Your email is not valid
Recipient's email is not valid
Submit Close

Your email has been sent.

Click here to send another

The Scroll
World

Back in the USSR

Gal Beckerman recalls the Struggle for Soviet Jewry, which reinvigorated a tradition of Jewish political engagement

By Vox Tablet|September 22, 2010 7:00 AM|13comments
Print Email
A Soviet Jewry demonstration in San Francisco on Simchat Torah, 1983.(American Soviet Jewry Movement Photographs Collection of the American Jewish Historical Society)

More than two decades after the fall of the Soviet Union, the history of discrimination against Jews there and the reprisals against those who sought to leave are a distant memory for many—as is the Struggle for Soviet Jewry, the U.S. movement that formed in response. One way the movement raised awareness of Soviet Jewry was to encourage American Jewish teens to adopt a Soviet “twin” with which they shared their bar and bat mitzvah celebrations—as journalist Gal Beckerman did at his bar mitzvah in 1989. When he wondered recently what became of his twin, Maxim Yankelevich, Beckerman’s curiosity led him to write When They Come for Us, We’ll Be Gone: The Epic Struggle to Save Soviet Jewry, a comprehensive study of the movement. He joined Vox Tablet host Sara Ivry to discuss the movement’s beginnings, some of the key refuseniks—including Natan Sharansky—whose plight galvanized American students, and the secret role Israel played in fomenting Western sympathies for those refuseniks. 

More In:
  • Helen Hill

    Interesting account from the American perspective but it’s important to remember that active Soviet Jewry Movements existed in other counries too.
    The THIRTY-FIVES in Britain was a leading group in Britain. Formed by “ordinary” London Jewish housewives with an average age of 35. Initially they had to fight the communal establishment that wanted to keep things low profile. The 35s mobilized with clever, well-planned campaigns that not only gained extensive publicity in the media that raised public awareness, but achieved real results. For example they succeeded in having imprisonment terms for indivuai “Prisoners of Zion” reduced or cancelled and their efforts also led to exit visas being issued for some Russian Jews.

  • http://www.nyheadache.com Alex Mauskop

    This is an excellent book – meticulously researched, informative, and very well written. It is a very moving story and its lessons are still relevant.

  • moshe brodetzky

    Someone should research and write a companion book a la PERFIDY by Ben Hecht about – not just things not done – but about actions by Jewish establishment ” leadership” to stop and sabotage proposals and projects by the ” grass groups”. One specific example was the PEOPLE TO PEOPLE radio program conceived by RON BLUM z’l’ and WALTER GOLMAN z’l’ of the WASHINGTON COMMITTEE for SOVIET JEWRY in 1968 They put together and recorded a sample program and outline for a year. Each program would be sponsored by a Jewish community and directed to one in USSR. The first prospective donors / founders luncheon was nixed by the “powers to be” (federations/israeli / voa )

  • http://forum.qualityunit.com/member.php?u=120285 Georgina Favieri

    Nicole Scherzinger has revealed that she is seriously happy that she succeeded Cheryl Cole regarding the X-Factor USA. She claims she is without a doubt ‘better served’ as a suitable judge rather than as a host.

  • http://cheapuggscanada.info uggs in canada

    uggs on sale is the premier brand for luxury sheepskin footwear. Not only are their boots and shoes the gold standard for comfort and warmth, they have become the hottest cold weather footwear around.

  • http://uggsforcheapuk.info uggs for cheap

    simply because fleece may make easily accessible large aerial circulation, you’re thought it will eventually retain diaphoresis aside away from your skin. As uggs in uk are executed with this determining one, you will get passed aside that they will possible certainly be a stench, discharge and definitely will stay hence web-site needs to be more serious period even among lengthy periods around the cleaning.

  • http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/344195/24/Class-Action-Lawyers---Delivering-Proficiency-for-Practical-Clients.html Junior Loduca

    Excellent blog you have here. You will find me browsing your stuff often. Bookmarked!

  • http://aa4575617.com a4575617

    I’ve said that least 4575617 times. The problem this like that is they are just too compilcated for the average bird, if you know what I mean

  • http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474980438025 Zoe Saephan

    Almost all of the things you point out happens to be supprisingly accurate and that makes me wonder why I hadn’t looked at this with this light previously. This particular article truly did turn the light on for me personally as far as this particular subject goes. Nevertheless at this time there is one particular factor I am not really too cozy with and while I try to reconcile that with the main theme of your point, allow me see what the rest of the subscribers have to point out.Nicely done.

  • http://sales-lead-generation-software.com Blast email Marketing Machine

    Very interesting information!Perfect just what I was looking for!

  • http://contactpagemarketingmachine.com Contact Form Marketing

    I have been examinating out many of your stories and i can claim pretty clever stuff. I will surely bookmark your website.

  • http://www.canadagoosecheap.ca/ canada goose

    I together with my buddies ended up reading the best things from the blog and then all of the sudden I had a horrible suspicion I never thanked the web site owner for those strategies. All the men appeared to be as a result excited to read through all of them and now have in truth been having fun with these things. I appreciate you for actually being simply accommodating as well as for using this sort of remarkable information most people are really desirous to be informed on. My sincere regret for not expressing appreciation to you sooner.

  • http://. Beau Roscigno

    Good site! I really love how it is simple on my eyes and the data are well written. I’m wondering how I might be notified when a new post has been made. I have subscribed to your feed which must do the trick! Have a great day! SM London escorts, 69 Jermyn Street, London, SW1Y 6NY, 020 3011 2642

Thank You!

Thank you for subscribing to the Tablet Magazine Daily Digest.
Please tell us about you.

Back in the USSR

Gal Beckerman recalls the Struggle for Soviet Jewry, which reinvigorated a tradition of Jewish political engagement