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NCSJ Board Meeting

November 2, 1998

NCSJ Annual Board of Governors’ Meeting Addresses Numerous Issues, Shares Opening Program with JCPA

The National Conference on Soviet Jewry (NCSJ) held its annual Board of Governors’ Meeting at UJA Federation Headquarters in New York on October 26, 1998. At the meeting, the Board passed two resolutions—one condemning the flagrantly anti-Semitic remarks of two Russian government officials and the other in support of sending food aid to Russia in light of a bad harvest and shortages expected with the onset of winter. In addition, NCSJ unveiled its new website, located at www.ncsj.org

The meeting opened with a shared program between the NCSJ and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) that featured Stephen Sestanovich, Ambassador-at-large and Special Adviser to the Secretary of State on the NIS. First, Denis Braham welcomed attendees, calling it a privilege to hold this joint meeting between JCPA and NCSJ. Then, NCSJ President Howard Sachs introduced Sestanovich, highlighting the close working relationship the NCSJ has had with him, and expressing appreciation for his accessibility and support for the Jewish community’s goals in the former Soviet Union.

"The NCSJ is an organization I’ve known and admired for many years," Ambassador Sestanovich said. "I’ve always believed that those who, like you, make human rights a central issue in the Cold War played an enormous role in bringing it to a successful conclusion. The principles that inspired you, and organizations like you, during those years—religious liberty, the rights of national minorities, the importance of democratic institutions to protect those rights—still guide American policy and of course they still guide the NCSJ."

Ambassador Sestanovich then spoke of the economic and political climate in Russia that shapes the choices the Russian Government makes on various issues. Economically, Russia grapples with creating an environment conducive to reform and growth. In August, Russian officials had implemented emergency economic measures in a panic to relieve the crisis. "But October’s realism must meet a higher standard," Sestanovich said. "Russian officials realize that inflation would have devastating social and economic consequences," and are considering possible outcomes of future economic policy to attack the nature of the problems.

Sestanovich said that the synagogue dedication in Victory Park in September "is a symbol of how much Russia has broken with the Soviet past," and an enormous accomplishment given the uncertain political and economic atmosphere in which it took place. And while religion is freer in Russia today than ever before, Sestanovich discussed some of the challenges Russia still confronts in this area.

One such challenge was the religion law passed last year. "Yet the Russian Government’s implementation of the law so far has largely vindicated its claim that it would not allow religious liberty to be abridged," Sestanovich said.

Another such challenge is anti-Semitism in Russia. Sestanovich cited the recent cemetery vandalism in Irkutsk, the bombing of the Marina Roshcha Synagogue last spring, and the anti-Semitic statements espoused by Krasnodar Governor Nikolai Kondratenko. "They represent an alarming pattern and they call for a rapid response by Russian leaders," Sestanovich said. The Ambassador promised that the State Department would continue its efforts with the Jewish community on this issue. "Public statements [by Russian officials] are vital if Jewish life is to continue to flourish in Russia," he said. "We will bend our efforts to making sure that when such efforts are needed, that they will be forthcoming."

In foreign policy, Sestanovich said that despite differences on various issues, Russia recognizes that broad-based cooperation with the United States is very practical. And as the former Soviet Union as a whole works to integrate in world markets, Sestanovich said, "Stable confident neighbors with growing economies can lead to growth in Russia itself."

Responding to a question on law enforcement, Sestanovich said that follow-through on enforcement has been the most difficult task, regardless of the issue. He said that Russian institutions often do not produce results even when asked by their own superiors. The Administration’s response has been, "’Stay in their face’ when we need results."

Before wrapping up the joint program between NCSJ and JCPA, a brief presentation was made by Susan Whalen, Director of the University of Colorado’s International Soviet Jewry Archival Project. The NCSJ has worked closely with this important project, providing guidance and support whenever possible. The project aims to collect printed documents on the Soviet Jewry advocacy effort, including reports and personal documents, and appending oral histories to supplement the printed materials. One copy of the final collection will be forwarded to Israel. Colorado was chosen as the site for this project because the University of Colorado at Boulder houses the largest human rights archive in the world.

