Soviet Union: Difference between revisions

(4 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)

Line 1:

'''Soviet Union''' (in Russian '''Soyuz Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik'''; also known by the initials '''S.S.S.R''' in Hebrew translation: '''Union of Soviet Socialist Republics'''), was established as a result of the '''Communist Revolution''' or '''October Revolution''' that took place in Russia in 5678 (1917) by the Chairman of the Bolshevik Party Vladimir Lenin after the February Revolution in which the liberal provisional government seized power.

The USSR was a superpower that stretched across about 15% of all land on Earth, spanning Eastern Europe and North-Central Asia. Under its rule lived approximately half of the world's Jews. The Soviet Union was ruled by the Communist Party, and its rule was characterized by persecution and suppression of the Jewish religion. Many Jews, including numerous Chabad chassidim, sacrificed their lives to sanctify Hashem's name during the Soviet era, as part of the constant struggle against the government to maintain Jewish identity and observe Torah and mitzvos. The Rebbe Rayatz and the Rebbe waged a powerful battle to sustain Judaism and Chassidus in the Soviet Union throughout the entire period of Communist rule.

The USSR was a superpower that stretched across about 15% of all land on Earth, spanning Eastern Europe and North-Central Asia. Under its rule lived approximately half of the world's Jews. The Soviet Union was ruled by the Communist Party, and its rule was characterized by persecution and suppression of the Jewish religion. Many Jews, including numerous Chabad chassidim, sacrificed their lives to sanctify Hashem's name during the Soviet era, as part of the constant struggle against the government to maintain Jewish identity and observe Torah and mitzvos. The [[Rebbe Rayatz]] and the [[Rebbe]] waged a powerful battle to sustain Judaism and Chassidus in the Soviet Union throughout the entire period of Communist rule.

== Background ==

Line 25:

== Soviet Economy ==

The Soviet Union's place in international institutions, including the United Nations, was taken by Russia, which was the largest of the republics and constituted the political and cultural center of the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union's place in international institutions, including the [[United Nations]], was taken by Russia, which was the largest of the republics and constituted the political and cultural center of the Soviet Union.

The communist system is based on the Marxist method. That is, absolute equal rights among all citizens. Therefore, there could not be an upper class and a lower class, but everyone was equal. For this purpose, during the first period of communist rule, the property of the country's wealthy was confiscated while they were killed or sent to Siberia. Food was received with vouchers, not through money, which led to a flourishing black market where food and other items were obtained illegally.

Line 72:

'''Extended article – The Exodus from Russia 5706 (1946)'''

After World War II ended at the beginning of the year 5706 (1946), a rare opportunity arose to leave Russia. Russia allowed all Polish refugees to return to their country, as well as Russians who were married to Poles. The Chassidim identified the potential in this opportunity – it was possible to forge documents or purchase passports of Poles who had died or been exiled to Siberia and use them to leave Russia. The Russian government preferred to ignore the forgery industry so as not to publicize the fact that many Poles had died in Russia. After receiving approval from the Rebbe Rayatz, a special committee was established to organize documents for Chassidim so they could leave Russia. The method was to "assemble families" – allegedly Polish families that would leave the country in groups. Indeed, most of the Chassidim managed to leave Russia, but the last group that tried to leave was caught, and all its members were arrested and exiled to Siberia, among them was Reb Mendel Futerfas. The Chassidim who left Russia arrived in Germany and from there to New York and Eretz Yisrael.

After World War II ended at the beginning of the year 5706 (1946), a rare opportunity arose to leave Russia. Russia allowed all Polish refugees to return to their country, as well as Russians who were married to Poles. The Chassidim identified the potential in this opportunity – it was possible to forge documents or purchase passports of Poles who had died or been exiled to Siberia and use them to leave Russia. The Russian government preferred to ignore the forgery industry so as not to publicize the fact that many Poles had died in Russia. After receiving approval from the [[Rebbe Rayatz]], a special committee was established to organize documents for Chassidim so they could leave Russia. The method was to "assemble families" – allegedly Polish families that would leave the country in groups. Indeed, most of the Chassidim managed to leave Russia, but the last group that tried to leave was caught, and all its members were arrested and exiled to Siberia, among them was [[Reb Mendel Futerfas]]. The Chassidim who left Russia arrived in Germany and from there to New York and Eretz Yisrael.

