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Correspondence

July 26, 1974

Letter from Glenn Richter to Philip Soskis with Suggestions for NYANA to Facilitate Soviet Jewry Integration (1974)

Soviet Jewry
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Correspondence

Letter from Martin Schwarzschild about NYANA and Soviet Jewry Integration (1974)

Dear Rabbi, You are aware of the fact that for approximately four months, together with a few other people of the original West Side Committee to help the Russian immigrants, I have been devoting more than full time to seeking positions, counseling, helping locate apartments, sending children to schools, and in other ways attempting to assist these people and their children to integrate as quickly as possible – to the community, the city, and our American way of life. Without your constant help and morale boosting this would not have been possible.I have hinted to you that cooperation from NYANA is nearly non-existent — they appreciate the fact that we have obtained some four or five dozen jobs for various people — but they in no way ease or smooth our paths by cooperation.The attached was written prior to today. This afternoon, I was told that a Mr. Marvin Schrank at BIAS made the statement that the "west side group is doing more harm than good for Russian immigrants."Under the circumstances, I recommend that the group cease from helping these people. Not one of us desires to be party to "doing harm" to these people. I personally will turn my efforts to what I hope will be more productive and worthwhile ends.I would like to see, if you have the opportunity, to suggest to the proper influential people what the attitude of the professionals at NYANA and BIAS is.Sincerely,Martin Kchmarrschild144 West 86 StreetNew York, New York 10024Queries for your meeting with NYANA's officers or lay people:Why doesn’t every breadwinner get English immediately upon arrival? When this question was raised, the response at the meeting on January 24 was that some of these people do not have the ability to take the course at the school NYANA is using. It would seem to me that this is a) not so, and b) NYANA could find a school where they could learn.NYANA will not give me a list of people in the hotels. I am aware of the reason behind this policy, agree with it 1000%, but have found th…
Soviet Jewry

Correspondence

Letter about NYANA and the Integration of Soviet Jewry (1974)

Dear Mr. Farber: Thank you very much for sending me the minutes of our January 24th meeting. Mr. Pruzan has also given me a detailed report of Mr. Goldman’s and his meeting with you and Mr. Schwarzschild on January 26th in our office. I regret that other commitments did not permit me to participate in that meeting. I do hope that our various discussions will lead to our finding effective ways of helping the newly arrived Jewish immigrants from Russia.Let me comment on some of the questions which arose at our meetings:**The question of supplying the volunteers with lists of newly arrived immigrants:**I reviewed this question further. I can only inform you that it is essential for NYANA to adhere to its basic policy of not providing such lists to any community group. As I tried to explain at our January 24th meeting, this is based on the confidential nature of our relationship with our clients and on well-tested and tried experience over many years in many different types of situations. We do not believe, however, that our policy needs to hinder the services the volunteers wish to provide.**The question of conducting English sessions:**We will be glad to inform the newly arrived immigrants of any sessions—place, time, etc.—your group may plan to hold. We will be pleased to supply a room at one of the hotels if you wish to conduct them there. I am sure that you will be pleased to learn that since August 21, 1973, we have placed about 230 Russian clients in various schools where they receive intensive English instruction.**The question of assisting NYANA with finding jobs for the Russian immigrants:**This type of service is extremely important, first and foremost for the immigrants, and then to help NYANA with its entire program. We are doing everything possible to interview the newly arrived immigrants as quickly as possible to determine their employment background, educational objectives, and to try to place them in jobs. As we explained at our meeting, not all immig…
Soviet Jewry

Correspondence

Letter from Glenn Richter about Providing NYANA Assistance to Soviet Dissident (1974)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, Alexi Tummerman, who was one of the top dissidents in Moscow, is now in New York. He needs to be put on NYANA's "dole" list – he came here through the Tolstoy Foundation – and I believe your help can be very valuable. In the USSR, Mr. Tummerman performed the invaluable service of helping to organize public actions and, most importantly, organized a system of passing documents and appeals to the West. A good number of Soviet Jews who have received permission or whose cases were publicized owe their thanks to him. In retaliation, Alexi was imprisoned numerous times, including incarceration in mental hospitals.When Mr. Tummerman came to Vienna, he went to the American Embassy and told them he wished to go to the U.S. They sent him to the Tolstoy Foundation. As a consequence, NYANA seems unwilling to aid him.It's unbelievable that a man such as Alexi Tummerman, who literally risked his life for fellow Jews and dissidents, should be subjected to humiliation. Can you write, I, to straighten this matter out? We have written, as has Malcolm Hoenlein, but the more leaning the better.Sincerely yours,Glenn RichterNational Coordinator, CFRJNew York Coordinator, SSSJ
Soviet Jewry