Episode Overview

Podcast: New Books Network – Van Leer Institute Series on Ideas
Host: Renee Garfinkel
Guest: Shaul Kelner, Associate Professor of Sociology and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt University
Book Discussed: A Cold War Exodus: How American Activists Mobilized to Free Soviet Jews
Date: November 2, 2025

This episode explores the history and impact of the American grassroots movement to free Soviet Jews, revealing how activism not only shaped international diplomacy but also transformed American Jewish identity and civic life. Dr. Shaul Kelner discusses overlooked cultural dimensions, pivotal protests, internal debates, and the mobilization of non-Jewish allies, setting this movement within the broader context of 20th-century human rights struggles.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Why Write This Book?

• Personal Motivation: Dr. Kelner recounts how a graduate school paper turned into his main research passion.
  • Quote: “Anytime I was procrastinating … I was coming back to work on activists for Soviet Jews. So eventually I just listened to my heart and decided this is going to be my full time project.” (02:48)
• Scholarly Gap:
  • Limited academic attention outside Jewish studies, especially on cultural impact rather than just politics.
  • Most prior studies focus on political maneuvers like the Jackson-Vanik amendment, whereas Kelner emphasizes lived Jewish experience and communal change.
  • Quote: “To miss the cultural dimensions, to me, seemed to be missing the key part of this.” (05:04)

2. Origins and Spread of Concern (05:16–07:05)

• The movement’s rise was not automatic; initial activism came from a handful of passionate individuals.
• Major early figures: Jacob Birnbaum (Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry) and Louis Rosenblum (Union of Councils for Soviet Jews).
• Overcame apathy and governmental reluctance, eventually mobilizing broad participation.

3. Internal Debates and Movement Dynamics (07:05–09:21)

• Consensus: All agreed Soviet treatment of Jews was intolerable.
• Disagreements:
  • Tactics (focus on rights vs. emigration, violence vs. nonviolence).
  • Risks of provoking a backlash against Soviet Jews.
  • Tensions between public protest and quiet diplomacy, particularly among Orthodox organizations.

4. Relationship to Other Human Rights Movements (09:28–12:00)

• Soviet Jewry campaign paralleled and at times innovated ahead of other rights movements.
• Personal and public Jewish identity was asserted during protests (e.g., wearing tallises, blowing shofars), preceding similar visibility in women’s and civil rights movements.
• Generational dynamics motivated passionate activism, reflecting on perceived inaction during the Holocaust.

5. Pivotal Tactics and Inflection Points (12:22–14:36)

• Personalization (Early 1970s):
  • Movement shifted from abstract to individualized advocacy: “adopt a prisoner,” bracelets with names like Anatoly Sharansky and Ida Nudel, “twinning” Bar/Bat Mitzvahs with Soviet refuseniks.
  • Quote: “That shift to personalization in the early 1970s was probably the biggest inflection point in the movement’s tactics.” (14:27)

6. Soviet Jewry as Civic Religion (14:49–18:08)

• The cause became woven into every facet of American Jewish life—holidays, lifecycle rituals, synagogue life—becoming “civil Judaism.”
  • Quote: “Every single Jewish holiday on the calendar became a moment for people to raise awareness about Soviet Jews.” (15:34)
  • Memorialized by ritual adaptation: matzah of hope at Passover, special prayers, greeting cards, and more.
  • Rabbi Avi Weiss: “How can you celebrate Passover, the festival of liberation…the festival of Exodus and not demand liberation and freedom and exodus for the Jews of the Soviet Union.” (17:45)

7. Non-Jewish Allies and Broad Coalition Building (18:08–20:22)

• The movement extended beyond Jewish communities.
  • Key allies: civil rights leaders (Martin Luther King, Bayard Rustin, A. Philip Randolph), Christian clergy (e.g., Sister Anne Gillen, Reverend John Steinbrook), labor and business leaders.
• Daily vigil in front of the Soviet embassy in D.C. ran for 20 years, supported by interfaith partners.
  • Quote: "Reverend Steinbrook's church was there and they made sure that this continued." (20:15)

8. Navigating U.S. Presidential Politics (20:22–22:51)

• Initial presidential reluctance due to Cold War detente, especially under Nixon and Kissinger, who viewed activism as a threat.
• Jimmy Carter prioritized human rights, increasing governmental support.
• Ronald Reagan and George Shultz became strong public allies, helping achieve concrete results.
  • Quote: “Only the US Government can really effectively pressure the Soviets. And Reagan embraced it.” (22:36)

9. Impact on American Jewish Identity and Relations with Israel (23:12–27:28)

• Tensions between Israeli government (wanting immigration to Israel) and American grassroots groups (supporting freedom of choice).
• The movement fostered American Jewish autonomy and assertiveness, sometimes in opposition to both U.S. and Israeli government priorities.
• Some American leaders were inspired to make aliyah (immigrate to Israel) after witnessing Soviet Jews’ sacrifices.

