Providing help and hope

Waltham organization supports struggling Ukrainians as war with Russia drags on

By Sharon Longo ContriButing Writer

WALTHAM - Almost 5,000 miles away from Massachusetts, people in Ukraine are sheltering in basements, living amongst the ruins of their homes, while fighting against the Russian invasion and protecting their beloved country. In Waltham, an organization called Action for Post-Soviet Jewry (Action-PSJ) is taking action to help.

A long history of advocacy

Action for Post-Soviet Jewry began informally in 1974, becoming a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 1975. The purpose was to help Jewish people who were stuck in the Soviet Union so they could emigrate to the U.S. and Israel. When the Soviet Union fell in 1990, the organization decided to work to help support the smaller Jewish communities outside of the cities in Ukraine, Eastern Europe, and other former Soviet states.

By providing food, clothing, medicine, and other forms of help to these