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June 18, 1969

Minutes of New York Conference on Soviet Jewry: General Meeting (1969)

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Minutes of New York Conference on Soviet Jewry: Planning Committee 1 (1969)

David Geller – presiding. Present: Abe Bayer, NCRAC; Jacob Birnbaum, SSSJ; Pinkas Dain, AZC; David Geller, AJCommittee; Rabbi Louis Ginsburg, NCSY/UOJCA; Rabbi Jacob Goldberg, NYBR; Janet Goller, AJCongress; Mel Klarfeld, B’nai B’rith; Martin Lapan, JLC; Arthur Rosenbluth, B’nai B’rith; Isaac Seif, Farband, Labor Zionist Order. The following decisions were reached: (I) The title of the rally will be “Simchat Torah Celebration for Soviet Jewry.” (II) The celebration will be held at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, 47th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues, on Thursday, October 2, 1969, at 6:30 p.m. (III) The agreed-upon format will include: (a) introductory remarks by Rabbi Norman Lamm; (b) greetings from Mayor Lindsay, Senator Javits, and Senator Goodell; (c) a major address; (d) songs and dances. Several names were suggested for key speakers and entertainers, including Senator Edmund Muskie, Arthur Goldberg, Arthur Miller, Theodore Bikel, Elie Wiesel, Senator Abe Ribicoff, Eli Wallach, and Jan Peerce. (IV) Posters will be distributed to various geographic locations in the city, from which they will be sent to local synagogues and schools. Members present agreed to arrange for 3–5 people each to assist with distribution and to make personal appeals to rabbis and teachers to publicize the rally. Rabbi Jacob Goldberg agreed to follow up with the New York Board of Rabbis to ensure they publicize the rally to their membership and congregations. Herman Brown of the AJCongress will be asked to work with Rabbi Geffen, Jacob Birnstein, and the Queens Council on Soviet Jewry. (V) Because several invited youth leaders were unable to attend this meeting, it was suggested that a special meeting be convened for youth directors and youth leaders. Rabbi Louis Ginsburg was asked to contact youth directors and, through them, youth groups, including those associated with the North American Jewish Youth Council. Abe Bayer also agreed to contact NAJYC representatives during their Labor Day conv…
Soviet Jewry

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Minutes of New York Conference on Soviet Jewry: Planning Committee 2 (1969)

Present: Abraham J. Bayer – NCRAC; Jacob Birnbaum – SSSJ; David Geller – AJCommittee; Janet Goller – AJCongress; Rabbi Louis Ginsburg – National Conference of Synagogue Youth/UOJCA; Mel Klarfeld – B’nai B’rith; Rabbi Norman Lamm – The Jewish Center; Jack E. Levine – Free Sons of Israel; Arthur Rosenbluth – B’nai B’rith; Rabbi Elkanah Schwartz – UOJCA; Benjamin Silverman – Jewish War Veterans. The meeting opened with a review of the October 2nd celebration, and the following recommendations were made: (1) alternate indoor quarters should be arranged for any outdoor demonstration in case of inclement weather; (2) petitions should be circulated at every demonstration. The committee discussed the advisability of continuing outdoor demonstrations, and the overwhelming consensus was that they must continue while simultaneously developing new programmatic vehicles to publicize the plight of Soviet Jewry. It was announced that on December 10th – Human Rights Day – the American Jewish Conference on Soviet Jewry was calling on governors in each state to issue a proclamation on behalf of Soviet Jewry. A Proclamation Sub-Committee for New York was appointed: Abe Bayer, Mel Klarfeld, Jack Levine, Arthur Rosenbluth, and Benjamin Silverman. It was decided that a Passover demonstration should be planned using the theme “Let My People Go.” A special committee including Jacob Birnbaum will propose plans for this demonstration. The committee also discussed the possibility of pageants with contributions from each organization, and an indoor event such as a performance of a cantata composed by Cantor Kwartin. In addition to holiday-connected demonstrations, it was felt that the New York Conference should develop an ongoing program. Suggestions included: (1) a seminar on Soviet Jewry; (2) an in-service course for teachers and students for credit; (3) the construction of a monument to Babi Yar. A sub-committee was appointed to study these projects further and report back at the general …
Soviet Jewry

Correspondence

Letter to Members of New York Conference on Soviet Jewry on Convening Meeting (1970)

An important joint committee meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 24th, at 1:00 P.M., at the offices of the NCRAC, 55 West 42 Street, Room 1530. There are some crucial decisions that must be made. Your attendance is urged and urgent. RSVP: David Geller PL 1-4000
Soviet Jewry