Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Level
Series
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Level
Series
Fonds
17
Series
3
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Date
1967-1992
Physical Description
4.5 m of textual records
1822 photographs : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
Admin History/Bio
The earliest impetus for the creation of a Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) committee to focus on the issue of Soviet Jews was in response to the infamous “Leningrad trials” of thirty-one dissident Soviet Jews in the winter of 1970. Concurrently, the Soviet government began to systematically persecute almost all Jews who applied for permission to emigrate. The issuing of exit visas was refused (the genesis of the term “refusenik”), usually on exaggerated claims of national security, after which the applicants were often dismissed from their jobs, recalled to military service, or similarly persecuted by state authorities. Those who publicly protested such treatment were subsequently arrested, detained for long periods, or tried as examples to others and sent to Siberian labour camps.
When information about the plight of Soviet Jews reached Canada, Toronto’s Jews responded immediately and decisively. Synagogue congregations, student groups, women’s organizations, professional organizations and community groups all established independent committees to aid Soviet Jews directly and to pressure local, national and international governments to address Soviet antisemitism. Very quickly these committees began organizing mass rallies, letter writing campaigns, petitions, targeted protests and direct aid involving large numbers of people and considerable fundraising efforts. From 1971 to the late 1980s the cause of Soviet Jewry remained, along with support for The State of Israel, the most significant issue to the Jewish community.
The Action Committee for Soviet Jewry (ACSJ) was formed by the (then) Central Region of the CJC in early 1971 in order to coordinate the activities of, and provide stable funding and administrative support for, the various ad hoc committees and action groups that had sprung up across Toronto and the rest of Ontario. Organizations coordinated by the Action Committee included university student groups, the Group of 35, Women for Soviet Jewry (WSJ), B’nai B’rith, and the Canadian Zionist Federation (CZF). The ACSJ originally reported to the CJC’s Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry (SCSJ), but by the mid-1970s the reporting of the two committees was reversed, with the Steering Committee reporting to the Action Committee. By 1977, the Action Committee and the Steering Committee were merged into the newly-renamed CJC Ontario Region’s Committee for Soviet Jewry (occasionally referred to as the Toronto Committee).
The first Chairman of the SCSJ was the prominent Toronto politician and activist Joseph B. Salsberg. Later chairs, including Sam Filer, Phyllis Sugar, Reg Adelman, author Jeanette Goldman, Joyce Eklove, and Judge Ted Matlow were also involved with affiliated local groups whose activities were coordinated by the SCSJ. Sam Filer, its first permanent Secretary, became in 1976 its second Chairman. He also served as Chairman of the Toronto Action Committee for Soviet Jewry and was an original co-founder of Lawyers and Jurists for Soviet Jewry. Similarly, Phyllis Sugar was a Co-chair of the ACSJ with Reg Adelman in the early to mid-1970s, while simultaneously serving as the Chair of WSJ. Genya Intrator, the first Chair of WSJ in the early 1970s, later served as first Chair of the Canadian Committee for Soviet Jewry. Despite having its first meeting in Winnipeg, the Canadian Committee had most of its leadership and activities in Toronto. Toronto residents Sydney Harris (later Judge Harris), David Satok, Genya Intrator and David Sadowski all chaired this committee as it developed a national agenda through contacts with affiliated organizations across the country, while coordinating internationally with groups such as the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews based in New York.
Towards the end of the 1980s, many of the restrictions regarding exit visas for refusniks were removed and increasingly Russian Jews began to immigrate to Israel, the United States and Canada. A large percentage of the latter settled in Toronto. By 1991, in response to the changes in Russia and the former Soviet republics, the CJC’s local and national Soviet Jewry Committees were wound up and their leadership began to focus on new issues, such as the integration of Soviet Jewish immigrants into Canada and the continuing struggle to fight antisemitism in the successor states of the former Soviet Union. To this end, the CJC formed a Political Liaison Committee in the early 1990s. Internationally, however, many Russian Jewish advocacy groups continued to operate on the foundation of activism and community organization established during the decades of solidarity built around the Soviet Jewry cause.
