More Than A Number

New exhibit in Moscow tells the stories of the more than 450,000 Jewish soldiers who fought in the Russian army during World War II.

Len Blavatnik, a U.S. industrialist, is also a well-known supporter of Jewish causes, especially as it relates to his birth country of Russia. So it’s not surprising that he was highly involved in the recent exhibit in Moscow dedicated to Jewish soldiers in the Russian army during World War II.

Len Blavatnik was at the opening in Moscow of the exhibit “Writings and Reflections of Jewish Soldiers in the Red Army” at the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War.  The exhibit uses letters, photos and other factual information to tell the story of Russian Jews who fought the Nazis during World War II. Jewish soldiers suffered staggering losses during the war: an estimated one-third of the 450,000 Jewish soldiers in the Russian army were killed.

Len Blavatnik, a known philanthropist, has extended his charitable work to telling the story of Jewish soldiers. In an interview, he told Jewish news agency JTA that he felt it was important to tell the stories of Jews being heroes during the war as well as being victims. He said that it’s important to tell the stories now since the remaining soldiers who fought during the war are dying of old age.

The exhibit is just one of the many philanthropic endeavors advancing Jewish causes supported by Len Blavatnik.  He currently sits on the board of Tel Aviv University (along with similar roles at Cambridge and Harvard). He is also an active board member of the Center for Jewish History in New York, which preserves Jewish history and culture and serves in educating the public about Jewish history and traditions.