Tablet pays tribute to the ordinary and the extraordinary heroes of one of the great movements for human freedom of the 20th century, which helped topple the Soviet Empire—and which distilled the purest values of mutual responsibility and love in the global Jewish community in a way that immeasurably strengthened Jews in America, as well as the State of Israel. The date we have chosen to feature these pieces commemorates Feb. 11, 1986, the day Natan Sharansky arrived in Israel for the first time.