Custodial History
The records in this series were accumulated and maintained in the offices of the CJC under the jurisdiction of Samuel Resnick, in his role as the Director of the Community Action for Israel Committee, and as the main CJC staff employee for overseeing the Action Committee for Soviet Jewry and Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry, which eventually coalesced as simply the Committee for Soviet Jewry circa 1977. By 1980, Resnick’s title was Director of the Committee for Soviet Jewry, Central Region, making him the primary full-time staffer of the CJC involved in the Soviet Jewry cause.
Scope and Content
Series consists of extensive planning, administrative and operational records including meeting minutes, correspondence, budgets and membership lists. Records pertaining to activities include numerous event and protest photographs, articles, petitions, posters and other press materials. Records related to the gathering of information regarding Soviet Jewry include transcripts of telegrams and telephone conversations, background fact sheets and many individual case files.
This series has been arranged into six sub-series. Sub-series 1 consists of Ontario Region committee meeting agendas and minutes. Sub-series 2 consists of the correspondence files documenting various activities of that committee. Sub-series 3 consists of the agendas, minutes and general correspondence of the National Committee for Soviet Jewry. Sub-series 4 consists of records documenting affiliated Jewish organizations that collaborated with the CJC in protesting the persecution of Soviet Jews. Sub-series 5 consists of records documenting the various protest activities such as lobbying, letter writing, public rallies, marches and demonstrations. Sub-series 6 , Rufusnik Cases, consists of 3 sub-sub-series, containing individual case files, large published lists, and reference publications about Soviet Jews who were refused permission to emigrate (refusniks).
Notes
Physical extent note: although over 28 m of Soviet Jewry records were originally transferred to the OJA, more than 23 m of those records have been culled due to their origin (non-Canadian sources), format (outside periodicals and publications), because they were merely externally-created reference materials, or because they were part of the very large volumes of duplicates that made up the majority of the box contents. Records documenting the activities of other CJC Committees have also been removed for future processing within more appropriately-titled series within Fonds 17.
Subjects
Committees
Jews--Soviet Union
Arrangement
Because the Soviet Jewry records donated by the Canadian Jewish Congress had not been maintained in a discernable original order, they had to be reorganized into their current arrangement by the processing archivist.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Committee meeting agendas and minutes sub-series
Level
Sub-series
Fonds
17
Series
3-1
Material Format
textual record
Date
1970-1988
Physical Description
6 cm of textual records
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of agendas and minutes of meetings of 1), the Toronto Committee for Soviet Jewry (its best-known name) and its predecessors 2), The Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry, 3), the Committee for Soviet Jewry and 4), the Action Committee for Soviet Jewry. Each file title reflects the name of the creator committee at that time. With the exception of 1984, there are agendas and minutes for each year of committee activity until 1988, after which time the activities of the committee were considerably reduced. 1989 and 1990 committee meeting minutes were either not created or never transferred.
Related Material
Committee correspondence may be found at Fonds 17, Series 3, Sub-series 3-2
Arrangement
Files have been arranged in chronological order and by committee name.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
Sub-series
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
Sub-series
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Date
1970-1987
Physical Description
30 cm of textual records
91 photographs : b&w; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
Admin History/Bio
Among the major organizations that cooperated with the Committee for Soviet Jewry, the women's organizations and student groups frequently acted as co-organizers and co-sponsors of protest activities and collaborated in the preparation of documents for awareness campaigns. Many of these activities originated from the efforts of such groups as the Toronto Student Councils, the Women for Soviet Jewry and the Group of 35.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of records documenting the activities of various Jewish organizations which worked in cooperation with the Committee for Soviet Jewry, Ontario Region. These records include some photographs, but consist primarily of correspondence, notices and press materials.
