Operation Exodus: The Rescue of Jews from the Former Soviet Union and Resettlement in Israel

In the early 1990s, Operation Exodus was initiated by the United Jewish Appeal (now called Jewish Federations of North America) to rescue Jews from their arduous lives in the Former Soviet Union and to resettle them in Israel.  The initial phase was completed, yet it was uncovered there were still many Jews remaining in dire need of rescue.  UJA asked Ron Friedman to lead an initiative to rejuvenate Operation Exodus and to complete the campaign of rescuing approximately one million Jews.  This lecture will focus on the strategies and tactics undertaken to complete Operation Exodus.  What was learned from this undertaking and the approach is even more important in the wake of increasing anti-Semitism worldwide and the enhanced exodus of Jews from Russia and Ukraine to Israel as a result of the war initiated by Russia against Ukraine.  Included in the presentation will be a video that dramatically shows immigrants leaving Uzbekistan and their resettlement in Israel and public relations and advertising generated in support of this final phase of Operation Exodus. This  event is also available virtually.