Cleveland Council on Soviet Anti-Semitism

Cleveland organization founded in 1963, by three NASA scientists, to help Soviet Jews to emigrate and to monitor anti-semitism in the USSR. The movement spread to other cities in North America and led to the formation of the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews to coordinate the local groups.

From the description of Records 1963-1983. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 17645083

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Cleveland Council on Soviet Anti-Semitism

The Cleveland Council on Soviet Anti-Semitism (CCSA) was a volunteer organization whose goals were to assist Soviet Jews to emigrate, to inform the American public about Jewish activities in the Soviet Union, and to monitor anti-Semitism in the USSR. The CCSA, the first organization of its kind in the world, was established in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1963 through the efforts of NASA scientists Louis Rosenblum and Abe Silverstein, Veterans Administration Hospital psychologist Herbert Caron, and Rabbi Daniel Litt. The four men, members of Beth Israel-The West Temple, were supported by the congregation which provided volunteer workers and office space for the CCSA.

The CCSA sought to educate the public regarding the plight of Soviet Jews at a time when the problem was not generally recognized. The Council organized letter-writing campaigns to government officials, sponsored rallies and protests, corresponded with Soviet Jews, and lobbied Congress and the President in an effort to link economic aid to the Soviet Union to the issue of human rights. Between 1964 and 1969 the CCSA produced a handbook for community activity, created a motion picture and slide show depicting the problem of Soviet Jewry, and published Spotlight, the nation's first newsletter on Soviet Jews. By 1965, the CCSA counted 600 members. Its success was recognized nationally and it became a model for other local groups. By 1969, five other councils had been established and in February 1970 the six organizations joined to create the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews (UCSJ) to share information and to strengthen the movement nationally. In 1966, the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland became the first Federation in the U.S. to allocate funds for this issue by providing funds for the CCSA's educational activities.

From the guide to the Cleveland Council on Soviet Anti-Semitism Photographs, Series II, 1975-1980, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

The Cleveland Council on Soviet Anti-Semitism (CCSA) is a volunteer organization located in Cleveland, Ohio, whose goals are to assist Soviet Jews to emigrate, to inform the American public about Jewish activities in the Soviet Union, and to monitor anti-semitism in the USSR. The CCSA, the first organization of its kind in the world, was established in 1963 through the efforts of NASA scientists Louis Rosenblum and Abe Silverstein, Veterans Administration Hospital psychologist Herbert Caron, and Rabbit Daniel Litt. The four men, members of Beth Israel-The West Temple, were supported by the congregation which provided volunteer workers and office space for the CCSA.

The CCSA sought to educate the public regarding the plight of Soviet Jews at a time when the problem was not generally recognized. The Council organized letter-writing campaigns to government officials, sponsored rallies and protests, corresponded with Soviet Jews, and lobbied Congress and the President in an effort to link economic aid to the Soviet Union to the issue of human rights. Between 1964 and 1969 the CCSA produced a handbook for community activity; created a motion picture and slide show depicting the problem of Soviet Jewry; published Spotlight, the nation's first newsletter on Soviet Jews; and devised patterns for protests against visiting Soviet groups and officials. In 1966, the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland became the first Federation in the United States to allocate funds for this issue by providing funds for the CCSA's educational activities.

By 1965, the CCSA counted 600 members. Its success was recognized nationally, and it became a model for other local groups. CCSA leaders, especially Louis Rosenblum, assisted in the organization of local groups throughout the United States and Canada. By 1969, five other councils had been established and in February 1970 the six organizations joined to create the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews (UCSJ) to share information and to strengthen the movement nationally. Rosenblum served as the first president of the UCSJ and its office was initially located in Cleveland. In 1972, a Washington, D.C. office was opened and staffed by one salaried employee who acted as Congressional and media liaison. In 1985 the UCSJ included 32 member council representing a membership of 50,000.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Cleveland Council on Soviet Anti-Semitism

From the guide to the Cleveland Council on Soviet Anti-Semitism Photographs, 1964-1977, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

The Cleveland Council on Soviet Anti-Semitism (CCSA) is a volunteer organization located in Cleveland, Ohio, whose goals are to assist Soviet Jews to emigrate, to inform the American public about Jewish activities in the Soviet Union, and to monitor anti-semitism in the USSR. The CCSA, the first organization of its kind in the world, was established in 1963 through the efforts of NASA scientists Louis Rosenblum and Abe Silverstein, Veterans Administration Hospital psychologist Herbert Caron, and Rabbit Daniel Litt. The four men, members of Beth Israel-The West Temple, were supported by the congregation which provided volunteer workers and office space for the CCSA.

