The Jews in the Soviet Union Since 1917: Paradox of Survival

The Jews in the Soviet Union Since 1917: Paradox of Survival examines the complex history of Soviet Jewry from the Russian Revolution through the late 20th century. Nora Levin chronicles the shifting policies and attitudes toward Jews under Soviet rule, drawing from extensive research and primary sources. The book traces how Soviet Jews maintained their cultural identity while navigating state persecution, discrimination, and periods of relative tolerance. It documents key events and developments affecting Soviet Jewish communities, including changes in economic rights, religious freedoms, and social status across different eras of Soviet leadership. Through analysis of government documents, personal accounts, and demographic data, Levin reconstructs the reality of daily life for Jews in various regions of the USSR. The narrative covers both urban and rural Jewish populations, examining how different segments of the community responded to Soviet policies. The work presents a study in contradictions - exploring how a population facing systematic oppression managed to preserve aspects of their heritage while surviving within a hostile system. This tension between preservation and adaptation forms the central theme that runs throughout the historical account.

Readers describe this book as detailed and methodical, with thorough documentation of Soviet Jews' experiences through archived materials and oral histories. What readers liked: - Comprehensive coverage of different time periods and regions - Clear organization by historical phases and geographic areas - Balance of personal accounts with broader historical context - Citations and references for further research What readers disliked: - Dense academic writing style - Some sections are text-heavy with minimal analysis - Limited discussion of certain regions/time periods - High price point of hardcover editions Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (12 ratings) WorldCat: No ratings but held by 1,000+ libraries Amazon: No reviews available Notable reader comment from Goodreads: "Exhaustive research but remains accessible to non-academics interested in Soviet Jewish history. The personal accounts bring the statistics to life." Note: Limited online reviews available as this is an academic text from 1988.

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🔷 Author Nora Levin spent over a decade researching and writing this comprehensive work, conducting extensive interviews with Soviet Jewish émigrés and analyzing previously untranslated Soviet documents. 🔷 The book examines how Soviet Jews maintained their cultural identity despite intense pressure to assimilate, including periods when teaching Hebrew was banned and synagogues were closed. 🔷 During the period covered by the book (1917-1988), the Soviet Jewish population shifted dramatically from 5.2 million before WWII to approximately 2.5 million by the 1970s due to the Holocaust and emigration. 🔷 Nora Levin was a pioneering Holocaust historian who founded the Holocaust Archive at Gratz College in Philadelphia, one of the first such collections in the United States. 🔷 The book revealed how Soviet authorities simultaneously promoted some Jewish cultural activities while suppressing religious practices, creating what Levin termed the "paradox" of Soviet Jewish identity.