Peace activism, social work values and Jewish identity are driving forces in Sallie Gratch’s life.

All were put to use in the mid-80’s when the threat of nuclear war compelled her to join the global nuclear disarmament movement.

Sallie dedicated full time to peace efforts, joining peace walks, one crossing the United States, the next two in the (then) Soviet Union. There, she experienced, first hand, the power and effectiveness of citizen diplomacy.

Walking through towns in Russia and Ukraine, Sallie met Soviet Jews who came out to greet the woman “wearing the Jewish star”. They told Sallie they wanted “to learn what it meant to be a Jew”. And they expected to remain in their country, not emigrate.

The focus of American Jewry was otherwise. The American Jewish community was urged to “Save Soviet Jewry”, to help Soviet Jews emigrate. Sallie’s efforts to involve American Jewish institutions in outreach to Soviet Jews who chose to remain fell on deaf ears. “Absent interest on the part of the American Jewish community, I decided to strike out on my own.” In 1989, Sallie founded Project Kesher (“connection” in Hebrew) to facilitate the building of Jewish community in the Soviet Union.

In 1994, Sallie organized in Kiev, Ukraine, an International Conference of Jewish Women, bringing together over 350 women (100 from the West) for one week of connections, empowerment and visioning. Since the ’94 Conference, Project Kesher has become one of the largest women’s and human rights organizations in the Independent States of the former Soviet Union. Establishing a grassroots women’s movement that extends across eight time zones, Project Kesher actively works to revitalize community through social activism, provide economic opportunities, advance Jewish learning and build a foundation for democratic leadership where women are at the forefront.

Project Kesher “represents the ultimate peace project”, says Sallie, “employing a model easily replicated in other parts of the world.” It is her hope that world leaders will consider Project Kesher’s approach as they move towards rebuilding damaged relationships and forging new alliances. Sallie continues: “With women in leadership, I believe this will happen.”

Reprinted from Women's eNews Gala booklet: May 17, 2005