Editing Soviet Union (section)

== Collapse of the Soviet Union ==
In the late 1980s, cracks began to appear in the Soviet Union's "Iron Curtain." In 5747 (1987), Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev announced the "Perestroika" (restructuring) and "Glasnost" (openness) programs, which reduced Communist oppression and brought relative freedom to the Soviet Union. In 5749 (1989), Gorbachev signed an agreement with George Bush, the leader of the United States, which announced the end of the prolonged Cold War between the superpowers and a significant reduction in weapons development.

In 5751 (1991), the Soviet Union faced an economic crisis that threatened to collapse the country. In order to reduce government expenses, the government agreed to relinquish its technical control over the annexed countries. During this time, the Soviet Union also experienced coup attempts that led to the resignation of President Mikhail Gorbachev. This caused the additional countries to declare complete separation from the Soviet Union and hold general elections, resulting in the world's largest superpower dissolving without war.

With the dissolution of the state, the Russian Federation was established, which removed the Iron Curtain and permitted the departure of all Russian Jews. All restrictions on Jews were removed, and since then, it became possible to openly maintain Jewish life. During these years, the Rebbe's shluchim (emissaries) began arriving en masse to Soviet cities to rebuild Jewish life that had been desolate for so many long years.

In the month of Elul 5751 (1991), members of the Communist Party and the KGB attempted to stage another coup and take control of government buildings in Moscow. This caused great panic among citizens, and many of the Rebbe's shluchim who were in Soviet countries during that period (including bochurim who were sent to run summer camps) urgently asked the Rebbe what to do. The Rebbe's response was: "With the greatest astonishment I received the question - they should simply continue with all their programs, including the camps, until completion, and Hashem will grant them success and they will share good news." Within two days, the government succeeded in stopping the revolutionaries, and the coup attempt was prevented without bloodshed.

On 9 Tevet, 5752 (December 16, 1991), the collapse of the Communist regime occurred, which led to the disintegration of the Soviet Union into independent states, with capitalist economies and most declaring themselves as democratic or semi-democratic. Some of them operate with partial dictatorship.

==== The Rebbe's References to the Topic ====
Many times during the years 5750, 5751, and 5752 (1990-1992), the Rebbe referred to the overthrow of the Soviet Union as a redemptive process, accomplished through the power of the Rebbe Rayatz as the Moshiach of the generation.

In the month of Menachem Av, a convention of shluchim from the Soviet Union countries was held in Moscow, during which they visited the gravesites of our Rebbes in Lubavitch and the Rebbe's father's gravesite in Alma Ata. In the Shabbos Parshas Va'eschanan talk, the Rebbe referred to this and said:<blockquote>Including also the "wonder" that is happening in these very days: a gathering of Anash and the shluchim in the country of Russia... this event is a matter of "wonders," that the same country that '''fought''' against the activities of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, the leader of our generation (and similarly regarding the activities of the Baal Hilula of the tenth of Av) in spreading Torah and the wellsprings outward, is now '''hosting and honoring''' his students and emissaries and those who follow his ways and paths in spreading Torah and the wellsprings outward -

These "wonders" (which have already been seen in actuality) awaken and emphasize that immediately we will see the greatest wonder - the true and complete Redemption about which it is said "As in the days of your exodus from Egypt, I will show you wonders."</blockquote>In the month of Shevat 5752 (1992), the Soviet Union signed an agreement ending the Cold War with the United States and on reducing expenditures on weapons production. The Rebbe dedicated a special talk to this, explaining that the event is a taste of the prophecy "They shall beat their swords into plowshares," which will be fulfilled in the Redemption.

The Rebbe referred to the exodus of Russian Jews and their immigration to Israel as a taste of the Redemption's promise of the ingathering of exiles.