Jewish Russian Cultural Alliance

By Mark Katsnelson

Under the umbrella of Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, the Jewish Russian Cultural Alliance is a group for Jews and their friends and families who were able to escape the oppression of the former Soviet Union and now make their home in and around the Naples area.

My name is Mark Katsnelson and I have the great pleasure to now be the representative of this group. I want to thank Marina Berkovich for her strong commitment in starting and running this group for many years.

On Dec. 12, 1987, a quarter-million people gathered in Washington, D.C. on the eve of a historic summit between then U.S. President Ronald Reagan and the head of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev. They came from all over the United States and the world to a rally aimed at freeing the Jewish people from the Soviet Union. Among the speakers was George H.W. Bush, who was then the Vice President. During his speech, he echoed the words of President Reagan at the Berlin Wall, “Mr. Gorbachev,” he said, “Let these people go. Let them go.”

The Jewish people were persecuted in the Soviet Union through much of the 20th century.

In the 1970s, Moscow was a city with hundreds of thousands of Jews, but there was only one synagogue. In my home city of Minsk, there was not even one synagogue.

The persecution of Jews in the Soviet Union started with a policy Joseph Stalin initiated in 1937. Every Soviet citizen was required to carry an internal passport that had to include their nationality. Jews were required to identify themselves as Jewish for their nationality.

This policy caused a virtual disappearance of all Jewish expression whatsoever.

In 1967, after Israel’s victory in the Six-Day War, the desire and dream of Soviet Jews to return to their roots was awoken and strengthened, starting an unprecedented movement to leave the country. The vast majority who applied for approval to leave were denied. They became known as “refuseniks” and were often unable to get a job. They became considered pariahs inside of Soviet society. They lost their jobs, which labeled them as criminals as it was illegal to be without a job. They were accused of parasitism.

Suddenly, many people who were former world-renowned scientists were working as stokers, shoveling coal or elevator operators and various other jobs below their education and experience because the government would ‘assign’ them to a job.

But this did not discourage them; the tidal wave of Jewish people striving to leave only strengthened.

Our group reunites us to celebrate major Jewish holidays for camaraderie, sharing our stories and experiences, music, special presentations and, of course, food! We welcome relatives, friends and anyone who wishes to learn more about our experiences and culture. Our next event is Sunday, Oct. 2 at 3 pm.

For more information about our group, please contact me 856-912-0894.