Arrangement
Records in this series have been organized alphabetically according to the name of the organization, and then chronologically within the records of each file.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Protest activities sub-series
Level
Sub-series
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-5
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Protest activities sub-series
Level
Sub-series
Fonds
17
Series
3-5
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Date
1967-1988
Physical Description
70 cm of textual records
1238 photographs : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
Admin History/Bio
Activities undertaken by the Committee for Soviet Jewry in Ontario and its affiliated partner organizations included political lobbying, telephone and letter-writing campaigns, product boycotting, symposiums, public rallies, petitions, marches and demonstrations. Among the highest profile activities were the annual Simcha Torah rallies in October and the annual commemorations of the execution of twenty-four Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals, which had occurred on August 12, 1952 at Moscow's Liubianka prison. As well as organizing public protest activities, the Committee for Soviet Jewry established, in the 1980s, the Ida Nudel Humanitarian Award which emphasized the humanitarian work of a number of prominent Canadian women. Other non-protest activities included bar/ bat mitzvah twinning, family and prisoner sponsorships, and holiday greetings, all programmes that tied the daily lives of Soviet Jews to their Canadian counterparts.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of records documenting the wide range of above-listed protest activities in which the CJC and various affiliated organizations participated. The files include numerous photographs of mass rallies and group demonstrations, planning notes, correspondence, event notices and other promotional materials.
Subjects
Demonstrations
Arrangement
Records of protest activities in this sub-series have been organized chronologically and by event. Indicated date ranges at the file level are of the documents themselves and are not necessarily indicative of the dates of specific events, such as rallies or marches, though such dates are noted in the file description where known.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Canadian Committee for Soviet Jewry sub-series
Level
Sub-series
Fonds
17
Series
3-3
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Date
1972-1991
Physical Description
28 cm of textual records
37 photographs : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
Admin History/Bio
In order to facilitate the cooperation between regional committees, a National Committee for Soviet Jewry was created in December 1972 at a meeting of regional CJC directors in Winnipeg. Its names "National Committee" and "Canadian Committee" were used interchangeably within its records. While meetings of this committee were fewer in number than those of the regional committees, there was a certain amount of overlapping jurisdiction between the Central Region, based in Toronto, and the Canadian Committee, given that most of the executive members for both were based in Ontario. Further, executive members serving on the national committee also frequently served concurrently on the local committee. The first Chair of the Canadian Committee, elected to the position in Dec. 1972, was Toronto resident (later Judge) Sydney Harris. David Satok, Genya Intrator and David Sadowski, all from Toronto, also served as Chairs for this committee. Unsurprisingly, a majority of activities were thus coordinated in the Central Region office in Toronto. The various regional committees, however, remained largely autonomous, with Montreal, Ottawa and Winnipeg being the most active outside of Toronto.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of meeting agendas and minutes, correspondence, news releases and reports of the Canadian (National) Committee for Soviet Jewry. Also included are numerous examples of the bulletins, notices and newsletters issued by the committee.
Subjects
Antisemitism
Arrangement
Aside from the culling of duplicate documents, files have here been maintained with their original contents and internal order. As some files have date ranges spanning several years, they have been arranged in chronological order by their start dates.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Committee correspondence sub-series
Level
Sub-series
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Committee correspondence sub-series
Level
Sub-series
Fonds
17
Series
3-2
Material Format
textual record
Date
1970-1992
Physical Description
14 cm of textual records
Admin History/Bio
Planning to create an Action Committee for Soviet Jewry began in December, 1970 with its first real activities occurring in April, 1971. At that time, a Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry was also created to function as a small sub-committee of the Action Committee. By 1972 the roles had reversed, with the Steering Committee becoming the primary functioning committee for the coordination of activities relating to Soviet Jewry. By 1975 the Action Committee was completely phased and, in 1980, the Steering Committee's full name was changed to "Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry, Central Region". In 1981 a further name change occurred as it became the "Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry, Ontario Region". In 1988 the name was simplified to its final form, "The Committee for Soviet Jewry".
