Voices of Defiance: Soviet Jewry and the Refuseniks

As the events of the Soviet Jewry movement transition from recent memory to recorded history, this is a pivotal time – a “Wende moment” – to shape the course of future scholarship of Soviet Jewry and to ensure that the significant contributions and experiences of those who led and guided the movement are preserved and accurately represented in historical narratives.

Launched at the Wende Museum in 2021, the Robin Center for Russian-Speaking Jewry works to deepen and expand awareness of the history of Russian-speaking Jews, Jews who lived in the Soviet Union, and the Refusenik movement through digitization, public partnership, acquisition of at-risk collections, and sustained, dynamic programming with an emphasis on engagement with archival materials through artmaking workshops and educational activities. With support from the Koum Family Foundation, the Wende is engaged in an unparalleled comprehensive, interdisciplinary project to illuminate this history for current audiences through public and educational programs.

To further these efforts, the Meyer & Renee Luskin Public History Program at the Wende Museum presents “Voices of Defiance: Soviet Jewry and the Refuseniks,” a one-day symposium dedicated to the examination of the resistance movements of American and Soviet Jews during the Cold War period and reflection on the enduring legacy of the Soviet Jewry activist movement. Convening esteemed scholars, students, community members, and key historical figures, the event will take stock of the movement and assess and possibly shape the direction of scholarship of a history that defined a generation of Jewish life globally and contribute to a celebration of its legacy.

Full Schedule:

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Registration and Welcome Breakfast Reception

9:00 AM – 9:15 AM: Opening Remarks – Setting the Stage for the Symposium

9:15 AM – 9:45 AM: Keynote Address – “My Fight for Russian-Speaking Jewry: Past, Present, Forever”

Speaker: Zev Yaroslavsky (Fmr. Los Angeles City Councilmember, LA County Supervisor, and Soviet Jewry activist and leader)

9:45 AM – 10:00 AM: Morning Nosh Break on the Rooftop

10:00 AM – 11:00 PM: Panel Discussion #1

Topic: Refuseniks and Activists (USSR)

This panel will be a platform for the personal stories of resistance, struggle, and triumph in the face of Soviet repression by Jews living in the USSR. Together, they will discuss the efforts within the Soviet Union that helped secure the freedom of Soviet Jewry and the lasting impact of this movement on human rights advocacy.

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM: Panel Discussion #2

Topic: Jewish Leaders in the Free Soviet Jewry Movement (USA)

This panel will bring together American activists who played key roles in the Soviet Jewry movement. Demonstrating transnational solidarity through coordination with Refuseniks, aid travel to the USSR, and organizing pressure campaigns against US politicians, these leaders played an outsized role in amplifying the cause of Soviet Jews and setting a powerful precedent for grassroots activism in human rights movements globally.

12:15 PM – 1:45 PM: Lunch Break w/ Optional Curator-Led Tour of the Wende’s Samizdat and Russian-Speaking Jewry Collections @1:30pm

Details: Catered kosher lunch in the sculpture garden with fireside and fountain-side seating

Location: Victor Family Garden Terrace

1:45 PM – 2:45 PM: Panel Discussion #3

Topic: Researching the Past: Opportunities and Obstacles to Providing Access to Scholars and Students

This panel will address the experiences of leading academics and institutional leaders in accessing and studying artifacts and archives of Soviet Jewry and the related activist movement. Discussions will highlight efforts made with available archival material, alongside reflections on challenges like restricted access and preservation concerns. The panel aims to give insight into ways these materials can be made more accessible for scholars and students in order to expand and deepen our knowledge of the movement and to draw connections between the past and the present.

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Special Presentation – Unveiling a New Global Research Portal

Presenter: Julie Chervinsky (Director of the Blavatnik Archives Foundation)

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Panel Discussion #4

Topic: Sharing the Past: Engaging the General Public and Future Generations

This panel will spotlight the work of philanthropic and cultural leaders who have had significant impact on Jewish life in the United States over the last several decades. The panelists will discuss strategies for leveraging the lessons of the Soviet Jewry movement to mobilize their communities in the present day, ensuring that the past continues to inform and invigorate contemporary efforts for justice and unity.

4:45 PM – 5:00 PM: Closing Remarks – “Where do we go from here?”

Speaker: Mark B. Levin (CEO, National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry)

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Sunset Drinks & Dinner in Garden

Details: Light bites and vodka-infused cocktails for event attendees. Curated Jewish music by Dr. David MacFadyen (Professor of Musicology, Music Industry, and Comparative Literature, UCLA).

Location: Victor Family Garden Terrace

Host or Publisher The Wende Museum