Calendar of Events

 

OCTOBER

In Moscow, October 18:
NCSJ is hosting a Leadership Mission to Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kyiv. In Moscow, NCSJ will commemorate the 20th and 40th anniversaries with a historic tour that traces the sites where Jewish activism took place, from protests outside the Choral Synagogue and Kremlin, to clandestine planning meetings and samizdat production in the apartments of key activists.

In Israel, October 30:
Jews of Struggle, a new exhibition opens at Beth Hatefutsoth, The Museum of the Jewish Diaspora, depicting the Soviet Jewry movement inside the USSR and supporting activities around the world.

DECEMBER

Friday, December 7th -- Soviet Jewry Shabbat Chanukah:
This Shabbat is geared towards celebration, education and inspiration --- to celebrate activists, to educate the younger generation about the movement and the Jewish world’s impact, and to inspire our community to future activism.

Washington, DC, Tuesday, December 11th:
NCSJ is planning several events in Washington DC to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Freedom Sunday Rally. These include:

  • A public forum “From Censorship and Isolation, to Freedom and Rebirth: The Soviet Jewry Movement, Then and Today”
  • A photo panel exhibition, Speak Truth to Power, on display at the Senate Russell Office Building Rotunda
  • A reception and commemorative ceremony at the Senate Russell Caucus Room with government officials, the media, former refuseniks and Prisoners of Zion, and American Jewish leaders

In Los Angeles, plans are underway for a candlelight march in partnership with synagogues, the Federation and elected officials.

In New York, the Russian-speaking community is organizing a day-long conference on the movement.

In Israel, a series of activities are being planned, including:

  • Official government events such as a special session of the Israeli Knesset dedicated to the topic, a celebratory event with aliya activists and Prisoners of Zion living in Israel today and the issuance of a special medal and a commemorative postage stamp.
  • A range of educational activities on the struggle in schools, ulpans and the Israel Defense Forces.
  • Academic conferences and symposiums at universities.
  • Special radio and television broadcasting days to raise awareness of the movement and anniversary.