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of the chronological correspondence files of the Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry, the Action Committee for Soviet Jewry and the Committee for Soviet Jewry. The correspondence also includes occasional administrative documents such as receipts and reports. There are also numerous general notices, promotional materials and selected articles and news releases related to the communications between the various members and executive officers of the committees. No records could be located for the years 1990 and 1991.
Related Material
Meeting agendas and minutes for these committees may be found at Fonds 17, Series 3, Sub-series 3-1.
Arrangement
Files have been arranged in chronological order.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Refusnik cases sub-series
Individual refusnik case files sub-sub-series
Level
Sub-sub-series
Fonds
17
Series
3-6-1
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
Date
1970-1986
Physical Description
63 cm of textual records
382 photographs : b&w; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
Scope and Content
Sub-sub-series consists of case files of individual refusniks and includes detailed documentation about several very well known Russian Jews, such as Anatoly Scharansky, Dr. Benjamin Levich, Ida Nudel, and Esther Markish. Files vary in their content from very cursory information to files that include articles, correspondence and/or photographs in addition to information about the status of individual emigration applications and the living conditions of Jews in the Soviet Union.
Related Material
Records documenting refusnik groups may be found at Fonds 17, Sub-sub-series 3-6-2. Publications about refusniks may be found at Fonds 17, Sub-sub-series 3-6-3
Arrangement
Sub-sub-series records are organized alphabetically by surname.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Refusnik cases sub-series
Refusnik groups sub-sub-series
Level
Sub-sub-series
Fonds
17
Series
3-6-2
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Date
1970-1983
Physical Description
17 cm of textual records
74 photographs : b&w; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
Scope and Content
Sub-sub-series consists of various types of group documents: listings of groups of Soviet Jews; group and unidentified photographs of refusniks; and records pertaining to advocacy groups organized by former refusniks, both in Canada and internationally. Several of the files in this sub-sub-series also include publications by these groups.
Related Material
Individual refusnik case files may be found at Fonds 17, Sub-sub-series 3-6-1. Publications about refusniks may be found at Fonds 17, Sub-sub-series 3-6-3.
Arrangement
Sub-sub-series records are organized alphabetically at the file level.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Refusnik cases sub-series
Reference publications sub-sub-series
Level
Sub-sub-series
Fonds
17
Series
3-6-3
Material Format
textual record
text
Date
1972-1986
Physical Description
11 v. text
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
Sub-sub-series consists of widely-distributed publications listing large numbers of refusniks as well as assorted folders of refusnik file listings and fact sheets. These publications and lists were utilized by the committee and its associated member agencies both to enhance public awareness concerning the extent of the problems and also to create mailing lists that could be used by the agencies to assist in expanding direct contact with individual refusniks.
Related Material
Individual refusnik case files may be found at Fonds 17, Sub-sub-series 3-6-1. Publications about refusniks may be found at Fonds 17, Sub-sub-series 3-6-2.
Arrangement
Sub-sub-series records are organized chronologically.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Refusnik cases sub-series
Level
Sub-series
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-6
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Refusnik cases sub-series
Level
Sub-series
Fonds
17
Series
3-6
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
text
Date
1970-1988
Physical Description
81 cm of textual records
11 v. text
456 photographs : b&w; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
Admin History/Bio
Individual case files and refusnik listings were assembled by numerous Soviet Jewry advocacy groups and distributed internationally. Such records were then used by groups like the Committee for Soviet Jewry in their promotional material such as leaflets and news briefs to inform the Jewish community, interest groups and members of the general public about updates to the status of individual refusnik cases and the plight of Soviet Jews within the Soviet Union.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of files documenting individual refusniks, some very well known, as well as files and publications containing lists and/or groups of Soviet Jews and documents related to group activities. Sub-series is organized into three sub-sub-series: individual case files, groups, and publications.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
1
Material Format
textual record
Date
1978-1980
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File contains notices, promotional material and correspondence related to the Alpha Omega Dentist Fraternity's efforts to mobilize on behalf of Soviet Jews in conjunction with efforts by The Medical Mobilization for Soviet Jewry based out of Massachusetts, U.S.A.. The collected materials pertain to a meeting of Alpha Omega members in Toronto in December 1980.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
2
Material Format
textual record
Date
1980-1981
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File contains two pieces of correspondence concerning the formation of the Association of the Soviet Jewry in Canada and related to the coordination of activities with the Toronto Jewish Congress. A newsletter of the Toronto Jewish Congress containing information on the activities of the organization is also included.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
