Recalling When 'Jewish Housewives Defeated the KGB'

    NEW YORK, NY, June 13, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- A traveling exhibit celebrating 25 years since Jews were finally allowed out of the Soviet Union and documenting their achievements in Israel was launched on Sunday at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

The exhibit, which was organized by Limmud FSU, features photographs and stories of Russian Jews who left the former Soviet Union in 1990 and integrated in Israel, while recalling the massive protests and efforts made by world Jewry to secure their release from the Soviet regime.

Taking part in the opening ceremony was US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder, and others.

Former Mossad chief Meir Dagan was also present, and related how he was born in an area that is now Ukraine but used to be part of the Soviet Union, and precisely through Russian help was able to get out.

Natan Sharansky, Chairman of the Executive of the Jewish Agency, was one of the famous refuseniks featured in the exhibit, along with Israeli politicians Yuli Edelstein (Likud) and Avigdor Liberman (Yisrael Beytenu).

Sharansky noted how the struggle to free Russian Jews united world Jewry, and how "students and housewives defeated the KGB," a fact which "reminds us how powerful we are when we are united."

Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz (Likud) also took part in the event, and said that in a united effort the Jewish people can achieve the "impossible."

Just as efforts back then freed one million Jews from the clutches of the Soviet Union, "now we have to struggle against the BDS and the attempts to isolate Israel and to mock the Jewish state and the Jews," he said, noting he was encouraged by the success against the Soviets.

The exhibit concentrates "on the days when we struggled to free the prisoners of Zion...thank G-d we succeeded," said Chaim Chesler, founder of Limud FSU.

Limmud - the volunteer-driven Jewish learning experience started in Great Britain 30 years ago. Since 1990, Limmud has spread to Jewish communities across the world.

The first Limmud Conference took place in the UK in 1980, awakening inspiration in hundreds of activists who returned home full of enthusiasm. This resulted in the idea of organizing local Limmud events. The Jerusalem Post reported in 2000 that "Every place that has Jews should have its own Limmud."

Limmud is a dynamic, pluralistic gathering of Jewish learning. For 30 years, Limmud seminars and conferences around the globe, from Canada to Australia, Switzerland and Turkey, as well as Israel, have been attracting Jews of all ages and backgrounds, including those who have studied Jewish topics intensively and others who have very little practical knowledge.

Seminars, lectures, workshops, and discussions focus on an enormous range of topics, from social and political trends within Jewish communities and around the world, to Israeli politics; from Jewish cooking; from traditional texts, Yiddish theater, dance and music.

Among the lecturers are world renowned academics and journalists; others discuss their hobbies and inspire others with their enthusiasm. Presenters of one topic become participants in workshops on others. All participants are equal; all are free to choose topics that interest them and select the sessions they wish to attend or not. All organizers, lecturers, and presenters are volunteers.

The primary mission of Limmud International is to develop, support, and continue to sponsor programs throughout the world. We fully recognize our responsibility to support the spread of Limmud's global success story, helping other communities benefit from the conference's vast experience.

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