. Yitzchak Rubin & wife Jerusalem Mission

Aryeh Routtenberg Boston/Alon Shvut Mission 1984

Abraham Sacharow Baltimore/Jerusalem Demonstrations

R. Moshe Sacks (ztz’l) Minnesota/Jerusalem Minn. Action Committee for SJ

Noam Sacks Zion Minneapolis/Jerusalem Mission – 1968 (two months)

Rannia Samuel New York/Jerusalem Mission 1988

Gedalia Schlissel New York Demonstrations

Jim & Leslie Schutz Pearl River, NY Mission 1987; ICEJ leadership

Rae Sharfman Detroit/Mitzpe Ramon Co-Founder, Detroit Action Committee

Toby Shuster Philadelphia/Jerusalem Mission – 1969

Bernard Smith  New York/Jerusalem Demonstrations; Missions – 1971, 72

Dr. Jan Sokolovsky Chicago/Jerusalem Mission – 1978

Jonathan Spector New York/ Kibbutz Harel SJ Performance 1977

David Sprung New York/Jerusalem DC Demonstration

David Sussman Annapolis, MD Intel, Berlin – 1982+

Margie & R. Moshe (ztz’l) Tutnauer, Phoenix/Jerusalem Mission – 1972 & subsequent years

Risa Tzohar New York/Jerusalem Demonstrations

Joseph Varon New York Demonstrations

Miriam Wald San Francisco Demonstrations

Chuck Waxman New York Demonstrations

Joe & Miriam Wernik New York/Jerusalem Y. Judea Missions Coordinator

Rachel & R. Zvi (ztz’l) Weinberg /Jerusalem Mission – 1989, etc

Gail & Emanuel (ztz’l) Winston /Bat Ayin Mission

Dr. Sam Wolff Madison/Jerusalem Demonstrations

Enid Wurtman Philadelphia/Jerusalem Pres, Union of Councils for SJ

Canada

Ariella Cotler Montreal/Israel “The 35s” – Canada

Frank Dimant Toronto NY Soviet Jewry Youth Conf, Delegate

Wendy Eisen Toronto/Montreal Co-Founder, “The 35s” – Canada

Elaine Dubow Harris Montreal Co-Founder, The 35s  --  Canada

R. Harvey Meirovich Toronto/Jerusalem Demonstrations; Mission -- 1988

Cheryl Meirovich Toronto/Jerusalem Demonstrations

Drs. Jay & Meridel Rawlings Canada/Israel Video Producer, The Gates of Brass

Nomi Roth Elbert Canada/Israel Demonstrations

Paula Schneider Montreal Demonstrations

Zev & Tzurit Rosen Toronto Demonstrations – 1980s

Barbara Stern Montreal Co-Founder, “The 35s”, Canada

Shimon Yahav Calgary/Seattle Seminars

Gil Zohar Toronto/Jerusalem Journalist, SJ coverage

The Netherlands

Chaya & Gershom Brasz   The Hague, Utrecht/Jerusalem   SJ Newsletter 1974-82, Mission 1982

Hadassa Hirschfeld Amsterdam Mission Coordinator for Holland

Koenraad Pieter Janusch Demonstrations

Wim Kortenhouven The Hague/Israel CIDI

R. David & Gun Lilienthal Amsterdam Missions – 1978 etc

Carry & Louis Polak Amsterdam Missions – 1980 & 1981

R. Awraham & Sira Soetendorp The Hague Dutch Solidarity Committee SJ

United Kingdom

Jonathan Arkush London Chair, National Council for SJ

Geena Blech London Rally w/Avital Sharansky

Nadine Caplan Liverpool/Jerusalem Communicating w/Refuseniks

Marcia Goodman Press Bournemouth/Natanya The 35s

Zelda Harris London/Tel Aviv Co-Founder, “The Thirty-Fives”

Barbara Oberman Katz   London/Herzliah Pituah   Co-Founder, “The Thirty-Fives"

Martin & Judith Lipczer London Demonstrations

Gillian Perry Bournemouth/London Co-Chair, Soviet Jewry Committee

Yonatan Silver London/Jerusalem Demonstrations

Ruth & David (ztz’l) Soutendorp London Co-Founder, The 35s

Sylvia Wallis                     London/ Shoresh                     Co-Founder, “The Thirty-Fives"

Linda White Bournemouth The 35s

France

Liliane Attali /Netanya B’nai Brith action

Michel Calvo, Esq. Paris/Israel Int’l Legal Plaints against the USSR

Karin Calvo-Goller, Esq. Paris/Jerusalem Committee of “The 15”

Joseph-Alfred Grinblat Paris/New York Mission -- 1980

Suzy Hajdenberg Paris/Israel Deputy Director – Radio J 

Albert Laurent Paris/Israel Radio J - programs for SJ defense

Fabrice Laurent Paris/Israel Comité de soutien aux Juifs d’URSS

Olivier Laurent Paris/Israel Radio J – programs for SJ defense

Renée Laurent                    Paris/Israel                                 Radio J – programs for SJ defense

Mireille Lelouche Paris Radio J – programs for SJ defense

Annie Minski Paris Radio J – programs for SJ defense

Yves Sokol Paris Comité Lycéen d’Action Sioniste Socialiste

Cecile Sportis Paris Special Human Rights Advisor

Albert-Michel Teboul La Gaude Approach to Chagall Family

Madeleine Testyler Paris Radio J – programs for SJ defense

Italy Prof. Alexander Rofeh Italy/Jerusalem Approach to Italian CP

South Africa Dr. Les Glassman Johannesburg/Jerusalem Demonstrations

Australia Deborah Kali Melbourne/Beit Meir Demonstrations

Compiled by Aaron Braunstein/Michel Calvo