Dear Friends,
On Sunday, April 6, Action for Post-Soviet Jewrycelebrated its 50th anniversary with a standing-room-only event that brought together longtime supporters, next-generation leaders, and global partners — all united by a shared commitment to dignity, justice, and care.
The milestone celebration was a powerful tribute to five decades of action, connection, and compassion — filled with heartfelt memories and a renewed commitment to a mission that is more urgent than ever.
A highlight of the program was a live stream from Ukraine, where the organization continues to serve some of the region’s most vulnerable Jews — primarily elderly individuals living in the “aid gap,” too isolated or frail to access services from larger humanitarian organizations. The voices from the field — filled with both gratitude and urgency — reminded guests that this was not just a legacy celebration. It was a living mission.
“We began with phone calls from Boston doctors advocating for Soviet Jews who were being denied care,” said Executive Director Debbie Kardon. “That call to action still echoes. Today, we’re using cutting-edge telehealth technology in partnership with the Dnipro Jewish Medical Center to reach elderly patients in remote Ukrainian towns, bringing vital medical expertise directly into homes that would otherwise be left behind.”
From underground networks of refusenik support in the 1970s to the creation of a post-Soviet eye clinic in the 1990s — and now to innovative, cross-border medical collaboration — Action’s history is a clear throughline of service, responsiveness, and moral clarity.
“Our ‘how’ has evolved — but our ‘who’ and ‘why’ have not,” echoed one speaker during the event.
The organization also honored a remarkable group of individuals and institutions whose dedication has shaped its journey and sustained its impact across decades:
Judy Patkin, Executive Director Emerita, for her decades of tireless service and moral leadership
Bob Gordon, Founder of Action for Soviet Jewry, whose vision gave rise to a grassroots movement
Barbara Karchamer, Board President since 2003, for her steadfast leadership and commitment to Action’s evolving mission
Marlene and David Bohn, whose home became a hub for packing hundreds of boxes of aid and mobilizing hundreds of volunteers
The Rashi School, accepted by Rabbi Marcia Plumb, for inspiring generations of students to lead with compassion and justice
Combined Jewish Philanthropies, accepted by President and CEO Rabbi Marc Baker, for decades of strategic partnership and communal support
Throughout the day, guests heard firsthand accounts of lives changed — by a package of diapers, a pair of eyeglasses, or a simple handwritten letter that said: “You are not forgotten.”
The event also lifted up the organization’s unique legacy as the only grassroots group from the original Soviet Jewry movement that is still operational today. Action is not only preserving that history — it is using it to shape present-day impact and plan for the future.
“We don’t just remember how we fought to free Jews,” said Kardon. “We remember how we helped rebuild Jewish life — and we’re doing it again, right now. We know how to rebuild lives and communities in Ukraine. And we know how to do it with dignity, connection, and purpose.”
The program closed with an invitation — not just to remember, but to act. To carry forward the mission of showing up for those left behind. To turn memory into movement — and movement into meaningful change.
About Action for Post-Soviet Jewry
Founded in 1975, Action for Post-Soviet Jewry provides essential support to Jewish communities in Ukraine and across the former Soviet Union. As the last remaining organization from the grassroots Soviet Jewry movement, Action continues to reach people often forgotten by larger aid systems — offering food, medical care, connection, and hope in the wake of war, aging, and isolation.
To learn more or support the mission, visit www.actionpsj.org.
Executive Director
Action for Post-Soviet Jewry