A Time to Sow : Refusenik Life in Leningrad, 1979–1989 / Michael Beizer, Ann Komaromi.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Beĭzer, M. (Mikhail), Author.

Komaromi, Ann, Author.

Contributor:

University of Toronto Libraries, Funder.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Jewish way of life--History--20th century.

Jewish way of life.

Refuseniks--Russia (Federation)--Saint Petersburg--History--20th century.

Refuseniks.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (328 p.)

Place of Publication:

Toronto : University of Toronto Press, [2024]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

A Time to Sow offers a glimpse into the unofficial Jewish life in 1980s Leningrad, shaped by numerous long-term refusals from authorities to grant exit visas to Jews seeking to migrate to Israel. The book reveals how the lives of the “refuseniks” were marked by a continuous struggle for the right to emigrate, as well as by the formation of an informal community. It traces how the community provided mutual assistance in times of distress, particularly offering support to imprisoned activists and their families. The community also maintained contacts with co-religionist supporters visiting from abroad, engaged in Hebrew teaching, facilitated religious revival, celebrated Jewish holidays as a group, disseminated samizdat publications, conducted popular lectures on Jewish history and culture, and pursued Jewish studies. The book divulges how all these activities took place in private, despite the ban and persecution by the authorities. Drawing from analyses of historical sources, rare archival materials, as well as personal experiences including interviews with activists, the book provides a rich and nuanced understanding of this unique period. Ultimately, A Time to Sow presents a critical, non-apologetic perspective to uncover a distinctive, little-known chapter of Russian Jewish history in Leningrad, one of Russia’s most important cities.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

List of Illustrations

A Note on Transliteration and Composition

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter One The Struggle

Chapter Two Practical Support

Chapter Three National Culture

Chapter Four Religious Revival

Chapter Five Jewish Studies

Conclusion A Distinctive Chapter of Russian Jewish History

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

This eBook is made available Open Access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 23. Jan 2025)

ISBN:

9781487558956

1487558953

9781487557263

1487557264