Jewish Activists in the U.S.S.R. and the West - 1977 Soviet Jewry Camp Kit
Procedure
Introduction
This lesson uses a camp kit that was designed in 1977 to teach about the Jewish experience during the Refusenik era. On the one hand, students learn about the difficulties that the Soviet Jews faced, and on the other, they learn about the activism organized by Western Jews. This is achieved through various prompts for reenactment.
Learning Objectives
- Students will have a firm understanding of the difficulties facing Jews in the former Soviet Union.
- Students will have an understanding of the importance of religious freedom.
Procedure
- Set the Atmosphere:
- Decorate your space with pictures bearing labor camp scenes, slogans from the Soviet Jewry movement and Soviet Jewry posters (linked above)
- Print yellow Stars of David (linked above) for all participants to wear. These stars were worn by Jewish activists as a defiant reminder of the Holocaust.
- Ideas for Reenactment and Discussion Prompts:
- Recite special prayers, such as the “Prayer for Soviet Jewry” (linked above) or a “mi shebeyrach” prayer in memory of the Soviet Jewish prisoners. These can be incorporated into any activity which deals with Jewish history, the Jewish struggle, etc.
- Create a “prison” setting at meal time by setting each place with a tin or wooden utensils and serving foods based on the description of prison meals linked above. Discuss what it feels like to be a prisoner and use this as a springboard for a larger discussion about the struggle for freedom among Soviet Jews.
- Invite a former Refusenik to speak
- Create a day of study focused on the Jewish concepts of pidgin sh’vuyim (the redemption of captives), Klal Israel (the community of Israel) and Kol Yisrael are vim meh laze (all Jews are responsible for each other), which can include the topic of the Refuseniks
- Perform a skit about Soviet Jewry or create a dramatic reenactment of the story told in the article, “Handcuffs and Lock-up for a Skull-Cap” (linked above).