During that period under Communist rule, many were murdered, thousands were exiled, and tens of thousands were imprisoned for studying Torah and observing mitzvos. Even after 5707 (1947), a large number of Chassidim remained in Russia. A small portion of them only left after the fall of the Iron Curtain.

Line 120:

In the former Soviet Union countries, hundreds of the Rebbe's shluchim currently operate within various institutions and organizations including:

* Or Avner

* [[Or Avner]]

* Ezras Achim

* [[Ezras Achim]]

* Federation of Jewish Communities in Russia

* [[Federation of Jewish Communities in Russia]]

* Agudas Chasidei Chabad in the Commonwealth of Independent States

* [[Agudas Chasidei Chabad in the Commonwealth of Independent States]]

* CHAMAH

* [[CHAMAH]]

In parallel, various other Jewish organizations operate in cooperation with the shluchim.

== See Also ==

* [[Russia]]

* Russia

* [[KGB]]

* KGB

* [[Secret Shluchim to Russia]]

* Secret Shluchim to Russia

== For Further Reading ==

* Rabbi Shalom DovBer Levin, '''History of Chabad in Soviet Russia''', Kehot, 5749

* Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Gottlieb, Judaism of Silence

Line 145:

Line 143:

== External Links ==

* 20 Years to the Miraculous Revolution in Russia ● Fascinating Overview -

* '''That Country''', in the wedding memento of Tamarin-Margoliot, 12 Adar 5781

* '''Even an Iron Curtain Cannot Separate''', Ki Karov periodical Parshas Balak 5783