3
Material Format
textual record
Date
1977
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File contains correspondence concerning lectures and activities at Beth Tzedec and the coordination of assistance from Sam Resnick on behalf of the Committee for Soviet Jewry. Also included with materials is a notice of a lecture series by Professor Irwin Cotler at Beth Tzedec Synagogue.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 4
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
4
Material Format
textual record
Date
1984
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
Documents related to the Jews in Foreign Lands Committee within Beth Tzedec Congregation, including addresses and names of committee membership and minutes of a committee meeting held on 19 February 1984.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 5
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
5
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Date
1980
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
1 photograph : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm
Scope and Content
File contains correspondence, press releases, program, review and promotional materials related to a Symbolic Third Seder held at Beth Tzedec in 1980 with special guest lecturer Peter C. Newman. Newman spoke about his recent travels in the Soviet Union and the contact he made with Jews living in the Soviet Union. The photograph included in this file is a promotional shot of Newman.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 6
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
6
Material Format
textual record
Date
1980
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File contains press releases, correspondence and newsletters concerning the activities of the League for Human Rights in the organization's efforts to raise awareness of the plight of Soviet Jews.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 7
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
7
Material Format
textual record
Date
1972-1973, 1983-1984
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File contains petitions, correspondence and articles related to the Canadian academic community's efforts on behalf of their Soviet Jewish peers and specific appeal campaigns on their behalf. Primary correspondents include Professor Irwin Cotler and Murray Freedman.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 11
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
11
Material Format
textual record
Date
1980-1981
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File contains petitions, correspondence and articles related to the committee's efforts on behalf of their Soviet Jewish peers and specific appeal campaigns on their behalf. Primary correspondents include the committee's chairman Eric Fawcett and secretary Israel Halperin.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 13
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
13
Material Format
textual record
Date
1977-1979
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File contains petitions, correspondence, news releases and articles related to the committee's efforts on behalf of their Soviet Jewish peers and efforts to garner support for a ban on collaborative research between Canadian universities and the Soviet Union.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 14
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
14
Material Format
textual record
Date
1980-1981
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File contains correspondence, press releases and various petitions related to the conference activities of collaborations between the Committee of Concerned Scientists (USA) and the Canadian Committee of Scientists and Scholars. Included are details of seminars delivered at a Convention of the American Association for the Advancement of Science held 4 January 1981 at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto, Ontario and on other occasions and other cities across North America, in honour of scientist in exile from the Soviet Union.
Related Material
Related documents can also be found within this sub-series under the files designated to the Committee of Concerned Scientists (File 9) and the Canadian Committee of Scientists and Scholars (File 8).
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 12
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
12
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Date
1972-1974
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
1 photograph : b&w ; 23 x 14 cm
Admin History/Bio
Lev Levitin was a Soviet electrical and computer engineer and refusnik profiled in the Committee of Soviet Jewry campaigns.
Scope and Content
File contains correspondence in English and Russian, press releases, articles, transcripts and various petitions related to the efforts of the Canadian Friends of Soviet Jewry to raise the issue of Soviet emigration and freedom of religion policies among the candidates in the 1974 Canadian Federal Election. Also includes a photo of Lev Levitin with a child. Primary correspondents include H. Wayne Tannenbaum, Chairman of the Canadian Friends of Soviet Jewry. File also includes a number of documents related to the general administration and fundraising activities of the organization.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 16
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
16
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Date
1975-1977
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
1 photograph : b&w ; 6 x 7 cm
Admin History/Bio
The Ottawa Chapter of the Group of 35 was also known as the Ottawa Women's Committee for Soviet Jewry and was affiliated with the Jewish Community Council of Ottawa.
