MS 343 Papers of Rabbi Lawrence Littlestone

Rabbi Lawrence Littlestone

Lawrence Littlestone (1958- ) was educated at Carmel College and Hasmonean Boys’ School. He studied at City of London Polytechnic and then at the London School of Economics, researching Soviet policy information towards its Jewish citizens. He was involved with the Soviet Jewry campaign from the early 1970s and was appointed national organiser of the National Council in 1986. In February 1988 he was appointed executive director of the National Council for Soviet Jewry. For the latter part of 1992, he was the registrar of Federation of Synagogues Beth Din.

The National Council for Soviet Jewry (NCJS) was established in 1975. It initiated and co-ordinated activities on behalf of Soviet Jews, including safeguarding and promoting their human, civic, religious and cultural rights. It acted as the umbrella organisation for all bodies in Britain with similar objects. The NCSJ maintained close contact with Soviet Jews and aided the religious and cultural revival in the Russia through the distribution of books and other material and through visits from the UK. In July 1992, the NCSJ became the National Council for Jews in Former Soviet lands.

About the collection

The collection is made up of Rabbi’s Littlestone’s research papers on Soviet policy towards its Jewish citizens and his involvement with the National Council of Soviet Jewry.

Alphabetical sequence of papers: American Jewish Committee and Aliyah absorption, 1953-88; anti-Semitism, 1954-91; archive holdings and genealogy, 1983-91; ‘Attitudes of major Soviet nationalities’ by Dr Zev Kats, 1973; bibliographical material, 1984; First Congress of Jewish Organisations and Communities, Moscow, 1989-90; Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), 1975-92; Jewish Culture and religion, 1973-88; emigration, 1968-91; foreign affairs, 1979; general dissent, 1974-86; Israel Yearbook on Human Rights, 1971-82; Jewish rights in the USSR, 1985-8; Babi Yar, Kiev, 1961-91; Lithuania, 1989-91; Marx, Lenin, Stalin, Brezhnev and Khrushchev, 1966-82; Mothers of Freedom, 1986; National Council for Soviet Jewry, 1965-92; nationalism, 1970-89; Noshrim (Jewish emigrants destined for other locations than Israel), 1978-81; parliamentary and congressional activity, 1983-4; religion, 1961-89; samizdat, 1971-87; status of Jews, 1973-88; Soviet Jewry, 1957-85; World Jewish Congress and Jewish Cultural Association, 1990-2; World Conference on Soviet Jewry, 1983.

Photographs and videos: photograph album, 1903-44 and folders of black and white photographs; VHS videos, 1980s-90s.

Newspaper articles and cuttings, including from the Soviet and Israeli press, 1961-91; newsletter Jews in Eastern Europe, 1958-73. 

Research material and publications, 1953-88, including Radio Liberty Research reports, 1984-90.

Date range:

1953-92 

Former references:

A2067

Size:

53 boxes