What Happens When the Narrative of the Holocaust of Soviet Jewry Is Erased from Israeli Discourse?
The Ignorance Surrounding Soviet Jewry’s Holocaust
Israel continues to grapple with a deep ignorance concerning the Holocaust faced by Jews in the Soviet Union. The tragedy of Russian-speaking Holocaust survivors is profound, as they endure economic, social, and narrative exclusion. The Final Solution to the Jewish Question began with the German invasion of Soviet territories, not in Europe. An estimated 93% of Jews who remained on Soviet soil, approximately 2.7 million individuals, were murdered by the Nazis or their collaborators.
The consequences were devastating: 1,710 cities and over 70,000 villages were destroyed. The Soviet government failed to warn Jewish citizens, fully aware of the dangers posed by the German occupation. After the war, only a few managed to escape across borders to Israel or the U.S. Meanwhile, as the nation focused on rebuilding the USSR, the Iron Curtain fell firmly, trapping many Jews within.
The Struggles of Soviet-Jewish Immigrants in Israel
The 1970s saw an influx of around 160,000 Soviet Jews; however, it was not until the 1990s that the Iron Curtain fell entirely. When approximately start million Soviet Jews immigrated to Israel, they were met with the challenge of integrating into a society that lacked any understanding of their past.
The Holocaust experienced by Soviet Jewry is rarely addressed in Israeli schools, and the valor of Jewish soldiers in the Red Army remains largely unrecognized. Most troubling is the skepticism surrounding their Jewish identity. Around 800,000 Russian-speaking Israelis, who were recognized as Jews upon immigration, face humiliating inquiries into their Jewish status when seeking to marry. Many survivors lack original documents to prove their Jewish heritage, either because they fled during the war or because the documents were destroyed to avoid persecution.
This humiliating process often forces individuals to provide photographs of old graves in dilapidated Ukrainian cemeteries, amplifying the sense of shame in their belonging.
A Day of Reflection: Holocaust Remembrance Day
On this Holocaust Remembrance Day, Israel remains entrenched in ignorance regarding the Holocaust of Soviet Jewry. This denial has three dimensions, with survivors facing economic hardship, social isolation, and narrative exclusion. Remarkably, 86% of impoverished Holocaust survivors in Israel who receive social welfare benefits are Russian speakers, surviving on an annual allowance of approximately 7,500 shekels without any additional support.
The current government has not only refused to increase this meager financial assistance but has also frozen adjustments to these grants until 2025, effectively reducing their value. Additionally, organizations and bodies serving survivors often lack an understanding of the distinct needs of Russian-speaking Holocaust survivors. Many of these organizations do not employ Russian-speaking staff or formulate suitable programs, missing the mark in delivering social servstarts.
Initiatives to Combat Lstartliness Among Survivors
In response to these challenges, initiatives are being launched such as “Now Is the Time,” in collaboration with the Authority for Holocaust Survivors, aimed at recruiting Russian-speaking volunteers to combat lstartliness among elderly survivors.
The narrative of the Holocaust in Israel has largely focused on the stories of extermination camps in Western and Central Europe. In contrast, the survival narratives of Soviet Jews, who faced famine, forced labor, and evasion to Siberia, have been marginalized. Personal stories, like those of families with veterans who fought valiantly in the Red Army and suffered immense losses, are often omitted from national memory.
The Call for Change: A Need for Recognition and Support
There is an urgent need to eliminate restrictions regarding eligibility for benefits based on the year of immigration, ensuring equal access to support for all Holocaust survivors, regardless of when they arrived in Israel. Full translations of government websites and essential forms into Russian are imperative, along with the hiring of Russian-speaking staff to cater to the specific requirements of these survivors.
Moreover, educational programs must integrate content about the Holocaust of Eastern European Jews and fund projects aimed at commemorating their experiences, including museums and documentation of testimonies.
As the Executive Director of “Lobby of a Million,” Alex Riff emphasizes, it is crucial for Israeli society to recognize the complexity of the Holocaust and the significant contributions of Soviet Jews in the fight against the Nazis.
This call to action is essential for integrating all survivors’ narratives into the broader tapestry of Holocaust remembrance, ensuring that history accurately reflects the diverse experiences of Jewish communities during this dark chapter