West Hollywood : Soviet Jews Forming Group

Leaders of Soviet Jewish organizations from the United States, Israel and the Soviet Union met over the weekend at the World Conference of Soviet Jewish Solidarity.

In sessions held at Plummer Park, delegates from various cities in the United States formed a national group to be known as the American Union of Russian Jewish Organizations and Communities that they hope will help them influence the decision-making process on immigration and resettlement issues.

Delegates from the American group will meet again in Moscow in January with representatives of the Soviet-based Va’ad organization and Israel’s Soviet Zionist Forum for more discussions on forming a worldwide group, according to a statement issued after the meeting.

“Our challenge is to get governments and Jewish federations to change their policy toward us from paternalism to partnership. It’s a basic human principle to want to determine your own fate, and that is what we are seeking,” said Roma Spektor, a Soviet delegate.