Micah Naftalin
Encyclopedia
Micah H. Naftalin was an American
advocate for the rights of Soviet Jews. He was national director of the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews
from February 1987 until his death.
Naftalin held a BA from Brandeis University
(1955) and a JD from The George Washington University School of Law (1960). He served in Korea
as an enlisted man in the U.S. Army 1955-57.
Before joining UCSJ, he served as an aide to U.S. Congressman
Carl Elliott
, as Chief Counsel and Deputy Director of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Select Committee on Government Research and as a senior policy analyst with the National Academy of Sciences
. In 1982, he joined Chairman Elie Wiesel
on the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, where he was appointed Deputy Director and, later, Acting Director.
Naftalin died in Washington, DC .
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
advocate for the rights of Soviet Jews. He was national director of the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews
Union of Councils for Soviet Jews
Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union is an umbrella organization of Jewish human rights groups working in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The UCSJ is based in Washington, D.C...
from February 1987 until his death.
Naftalin held a BA from Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
(1955) and a JD from The George Washington University School of Law (1960). He served in Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
as an enlisted man in the U.S. Army 1955-57.
Before joining UCSJ, he served as an aide to U.S. Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Carl Elliott
Carl Elliott
Carl Atwood Elliott was a U.S. Congressman from the state of Alabama. He was elected to eight consecutive terms in office, serving from January 1949 to January 1965....
, as Chief Counsel and Deputy Director of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Select Committee on Government Research and as a senior policy analyst with the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
. In 1982, he joined Chairman Elie Wiesel
Elie Wiesel
Sir Eliezer "Elie" Wiesel KBE; born September 30, 1928) is a Hungarian-born Jewish-American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate, and Holocaust survivor. He is the author of 57 books, including Night, a work based on his experiences as a prisoner in the Auschwitz, Buna, and...
on the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, where he was appointed Deputy Director and, later, Acting Director.
Naftalin died in Washington, DC .