10. Measuring the Movement's Effectiveness (27:48–30:09)

• Academic debate exists, but Kelner stresses that activists were critical not only in pressuring the Soviets (via U.S. diplomatic leverage) but in building the frameworks (legal, logistical, humanitarian) that made emigration possible and humane.
  • Quote: “What the movement did, in addition to pressuring the Soviet government, it also created the legal frameworks, the logistical frameworks to turn an opening of the gates into an actual immigration…” (28:23)
• Soviet emigration was symbolic of Cold War thaw; activists ensured it was viable and visible.

11. Lessons for Today and Enduring Relevance (30:34–33:05)

• Remembrance: Honor activists’ efforts and creativity.
• Inspiration: Proof that determined, passionate activism can prevail against seemingly hopeless odds.
• Contemporary Parallels: Draws links between Soviet-era anti-Zionism and present-day discourse.
  • Quote: "It will also remind people … don’t just look to one side of the political spectrum to see the problems. You’re going to see problems on the other side, too.” (32:54)

12. What’s Next for Shaul Kelner? (33:17–33:57)

• New project on Jewish music culture in Nashville, Tennessee, focusing on creativity, hope, and celebration.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On personal involvement:
  • "I just listened to my heart and decided this is going to be my full time project." (02:53)
• Cultural impact:
  • "To miss the cultural dimensions … seemed to be missing the key part of this." (05:04)
• Activist innovation:
  • “That shift to personalization in the early 1970s was probably the biggest inflection point…” (14:27)
• Movement as civil religion:
  • “It was up there with God, Torah, and Israel as one of the pillars of being Jewish.” (16:52)
• Activists’ sense of obligation:
  • Rabbi Avi Weiss: “How can you celebrate Passover … and not demand liberation and freedom … for the Jews of the Soviet Union.” (17:45)
• Coalition building:
  • “They made a priority of enlisting as much support as possible…” (18:46)
• On U.S. policy:
  • “Only the US Government can really effectively pressure the Soviets. And Reagan embraced it.” (22:36)
• Lasting lesson:
  • “If you have passion and you have creativity and you have dedication and you have faith, you can do a lot.” (31:14)
• Contemporary warning:
  • “The oppression of Jews did not only come from the political right … anti-Zionism that emerged in the Soviet context … didn’t end when the Soviet Union collapsed.” (32:26)

Major Segments & Timestamps

• Introduction & Guest Background: (01:07–02:38)
• Genesis of the Book / Personal Connection: (02:41–03:21)
• Gap in Literature / Cultural Focus: (03:21–05:16)
• Movement Origins & Expansion: (05:16–07:05)
• Internal Debates: (07:05–09:21)
• Comparison with Other Movements: (09:21–12:00)
• Pivotal Tactics & Personalization: (12:22–14:36)
• Soviet Jewry as Civic Religion: (14:49–18:08)
• Non-Jewish Allies: (18:08–20:22)
• Presidential Responses: (20:22–22:51)
• Impact on U.S.–Israel Relations: (23:12–27:28)
• Effectiveness of Activism: (27:48–30:09)
• Lessons & Modern Relevance: (30:34–33:05)
• Next Steps for Kelner: (33:17–33:57)

Memorable Moments

• The deeply personalized rituals, such as twinning Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and wearing refusenik bracelets, made the Soviet Jewry cause tangible and heartfelt in everyday American Jewish life.
• The movement’s adaptation of every Jewish holiday as a platform for activism—symbolizing its total integration into American Jewish identity.
• An interfaith, cross-political movement with 20 years of daily vigils by both Jews and Christian allies in front of the Soviet embassy (19:40–20:22).
• Shaul Kelner’s reflection on how activism inspired American Jews to move to Israel, questioning their own commitment when compared to Soviet Jews’ sacrifices (26:40–27:28).
• The sobering warning about anti-Zionism as a recurring form of oppression, not limited to past history or one end of the political spectrum (32:26–32:54).

Conclusion

Kelner’s insights provide a nuanced, inspiring, and multidimensional account of the Soviet Jewry movement—one that reshaped American Jewish life, built unlikely coalitions, and stands as a model of creative, determined activism. The episode is both an act of memory and an urgent prompt for awareness and action today.