{"id":2394,"date":"2025-04-09T09:57:15","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T09:57:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/?p=2394"},"modified":"2025-06-23T09:58:45","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T09:58:45","slug":"over-50-years-of-memory-into-mission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/2025\/04\/09\/over-50-years-of-memory-into-mission\/","title":{"rendered":"Over 50 Years of Memory into Mission"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Dear Friends,<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\u00a0On Sunday, April 6, Action for Post-Soviet Jewry<\/em>celebrated its 50th anniversary with a standing-room-only event that brought together longtime supporters, next-generation leaders, and global partners \u2014 all united by a shared commitment to dignity, justice, and care.<\/p>

The milestone celebration was a powerful tribute to five decades of action, connection, and compassion \u2014 filled with heartfelt memories and a renewed commitment to a mission that is more urgent than ever.<\/p>

A highlight of the program was a live stream from Ukraine, where the organization continues to serve some of the region\u2019s most vulnerable Jews \u2014 primarily elderly individuals living in the \u201caid gap,\u201d too isolated or frail to access services from larger humanitarian organizations. The voices from the field \u2014 filled with both gratitude and urgency \u2014 reminded guests that this was not just a legacy celebration. It was a living mission.<\/p>

\u201cWe began with phone calls from Boston doctors advocating for Soviet Jews who were being denied care,\u201d said Executive Director Debbie Kardon<\/strong>. \u201cThat call to action still echoes. Today, we\u2019re using cutting-edge telehealth technology in partnership with the Dnipro Jewish Medical Center<\/strong> to reach elderly patients in remote Ukrainian towns, bringing vital medical expertise directly into homes that would otherwise be left behind.\u201d<\/p>

From underground networks of refusenik support in the 1970s to the creation of a post-Soviet eye clinic in the 1990s \u2014 and now to innovative, cross-border medical collaboration \u2014 Action\u2019s history is a clear throughline of service, responsiveness, and moral clarity.<\/p>

\u201cOur \u2018how\u2019 has evolved \u2014 but our \u2018who\u2019 and \u2018why\u2019 have not,\u201d echoed one speaker during the event.<\/p>

The organization also honored a remarkable group of individuals and institutions whose dedication has shaped its journey and sustained its impact across decades:<\/p>

Judy Patkin<\/strong>, Executive Director Emerita, for her decades of tireless service and moral leadership

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Bob Gordon<\/strong>, Founder of Action for Soviet Jewry, whose vision gave rise to a grassroots movement

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Barbara Karchamer<\/strong>, Board President since 2003, for her steadfast leadership and commitment to Action\u2019s evolving mission

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Marlene and David Bohn<\/strong>, whose home became a hub for packing hundreds of boxes of aid and mobilizing hundreds of volunteers

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The Rashi School<\/strong>, accepted by Rabbi Marcia Plumb<\/strong>, for inspiring generations of students to lead with compassion and justice

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Combined Jewish Philanthropies<\/strong>, accepted by President and CEO Rabbi Marc Baker<\/strong>, for decades of strategic partnership and communal support

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Throughout the day, guests heard firsthand accounts of lives changed \u2014 by a package of diapers, a pair of eyeglasses, or a simple handwritten letter that said: \u201cYou are not forgotten.\u201d<\/em><\/p>

The event also lifted up the organization\u2019s unique legacy as the only grassroots group from the original Soviet Jewry movement that is still operational today<\/strong>. Action is not only preserving that history \u2014 it is using it to shape present-day impact and plan for the future.<\/p>

\u201cWe don\u2019t just remember how we fought to free Jews,\u201d said Kardon. \u201cWe remember how we helped rebuild Jewish life \u2014 and we\u2019re 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.\u201d<\/p>

The program closed with an invitation \u2014 not just to remember, but to act. To carry forward the mission of showing up for those left behind. To turn memory into movement \u2014 and movement into meaningful change.<\/p>

About Action for Post-Soviet Jewry<\/strong><\/p>

Founded in 1975, Action for Post-Soviet Jewry<\/em> 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 \u2014 offering food, medical care, connection, and hope in the wake of war, aging, and isolation.<\/p>

To learn more or support the mission, visit www.actionpsj.org<\/a>.<\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

Executive Director<\/p>

Action for Post-Soviet Jewry<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTo support our work in Ukraine<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In the wake of recent events, the words of my friend echoed in my mind: “My heart breaks twice\u2013once for Ukraine and now Israel.” These sentiments<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":918,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2394","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2394","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2394"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2394\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2398,"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2394\/revisions\/2398"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/918"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2394"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}