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special collection

Russian Speaking Jewry Collection

From 1989 to 1993, it is estimated that about 1.4 million Jews left the Soviet Union in one of the largest mass emigration movements in world history. Some made the decision to leave because of blatant persecution. Others, though they were doing well socioeconomically, sought to leave behind stereotypes and anti-Semitism. Those who left established new communities in Israel, the United States, Germany, and an expanding Russian-speaking Jewish diaspora. And then there were those who could not leave. Every person who applied to leave the Soviet Union risked losing employment, privileges, connection with friends and family, and social status. Jews whose requests to leave were refused earned the label “Refusenik.”

The Refusenik Movement became one of the pivotal political and cultural movements of the last half of the 20th century. Today, significant collections relating to this history are scattered, at risk of being lost, or inaccessible because they are uncatalogued and have not been digitized. As a result, scholars, specialists, and researchers are lacking important sources of information, and the collective memory of Refuseniks and Soviet Jewish émigrés is being forgotten.

The Soviet Jewry Archives will preserve the history of the Soviet Jewish experience and make it accessible to present and future generations to learn from.

The cataloging and digitization of this collection was made possible by the support of Arcadia – a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin.

Subcollections

Alexander Smukler Collection      
Showing search results 16-25 of 25
I went to the Summit for Soviet Jews, Freedom Sunday Washington D.C. December 6, 1987, button
I went to the Summit for Soviet Jews, Freedom Sunday Washington D.C. December 6, 1987, button
Buttons (information artifacts)
Maker: Unknown
ID: 2023.027.002.303
Date Made: [circa December 6, 1987]; 1980s
Free Soviet Jews, button
Free Soviet Jews, button
Buttons (information artifacts)
Maker: Montco Graphics
ID: 2023.027.002.304
Date Made: [between 1975-1989]; 1970s; 1980s
Let my people go! Jews of Struggle: The Jewish National Movement in the USSR, 1967-1989 Beth Hatefutsoth exhibition, 2007/8, button
Let my people go! Jews of Struggle: The Jewish National Movement in the USSR, 1967-1989 Beth Hatefutsoth exhibition, 2007/8, button
Buttons (information artifacts)
Maker: Unknown
ID: 2023.027.003.002
Date Made: 2007; 2000s
Let my people go / שלח את עמי, medal
Let my people go / שלח את עמי, medal
Medals
Maker: Unknown
ID: 2023.027.003.003
Date Made: [circa 2007]; 2000s
Briefer's Checklist (DRAFT)
Briefer's Checklist (DRAFT)
Drafts (documents); checklists
Maker: Unknown
ID: 2023.027.003.004
Date Made: July, 1986; 1980s
"Excerpts from a Travel Report"
Texts (documents); photocopies
Maker: Unknown
ID: 2023.027.003.024
Date Made: [between 1975-1989]; 1970s; 1980s
Soviet Regulations on Photography : Summary Guidance
Soviet Regulations on Photography : Summary Guidance
Guidelines; photocopies
Maker: Unknown
ID: 2023.027.003.029
Date Made: May 1985; 1980s
Security Reminders : Do Not Take into the USSR
Security Reminders : Do Not Take into the USSR
Guidelines; photocopies
Maker: Unknown
ID: 2023.027.003.030
Date Made: [between 1975-1989]; 1970s; 1980s
USSR Travel Tips
USSR Travel Tips
Guidelines; photocopies
Maker: Unknown
ID: 2023.027.003.031
Date Made: [between 1975-1989]; 1970s; 1980s
Soviet Jewry Fact Sheet
Soviet Jewry Fact Sheet
Texts (documents); photocopies
Maker: National Conference of Soviet Jewry
ID: 2023.027.003.039
Date Made: [circa 1986]; 1980s
Showing search results 16-25 of 25

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