The 'Jewish Heroes' Project Commemorates the Members of the JAC

Today, on August 12, marking the anniversary of the repression against the members of the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee, the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress recommends the educational online project "Jewish Heroes."

"Jewish Heroes" is a historical and popular science initiative dedicated to Jewish individuals who demonstrated exceptional courage. The project highlights the lives of prominent scientists, writers, artists, musicians, public figures, and military personnel, as well as ordinary individuals—all of whom asserted their right to Jewish identity and freedom under the constraints of the Nazi regime or the Soviet dictatorship.

One of these figures, whose detailed biography is available on the project's website, was the Yiddish poet David Hofstein. Hofstein was executed on the night of August 12 alongside other members of the JAC.

Each article published by the project is based on family recollections, archival documents, memoirs, scholarly research, and interviews. The project contributes articles to Wikipedia and maintains a Facebook page featuring dedicated columns such as "Protagonists," "Found in the Archives," and "Execution Lists." Additionally, the project is active on Telegram, sharing archival documents and other exclusive materials.

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress remains committed to preserving the memory of the JAC members and addressing the broader history of state-sponsored antisemitism in the USSR. In collaboration with the "Last Address" project, the EAJC has previously installed several memorial plaques honoring the members of the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee. Among those commemorated are Itzik Feffer, Leon Talmy, Benjamin Zuskin, and others. In 2020, the EAJC and the GULAG History Museum published a brochure dedicated to the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee entitled "The Unquenchable Lamp."