The CCSA sought to educate the public regarding the plight of Soviet Jews at a time when the problem was not generally recognized. The Council organized letter-writing campaigns to government officials, sponsored rallies and protests, corresponded with Soviet Jews, and lobbied Congress and the President in an effort to link economic aid to the Soviet Union to the issue of human rights. Between 1964 and 1969 the CCSA produced a handbook for community activity; created a motion picture and slide show depicting the problem of Soviet Jewry; published Spotlight, the nation's first newsletter on Soviet Jews; and devised patterns for protests against visiting Soviet groups and officials. In 1966, the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland became the first Federation in the United States to allocate funds for this issue by providing funds for the CCSA's educational activities.

By 1965, the CCSA counted 600 members. Its success was recognized nationally, and it became a model for other local groups. CCSA leaders, especially Louis Rosenblum, assisted in the organization of local groups throughout the United States and Canada. By 1969, five other councils had been established and in February 1970 the six organizations joined to create the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews (UCSJ) to share information and to strengthen the movement nationally. Rosenblum served as the first president of the UCSJ and its office was initially located in Cleveland. In 1972, a Washington, D.C. office was opened and staffed by one salaried employee who acted as Congressional and media liaison. In 1985 the UCSJ included 32 member council representing a membership of 50,000.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Cleveland Council on Soviet Anti-Semitism

From the guide to the Cleveland Council on Soviet Anti-Semitism Records, 1960-1983, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

The Cleveland Council on Soviet Anti Semitism (CCSA) was a volunteer organization whose goals were to assist Soviet Jews to emigrate, to inform the American public about Jewish activities in the Soviet Union, and to monitor anti-Semitism in the USSR. The CCSA, the first organization of its kind in the world, was established in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1963 through the efforts of NASA scientists Louis Rosenblum and Abe Silverstein, psychologist Herbert Caron, and Rabbi Daniel Litt. The four men, members of Beth Israel The West Temple, were supported by the congregation which provided volunteer workers and office space for the CCSA.

The CCSA sought to educate the public regarding the plight of Soviet Jews at a time when the problem was not generally recognized. The Council organized letter writing campaigns to government officials, sponsored rallies and protests, corresponded with Soviet Jews, and lobbied Congress and the President in an effort to link economic aid to the Soviet Union to the issue of human rights. Between 1964 and 1969 the CCSA produced a handbook for community activity, created a motion picture and slide show depicting the problem of Soviet Jewry, and published Spotlight, the nation's first newsletter on Soviet Jews. By 1965, the CCSA had 600 members. Its success was recognized nationally and it became a model for other local groups. By 1969, five other councils had been established and in February 1970 the six organizations joined to create the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews (UCSJ) to share information and to strengthen the movement nationally. In 1966, the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland became the first Federation in the United States to allocate funds for this issue by providing funds for the CCSA's educational activities.

Herbert Caron, one of the founders of the CCSA, was its first executive secretary and chair of its Action Committee. Caron was a psychologist at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Cleveland, and he also taught psychology at Case Western Reserve University. Caron was active in Jewish and community affairs, particularly in the city of Parma, Ohio, where he lived. In his role as executive secretary for the CCSA, Caron wrote both letters and newspaper articles on behalf of the Council. He was also a member of the CCSA's Speakers Bureau and gave presentations and speeches on Soviet Jewry in the name of the CCSA.

Click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry on the Cleveland Council on Soviet Anti-Semitism

From the guide to the Cleveland Council on Soviet Anti-Semitism Records, Series II, 1948-2000, (Western Reserve Historical Society)