The World Jewish Congress-Israel and the Israel Council on Foreign Relations, together with the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, the Menachem Begin Heritage Center and Gefen Books, held a launch for 'Let My People Go: The Untold Story of Australia and the Soviet Jews 1959–1989', authored by Sam Lipski and Suzanne D. Rutland.
The authors examine the significant contribution of Australia’s political leaders and Jewish community to the international protest movement that eventually led to the exodus of Soviet Jews to Israel and other countries.
The book highlights the extraordinary global contribution and leadership of the WJC's Honorary Vice President Isi Leibler over the course of three decades. During that period, the veteran Jewish leader from Melbourne persuaded Australian parliamentarians and prime ministers to lend their support to the cause. The authors describe Leibler’s involvement with Israeli leaders, his impact on the international Jewish scene, and his heartwarming relationships with refuseniks.
The capacity audience was addressed by Deputy President of the Supreme Court Elyakim Rubinstein; former prisoner of Zion and current Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky; Suzanne D. Rutland, and Isi Leibler. The event was moderated by Ilan Greenfield of Gefen Books and greetings were delivered by Australian Ambassador to Israel Dave Sharma.
Sharansky related to the broad support of world Jewry for their Soviet brothers and sisters and their amazing ability, before the internet era, to organize quickly and stage massive protests that helped lead to the eventual release of Soviet Jewry.
