she went on a Federation mission to Iran, Israel and Holland. Her good friends, the Smiths and Schaecters, also went on this mission.
In 1975, Ellen agreed to chair Human Rights Day sponsored by the Women’s Division. The theme was Women’s Plea for Soviet Jews. The plight of Soviet Jewry was a major issue for Ellen in the 1970’s. She spent the next few years raising consciousness of the plight of Soviet Jewry, went to Washington numerous times to lobby legislators, and raised a lot
New Gifts Chairwomen, 1984 Ellen third from the right
of money to help Russian Jews relocate to Israel. As a backdrop, this was at a time when Russia would not allow Jews to practice Judaism or leave Russia for Israel. If Jews applied to leave, they were removed from their jobs and left in limbo of no work, but not allowed to leave. In 1977, she went on a mission to the USSR. She explained how they were briefed to locate and meet dissident Jews in Moscow. She kept a pamphlet, “Briefing Kit for Travelers to the USSR” and two (2) memoirs of people who also went to Russia at this time, one by Michael and Lois Krop (May 1977). Ellen claimed they did things to make sure they were not followed and met the “refuseniks” in secret locations. She often talked about this trip as one of the most meaningful in her life.
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