BACKGROUND
Communism seen by the USSR as the solution to the Jewish problem.
1917-1920: -Russian Revolution: Jews granted equality but Jewish religion to be eradicated and community organisations dissolved. Ban on Hebrew language. (Yiddish recognised.) Zionism seen as counter-revolutionary.
- Civil War between Whites (Czarist supporters) and Reds (communists). Also Ukrainians fighting for
independence. Led to pogroms against Jews, accused of being Bolsheviks. Between 100 000 and 200 000 killed in Ukraine. 17% of Russian Jews.
- Publication and dissemination of forged "Protocols"
1922: - Under Lenin, antisemitism declared illegal: Jews can be Jews, but not practice Judaism.
1924: -Stalin in power. Campaign against "rootless cosmopolitans" (Jews). Anti-Zionism as cover for antisemitism.
1948: - Stalin initially supports creation of Israel, but soon turns against Israel. Zionism demonised, especially after 6 Day War in 1967.
1953: - "Doctor's Plot"- 9 Jewish doctors falsely accused of trying to murder Soviet officials, as American agents. Trumped up charge led to heavy sentences. Exonerated on Stalin's death.
1970s and 1980s: Jewish world mobilises in support of Soviet Jewish refuseniks, who applied for the right to emigrate (in terms of the Helsinki convention).
1975: Support from US government (JacksonVanek amendment linking trade with emigration.)
1975: - USSR and third world allies push through infamous "Zionism is racism" resolution at the U.N.O. (Later rescinded.)
Communism seen by the USSR as the solution to the Jewish problem.
1917-1920: -Russian Revolution: Jews granted equality but Jewish religion to be eradicated and community organisations dissolved. Ban on Hebrew language. (Yiddish recognised.) Zionism seen as counter-revolutionary.
- Civil War between Whites (Czarist supporters) and Reds (communists). Also Ukrainians fighting for
independence. Led to pogroms against Jews, accused of being Bolsheviks. Between 100 000 and 200 000 killed in Ukraine. 17% of Russian Jews.
- Publication and dissemination of forged "Protocols"
1922: - Under Lenin, antisemitism declared illegal: Jews can be Jews, but not practice Judaism.
1924: -Stalin in power. Campaign against "rootless cosmopolitans" (Jews). Anti-Zionism as cover for antisemitism.
1948: - Stalin initially supports creation of Israel, but soon turns against Israel. Zionism demonised, especially after 6 Day War in 1967.
1953: - "Doctor's Plot"- 9 Jewish doctors falsely accused of trying to murder Soviet officials, as American agents. Trumped up charge led to heavy sentences. Exonerated on Stalin's death.
1970s and 1980s: Jewish world mobilises in support of Soviet Jewish refuseniks, who applied for the right to emigrate (in terms of the Helsinki convention).
1975: Support from US government (JacksonVanek amendment linking trade with emigration.)
1975: - USSR and third world allies push through infamous "Zionism is racism" resolution at the U.N.O. (Later rescinded.)
TEXTS
1. Natan Sharansky- Fear No Evil
The Day that Stalin died. Memories of Stalin's anti-Semitic
campaign, fear of reprisals, life as a Jew in the USSR- "the fifth line" which identified one as Jewish, but no Judaism or Hebrew permitted.
2. L. Drozdov- Zionism 1979
- "Reactionary type of Jewish borgeois nationalism"
- "connected to the monopolistic bourgeoisie of imperialist states"
- "mililtant chauvinism, racism, anti-communism and anti-Sovietism"
- "extreme nationalism, chauvinism and racism"
- "anti- people, reactionary"
- "Main strategy: "overt and covert struggle against socialism,
international communist and national liberation movements, the
Soviet Union and other socialist countries"
- "One of the vanguard forces of imperialism, colonialism and neo-
colonialism...struggles against the national liberation movements of the peoples of Africa, Asia, Latin America.....
- "Israel...the imperialist policeman of the Near East"
3 and 4: Cartoons suggesting link between Zionism and Nazism
5. Yosef Mendelovich, Unbroken Spirit: A Heroic story ....
The story of refuseniks who tried to hijack a plane to get to Israel. Arrested for High Treason and sentenced to 15 years in jail. Released 1981.
1. Natan Sharansky- Fear No Evil
The Day that Stalin died. Memories of Stalin's anti-Semitic
campaign, fear of reprisals, life as a Jew in the USSR- "the fifth line" which identified one as Jewish, but no Judaism or Hebrew permitted.
2. L. Drozdov- Zionism 1979
- "Reactionary type of Jewish borgeois nationalism"
- "connected to the monopolistic bourgeoisie of imperialist states"
- "mililtant chauvinism, racism, anti-communism and anti-Sovietism"
- "extreme nationalism, chauvinism and racism"
- "anti- people, reactionary"
- "Main strategy: "overt and covert struggle against socialism,
international communist and national liberation movements, the
Soviet Union and other socialist countries"
- "One of the vanguard forces of imperialism, colonialism and neo-
colonialism...struggles against the national liberation movements of the peoples of Africa, Asia, Latin America.....
- "Israel...the imperialist policeman of the Near East"
3 and 4: Cartoons suggesting link between Zionism and Nazism
5. Yosef Mendelovich, Unbroken Spirit: A Heroic story ....
The story of refuseniks who tried to hijack a plane to get to Israel. Arrested for High Treason and sentenced to 15 years in jail. Released 1981.