Midrasha

Interview [Possibly a handwritten abstract but handwriting is messy and often difficult to read]Activism on behalf of Soviet Jews in Maryland and Hartford, helped get Hartford into this activism and interested in helping resettle Soviet refugees in Hartford. Tricky dynamics between some activists and the early immigrants-some activists only wanted them to go to Israel/didn’t like that they would not demonstrate, but they were afraid for their families. Trip to USR to meet refuseniks....

Interview [Written abstract in the folder but handwriting is messy and often difficult to read.]Activism on behalf of Soviet Jews in Maryland and Hartford, helped get Hartford into this activism and interested in helping resettle Soviet refugees in Hartford. Tricky dynamics between some activists and the early immigrants-some activists only wanted them to go to Israel/didn’t like that they would not demonstrate, but they were afraid for their families. Trip to USR to meet refuseniks....

Scope and Contents This file contains documentation of Irving Kessler’s career as Hartford Jewish Federation Director as well as his work for United Israel Appeal and other Jewish organizations. It also contains information about various JHSGH programs he participated in. 1975 Interview Subjects of the interview include: Parents coming from Gubernia (border between Poland and Russia), arrived in United States in their teens before World War I. Growing up...