Introduction to The Soviet Jewry Struggle for Freedom
Before starting to teach about the Soviet Jewry Struggle, we recommend you give this short introduction:
LET MY PEOPLE GO
Lesson plans and activities for educators about the Soviet Jewry Struggle, Refuseniks and Prisoners of Zion 1948-1991
A variety of lesson plans and activities available below. You can teach one lesson or teach a learning unit using our recommendations.
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There are different lessons in Hebrew and in English, due to different material available (books, videos etc). The Hebrew lessons are available HERE
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History learning unit - Soviet Jewry Struggle
Introduction to The Soviet Jewry Struggle for Freedom / 10 minutes
1948 (Golda Meir's visit in Moscow)
Watch & Discuss: The death of Stali
Civic learning unit - Soviet Jewry Struggle
Suggested lesson plans for an extended learning unit
Hebrew poetry & song (adv): Won’t you ask after, O Zion, the weal of your captive?
Associated with the tragedy of Tisha B’Av — the long Jewish exile — and its grand Zionist “correction” with the emergence of the State of Is
Film screening & discussion – Operation Wedding documentary
Leningrad, 1970. A group of young Soviet Jews who were denied exit visas, plots to “hijack” an empty plane and escape the USSR.
The longing for Zion - songs, videos and discussions
The spiritual connection between world Jewry: how Soviet Jewry inspired Jews in the free world to make Aliyah.
Talk about the role, influenc
How to identify fake news of today from fake news of past Soviet media - Slideshow & Discuss
A lesson that encourages critical and independent thinking for students. In this lesson you can use a ready-made presentation that includes
Slideshow and writing exercise: Jewish holidays behind the Iron Curtain
there was a real danger in celebrating Jewish holidays - many were arrested without actual crime, and sent to the Gulag under the false accu
1948: The Need For A Jewish State (Golda Meir's visit in Moscow)
when Golda Meir arrived to Moscow in 1948, a groundbreaking unexpected event occurred...
Sing in Hebrew, “Blue and White are the colors of my land"
A music lesson: sing in Hebrew (beginner), and discuss the lyrics meaning and source.
Activity: Present & Protest: get inspired by creative and non-violent 70's protests
The following can be used as a lesson or an activity.
The lesson covers some creative protests for Soviet Jewry, that received media attenti
Read & discuss: 13 year old against the KGB (short story)
Introduction and background on life in the Soviet Union in the 1970s through the perspective of a young girl.
How to stay true to ideals und
The Secrets of Israel -Slideshow & guided discussion
In this lesson we will discuss secret activities of the Israeli government - in retrospect, was it right to keep a secret or not?
Calculated Discussion: Permission To Leave Paradise
With a rare combination of basic mathematics and history, we will explain the *USSR’s line of thought regarding the exit of citizens
Interpretation of paintings and posters on a Jewish struggle in the USSR
Paintings and illustrations of prisoners of Zion and those who refused to immigrate to the USSR communicate with artists in the free world w
Women of the Refuseniks - video & discussion
The role of the women who stood up in defense of Soviet Jews and those women denied the right to leave the USSR.
The Refuseniks and Operation Wedding
We had a lively discussion about whether or not my students would have done the same, knowing they would be arrested?
Bring (or Zoom in) Refuseniks or Activists to class
Hear the stories from the source! Invite local Prisoners of Zion, Refuseniks, and Human Rights activist to come and lecture and make history
Watch & Discuss: Freeing Russian Jewry, The Refuseniks
The video tells the story of Soviet “refuseniks,” Jews in the former Soviet Union who were denied access to emigrate to Israel.
Crossword: Struggle to Free Soviet Jewry
an economic method in which everything belongs to everyone, that is, to the state is?
Office of Visas is called?
Home-made miracles of Hanukkah
Former prisoner of Zion Yosef Begun, reflects on the holiday, past and present: in Soviet Prison, on his exile to Siberia years later, and f
The death of Stalin in Purim 1953, compared to Haman
What similarities can you draw between the Purim story from of the Book of Esther and Stalin’s Jews persecution, which ended with his death?
Next Year In... Moscow ? - The Red Haggadah
A special Haggadah was written and distributed in the USSR in which the cry for revolution, not Jerusalem, was was brought to the table.
Sharansky's matzah in Soviet Solitary confinement
The Haggadah's words were felt as KGB agents surrounded them. Later he would "celebrate" Passover in the Gulag.