Scope and Content
File contains reports on activities of the Ottawa chapter's activities and history, as well as several clippings mentioning the group and a few pieces of correspondence.
Related Material
Reference to the Ottawa Group of 35 is also made in the Ottawa Vaad Ha'ir records of this sub-series.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 15
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
15
Material Format
textual record
Date
1977-1978
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Admin History/Bio
The Canadian Branch of Contact/ U.S.S.R. was closely affiliated with the Toronto Group of 35 activists.
Scope and Content
File includes guidelines related to the letter writing activities of this group based in Toronto. The file also includes form letters, campaign information regarding the Post Office Registration program and correspondence.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 17
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
17
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Date
1974-1987
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
2 photographs : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm
Admin History/Bio
The Group of 35 also used the name the Women's Campaign for Soviet Jewry and had affiliations with numerous international chapters. Active members included Barbara Glass, Marilyn Seigel, Elaine Gudofsky, Heather Brown, Carol Reiter and Marcia Zionce.
Scope and Content
File includes membership and executive contact lists, correspondence, campaign materials, press releases, newsletters and circulars, copies of letters to the editor, activities lists, copies of articles and general administrative documents.
Related Material
Further reference to the Group of 35 is also made in the records of the Women for Soviet Jewry file of this sub-series.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 18
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
18
Material Format
textual record
Date
1987
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File contains one notice of special Oneg Shabbat service at the Holy Blossom Temple with guest speaker Alexander Mariasin, held 10 April 1987.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 22
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
22
Material Format
textual record
Date
1978-1983
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File contains minutes of several meetings, along with accompanying petitions and correspondence related to the action of seeking the release of psychiatric professionals in the Soviet Union. Also included are two postcards addressed to R.A. Rudenko, bearing the images of arrested Soviet citizens. One is written in Russian text. The rest of the file is comprised of correspondence, meeting notices and a facsimile of an article titled "The Fear of Freedom: Decompensation of a Psychological State or a Phenomenon of Existence" by Dr. Semyon Gluzman written in 1978.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 19
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
19
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Date
1973-1987
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
6 photographs : col. ; 11 x 15 cm
Scope and Content
File contains six unidentified colour photographs of participants in an event, newsletters, facsimiles and originals of letters sent to Parliament and meeting reports, notices and minutes of the World Jewry Committee. Case files are attached to several of the letters. The file also contains a petition, a Passover program, with guest speaker Jim Peterson M.P., and an event poster. Among the members of the organization identified in the documents are Helen Marr, Jeanette Goldman and Stella Rozan.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 26
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
26
Material Format
textual record
Date
1970-1974
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Admin History/Bio
The student council was affiliated with the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews and had chapters at York University and the University of Toronto.
Scope and Content
File includes liaison lists with affiliated organizations, details of co-activities, meeting minutes, correspondence, a conference program, and news bulletins.
Notes
The Toronto Student Council for Soviet Jews became The Toronto Student Council for Oppressed Jews in 1975. See corresponding file for further details.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 24
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
24
Material Format
textual record
Date
1985-1987
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File includes meeting minutes and related meeting notices, press literature, membership contact lists and campaign letters.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 25
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
25
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Date
1974-1977
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
1 photograph : b&w ; 13 x 18 cm
Scope and Content
File includes a handbook "Natasha's Dream: Children's Handbook on Russian Jews" published by the student council in 1974. Also included are a list of events and activities undertaken by the council, press releases and campaign literature, correspondence and a photograph of students taken during the Trailer project
Notes
The Toronto Student Council for Soviet Jews became The Toronto Student Council for Oppressed Jews in 1975. See corresponding file for further details.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 27
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
27
Material Format
textual record
Date
1977
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File includes notices, newsletters and alerts directed to the union groups and affiliates.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 29
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
29
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Date
1972-1976
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
9 photographs : b&w ; 26 x 21 cm or smaller
Scope and Content
File includes photographs of protest events in 1973 and 1974. Also included are correspondence, financial statements, notices of meetings and events, meeting minutes and agendas, reports, petitions contact lists of members and executives, newspaper articles, press releases, newsletters and posters. Chairman of the committee, Phyllis Sugar, is the primary correspondent in the file. A signed petition includes Toronto Mayor, David Crombie's signature.