[[he:ברית המועצות]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 '''Soviet Union''' (in Russian '''Soyuz Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik'''; also known by the initials '''S.S.S.R''' in Hebrew translation: '''Union of Soviet Socialist Republics'''), was established as a result of the '''Communist Revolution''' or '''October Revolution''' that took place in Russia in 5678 (1917) by the Chairman of the Bolshevik Party Vladimir Lenin after the February Revolution in which the liberal provisional government seized power.
-The USSR was a superpower that stretched across about 15% of all land on Earth, spanning Eastern Europe and North-Central Asia. Under its rule lived approximately half of the world's Jews. The Soviet Union was ruled by the Communist Party, and its rule was characterized by persecution and suppression of the Jewish religion. Many Jews, including numerous Chabad chassidim, sacrificed their lives to sanctify Hashem's name during the Soviet era, as part of the constant struggle against the government to maintain Jewish identity and observe Torah and mitzvos. The Rebbe Rayatz and the Rebbe waged a powerful battle to sustain Judaism and Chassidus in the Soviet Union throughout the entire period of Communist rule.
+The USSR was a superpower that stretched across about 15% of all land on Earth, spanning Eastern Europe and North-Central Asia. Under its rule lived approximately half of the world's Jews. The Soviet Union was ruled by the Communist Party, and its rule was characterized by persecution and suppression of the Jewish religion. Many Jews, including numerous Chabad chassidim, sacrificed their lives to sanctify Hashem's name during the Soviet era, as part of the constant struggle against the government to maintain Jewish identity and observe Torah and mitzvos. The [[Rebbe Rayatz]] and the [[Rebbe]] waged a powerful battle to sustain Judaism and Chassidus in the Soviet Union throughout the entire period of Communist rule.
 == Background ==
@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 == Soviet Economy ==
-The Soviet Union's place in international institutions, including the United Nations, was taken by Russia, which was the largest of the republics and constituted the political and cultural center of the Soviet Union.
+The Soviet Union's place in international institutions, including the [[United Nations]], was taken by Russia, which was the largest of the republics and constituted the political and cultural center of the Soviet Union.
 The communist system is based on the Marxist method. That is, absolute equal rights among all citizens. Therefore, there could not be an upper class and a lower class, but everyone was equal. For this purpose, during the first period of communist rule, the property of the country's wealthy was confiscated while they were killed or sent to Siberia. Food was received with vouchers, not through money, which led to a flourishing black market where food and other items were obtained illegally.
@@ Line 72: / Line 72: @@
 '''Extended article – The Exodus from Russia 5706 (1946)'''
-After World War II ended at the beginning of the year 5706 (1946), a rare opportunity arose to leave Russia. Russia allowed all Polish refugees to return to their country, as well as Russians who were married to Poles. The Chassidim identified the potential in this opportunity – it was possible to forge documents or purchase passports of Poles who had died or been exiled to Siberia and use them to leave Russia. The Russian government preferred to ignore the forgery industry so as not to publicize the fact that many Poles had died in Russia. After receiving approval from the Rebbe Rayatz, a special committee was established to organize documents for Chassidim so they could leave Russia. The method was to "assemble families" – allegedly Polish families that would leave the country in groups. Indeed, most of the Chassidim managed to leave Russia, but the last group that tried to leave was caught, and all its members were arrested and exiled to Siberia, among them was Reb Mendel Futerfas. The Chassidim who left Russia arrived in Germany and from there to New York and Eretz Yisrael.
+After World War II ended at the beginning of the year 5706 (1946), a rare opportunity arose to leave Russia. Russia allowed all Polish refugees to return to their country, as well as Russians who were married to Poles. The Chassidim identified the potential in this opportunity – it was possible to forge documents or purchase passports of Poles who had died or been exiled to Siberia and use them to leave Russia. The Russian government preferred to ignore the forgery industry so as not to publicize the fact that many Poles had died in Russia. After receiving approval from the [[Rebbe Rayatz]], a special committee was established to organize documents for Chassidim so they could leave Russia. The method was to "assemble families" – allegedly Polish families that would leave the country in groups. Indeed, most of the Chassidim managed to leave Russia, but the last group that tried to leave was caught, and all its members were arrested and exiled to Siberia, among them was [[Reb Mendel Futerfas]]. The Chassidim who left Russia arrived in Germany and from there to New York and Eretz Yisrael.
 During that period under Communist rule, many were murdered, thousands were exiled, and tens of thousands were imprisoned for studying Torah and observing mitzvos. Even after 5707 (1947), a large number of Chassidim remained in Russia. A small portion of them only left after the fall of the Iron Curtain.
@@ Line 120: / Line 120: @@
 In the former Soviet Union countries, hundreds of the Rebbe's shluchim currently operate within various institutions and organizations including:
-* Or Avner
+* [[Or Avner]]
-* Ezras Achim
+* [[Ezras Achim]]
-* Federation of Jewish Communities in Russia
+* [[Federation of Jewish Communities in Russia]]
-* Agudas Chasidei Chabad in the Commonwealth of Independent States
+* [[Agudas Chasidei Chabad in the Commonwealth of Independent States]]
-* CHAMAH
+* [[CHAMAH]]
 In parallel, various other Jewish organizations operate in cooperation with the shluchim.
 == See Also ==
+* [[Russia]]
-* Russia
+* [[KGB]]
-* KGB
+* [[Secret Shluchim to Russia]]
-* Secret Shluchim to Russia
 == For Further Reading ==
 * Rabbi Shalom DovBer Levin, '''History of Chabad in Soviet Russia''', Kehot, 5749
 * Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Gottlieb, Judaism of Silence
@@ Line 145: / Line 143: @@
 == External Links ==
 * 20 Years to the Miraculous Revolution in Russia ● Fascinating Overview -
 * '''That Country''', in the wedding memento of Tamarin-Margoliot, 12 Adar 5781
 * '''Even an Iron Curtain Cannot Separate''', Ki Karov periodical Parshas Balak 5783
+[[he:ברית המועצות]]