Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union
Our History
UCSJ: 50 years of fighting antisemitism and human rights abuses in the USSR and the former Soviet space
More than a half-a-century ago, UCSJ began as a loose confederation of grassroots organizations committed to supporting Soviet refuseniks and bringing light to their cause.
After the USSR ceased to exist, UCSJ restructured its mission to confront new historical challenges.
UCSJ continues to bring to light abuses of human rights and freedom of conscience, advocates for support of Ukraine, monitors antisemitism, and works toward preservation of Jewish heritage in the former Soviet space.
1963
Cleveland Council on Soviet Anti-Semitism is formed. The Cleveland Council is first organization of what will become the largest political campaigns waged by American Jews since the World War II era Russian War Relief campaign.
1964
Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry conducts its first meeting on Columbia University campus, making the struggle for Soviet Jews a part of the campus movement on U.S. campuses.
1966
“The Jews of Silence” is published. The book, by Elie Wiesel, is an influential account of his interaction with the Jews of the USSR. The book calls for action on behalf of the Soviet Jews.
1970
The Union of Councils for Soviet Jews is formed. UCSJ is an umbrella group of local grassroots Soviet Jewry groups emerging throughout the U.S. Our logo remains unchanged.
1970
A group of “refuseniks” in Leningrad attempt to hijack an airplane. They fail, but their arrests and convictions (including two commuted death sentences) galvanize the Western campaign on behalf of Soviet Jews.
1971
“The 35’s.” also known as “The Women’s Campaign for Soviet Jewry” is formed in London. The group is named after Raiza Palatnik, a 35-year-old Jewish woman imprisoned in Odessa at the time.
1973
UCSJ is advocates for the Jackson-Vanik Amendment to the trade agreement between the US and the USSR, denying most favored nation status to non-market economies that restricted emigration rights.
1975
Thirty-five countries sign the Helsinki Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, a document that, in addition to recognizing post-World War II borders in Europe and made promises to respect fundamental human rights.
1976
A group of dissidents in Moscow undertakes the task of monitoring their country’s compliance with human rights guarantees contained in the Helsinki Final Act. The group, called the Moscow Group of Assistance to Implementation of Helsinki Acoords in the USSR, includes several members who advocate for Jewish emigration. UCSJ becomes an early supporter of the Helsinki monitoring group.
1977
UCSJ advocates for Anatoly Scharansky, an imprisoned founding member of the Helsinki monitoring group. He is released in a prisoner exchange in1986.
1987
UCSJ takes part in organizing a Washington demonstration in support of Soviet Jews. Altogether, 250,000 people take part in the event. This is the largest event in support of a Jewish cause in the U.S.
1981 - 1991
USSR collapse UCSJ supported immigrating families and work of councils in the United States.
1993 - 2012
UCSJ opens human rights bureaus in several post-Soviet states and initiates “Coalition Against Hate,” an alliance of non-governmental groups which combat xenophobia and anti-Semitism, nationalistic and religious intolerance, violence on the grounds of hatred and discrimination.
2012
2013
UCSJ joins other U.S. organizations to form the International Religious Freedom Roundtable. This alliance lobbies the U.S. Congress, the State Department, and the President for help in defending religious freedom around the globe. UCSJ is also a member of the State Department working plays a role in combating antisemitism.
2019
Working with Kyiv-based Center for Civil Liberties and the Institute of Religious Freedom, UCSJ creates the Ukrainian Religious Freedom Roundtable which includes representatives of 50 leading religious NGOs, academics, and non-religious NGOs that meet regularly to resolve religious freedom issues in Ukraine.
2022
UCSJ forms the Ukraine Relief Fund to help overcome the consequences of the invasion, and through our facility in Lviv provided 150 meals per day.