Notes
Information on the Women for Soviet Jewry is also found in the files for the Group of 35 chapters in Toronto and Ottawa.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 8
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
8
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Date
1975-1987
Physical Description
4 cm of textual records
35 photographs : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
Scope and Content
File contains printed testimonials, notes, correspondence, press releases, operational memoranda, a contact sheet of photos taken during a dinner meeting in 1976,distributed pamphlets, events programs, contact lists, meeting notices, conference notes and a photo of the presentation of a human rights award to David Smith in 1983.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 9
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
9
Material Format
textual record
Date
1974-1985
Physical Description
5 cm of textual records
Scope and Content
File includes general correspondence and related literature to the activities of the committee.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3-4; File 10
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Affiliated organizations sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-4
File
10
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Date
1976-1984
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
35 photographs : b&w ; 20 x 13 cm or smaller
Scope and Content
File includes correspondence, sample invitation cards, lecture notes and photographs concerning the luncheon lecture programs of the committee. Guests lecturers in this program included Leon S. Lipson, Yoram Dinstein, Natalia Sharansky, Robert McKay, Alan Eagleson, Burton Caine, David Smith, Flora MacDonald, Charles L. Caccia, Fred King, Lynn McDonald and Jim Peterson. Floar McDonald and David Smith are photographed on one contact sheet of 34 photographs during their talk. The other photograph is of Professor of Law Burton Caine.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Refusnik cases sub-series
Individual Refusnik cases sub-sub series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-6-1
File
1
Material Format
textual record
Date
[ca. 1975]
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Refusnik cases sub-series
Individual Refusnik cases sub-sub series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-6-1
File
2
Material Format
textual record
Date
1980
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Refusnik cases sub-series
Individual Refusnik cases sub-sub series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-6-1
File
3
Material Format
textual record
Date
1975
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Refusnik cases sub-series
Individual Refusnik cases sub-sub series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-6-1
File
5
Material Format
textual record
Date
1977
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Refusnik cases sub-series
Individual Refusnik cases sub-sub series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-6-1
File
7
Material Format
textual record
Date
[ca. 1976]
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Refusnik cases sub-series
Individual Refusnik cases sub-sub series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-6-1
File
8
Material Format
textual record
Date
1977
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Refusnik cases sub-series
Individual Refusnik cases sub-sub series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-6-1
File
9
Material Format
textual record
Date
1984
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Refusnik cases sub-series
Individual Refusnik cases sub-sub series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-6-1
File
10
Material Format
textual record
Date
1977
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Refusnik cases sub-series
Individual Refusnik cases sub-sub series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-6-1
File
11
Material Format
textual record
Date
[ca. 1981]
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Refusnik cases sub-series
Individual Refusnik cases sub-sub series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-6-1
File
12
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Date
1976-1977
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
6 photographs : b&w ; 25 x 17 cm or smaller
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Refusnik cases sub-series
Individual Refusnik cases sub-sub series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-6-1
File
6
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Date
1977
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 8 cm
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Refusnik cases sub-series
Individual Refusnik cases sub-sub series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-6-1
File
13
Material Format
textual record
Date
[ca. 1976]
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Refusnik cases sub-series
Individual Refusnik cases sub-sub series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-6-1
File
14
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Date
[ca. 1981]
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
1 photograph : b&w ; 7 x 10 cm
Scope and Content
The case file is in reference to the refusnik Aron Aaverbukh, but the photograph is labelled as Izrail Averbukh. No other information indicates whether these items are related to the same person or related persons.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Refusnik cases sub-series
Individual Refusnik cases sub-sub series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-6-1
File
64
Material Format
textual record
Date
[ca. 1980]
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Source
Archival Descriptions