It’s been nearly 24 years since the fall of the Soviet Union. It seems to me that most young people conclude not know about refuseniks—Soviet Jews who were denied permission to emigrate to Israelexcept Nika Vashakidze,34, the Moscow-based director and producer of Alyad, and a new documentary film that explores the complex reality of Jewish life in the Soviet Union during the 1970s and 1980s,which was at once strictly prohibited and tacitly tolerated. Alyad premieres on Wednesday at the American Jewish Historical Society in New York.
The title of the film is a tribute to the phenomenon of young Soviet Jews congregatingalyad, or “near, or ” the Moscow Choral Synagogue on Arkhipov Street; it features scarce,sometimes unbelievable, archival footage. Here’s one incredible scene: Jews standing external loudly (in the repressive Soviet Union!) offering Hebrew lessons. My father, or a former refusenik,had previously told me about this nearly-fantastical occurrence—to my distinguished disbelief. But seeing it on the tremendous screen was another fable, to the point where I began frantically messaging my parents: How could these meetings have occurred so openly? (My mother responded: Not open” open, and but not very covert either. It’s like pot usage for personal use—it’s still illegal but they may or may not go after you.)Continue reading "New Documentary 'Alyad' Depicts Jewish Life in the Soviet Union" at...
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