SJMEP News

In 1968, Boris Kochubiyevsky, a young Jewish engineer from Kyiv wrote an open letter to Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. It contained a line that would become a rallying cry for a generation: "I am a Jew. I want to live in Israel."

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our dear friend and Advisory Council member, Enid Wurtman z"l, passed away in Jerusalem on Yom Kippur night.

A $2 million gift from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Supporting Foundation will help the Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS) preserve and share the history of Cleveland’s Jewish community—including important records of the Soviet Jewry movement.

Most recently Bob was the founding chairperson of this organization – Soviet Jewry Movement Education Project – to ensure that the legacy of the movement that he cherished be preserved, and inspire future generations to take action where and when they see it as necessary.

As we reflect on the story of Passover and its themes of freedom and resilience, we are reminded of the lasting power of this history to educate, inspire, and guide future generations...

On March 4, 2026, our organization launched in New York with an evening of learning and community, highlighting this powerful history and its relevance today...