The NCSJ then paid tribute to two special people who had dedicated themselves to the cause of Soviet Jewry, both of whom had passed away in recent weeks. The first tribute, to NCSJ’s founding chairman Richard Maass, was co-presented by Jerry Goodman, Executive Director of the National Committee for Labor Israel and founding Executive Director of NCSJ, and Rabbi David Hill, NCSJ Vice-President.

Richard Maass had chaired the committee that brought the NCSJ into existence and was then unanimously elected its first chairman in 1971. Goodman said that Maass’ non-confrontational personality was vital to forging alliances during those uncertain times. "Richie’s demeanor, his understanding of the essential but not the exclusive role of the American Jewish community in the campaign, as well as his support for Israel as the central place for emigration from the Soviet Union earned him great respect at international meetings," Goodman said. "His role was an important contribution to Jewish history and a reflection of his caring for the Jewish people."

Rabbi David Hill said of Maass, "He wanted to give hope—which he did here but he wanted to do it there—to say to the Jews in the early ‘70s, ‘we are here for you. You are not forgotten.’ The American-Jewish community owes a tremendous debt to this hero of Jewish life."

NCSJ also paid tribute to Meg Donovan, who came to Washington in the 1970s to begin her career at NCSJ, where she worked for several years before becoming one of the original staff members of the Helsinki Commission. NCSJ Executive Director Mark Levin called Donovan "one of the unsung heroes of the movement," and remembered her as "a woman of boundless energy, who worked tirelessly for just about every human rights issue one can think of."

Levin then introduced a panel of experts to address security and economic concerns in Russia, the Caucasus and Central Asia. He said, "[NCSJ’s] mandate isn’t changing…our agenda is becoming more complicated. Regional security and economic issues, technology transfer questions, oil development in Central Asia and the Caucasus—all of these issues impact on the future well-being of the Jewish populations in the former Soviet Union." He emphasized the importance of working with a number of member agencies, many of which are coming forward when called upon.

Two Jewish activists then assessed issues they have been working on in conjunction with other American Jewish organizations. Dan Mariaschin, Director of B’nai B’rith’s Center for Public Policy, spoke of developments in the Caspian Sea region and their importance to the Jewish community and America as a whole. "It’s in America’s interest that these countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus look West, that they democratize, that they count themselves as part of the West, not part of the Islamic East nor where they are vassal states of Russia or Iran," Mariaschin said. And, it’s in Israel’s best interest to have diplomatic relations with these countries, and to strengthen those relations.

Mariaschin stressed the need for diversity of choices, as opposed to being dependent on oil that travels through Iran. He then explained the American Jewish community’s involvement in several lobbying efforts concerning oil and economic development in Central Asia and the Caucasus. The American Jewish community has supported economic development in the Caucasus and Central Asia, which in turn helps the Jewish communities living in these countries in the midst of their regional competition for oil and a strategic position.

When asked how local American Jewish communities can become engaged, Mariaschin said the grassroots are critical in helping to educate and mobilize the Jewish community on these issues. He said that when the timetable in which this legislation surfaces becomes apparent, the constituencies will be informed on the direction of the efforts and how they can best become involved.

Keith Weissman, Senior Middle East Analyst at the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) discussed the status of the Russian nuclear technology transfer to Iran. He said that while the Duma passed an export control law, the situation has only worsened. Back in July, Iran tested a medium-range ballistic missile of which the means for producing and testing it came from Russian companies. This missile, launched from Iran, has the capability of reaching Tel Aviv. And now, Iranians are working on a longer-range missile that could travel almost three times that distance which would be difficult to avert at that greater range. This means that Iran could fire the missile from deeper inside the country and it would be harder to detect and intercept. This technology poses a tremendous threat to Israel.

"Within the next year or two, Iran will be able to put chemical and biological weapons on existing weapons that can be aimed toward Israel," Weissman said. The U.S. Administration named nine Russian companies that have allegedly contributed to Iranian missile technology but at least 20 Russian companies are allegedly involved.

This situation must be carefully monitored. As NCSJ Executive Director Mark Levin said during the meeting, "Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst." The NCSJ will continue to work with its member agencies on these and other issues of vital concern to Jews in the former Soviet Union and to Israel.

Prepared by Dana Steinberg, NCSJ Program Assistant