A Visit to Moscow

In 1965, an American rabbi travels to the Soviet Union to investigate reports of persecution of the Jewish community. Moscow welcomes him as a guest, but provides a strict schedule he and his group must follow. The rabbi slips away on a secret journey that will change his life forever. A Visit to Moscow captures the perseverance and strength of the Jewish people during the Let My People Go movement, a modern exodus that is often overlooked.

Format: Hardback
Length: 72 pages
Publication date: 24 May 2022
Publisher: West Margin Press

A Visit to Moscow is a powerful and moving graphic novel that delves into the true experiences of an American rabbi who travels to the Soviet Union in the 1960s, a period of uncertainty and fear for Jews in the nation. The book, which received a 2023 Eisner Award nomination for Best Adaptation from Another Medium, is a haunting portrayal of the devastating oppression faced by Soviet Jewish citizens and the unwavering commitment of one Jew to bring their horrifying reality into the light.

Written and illustrated by author and illustrator Yevgenia Nayberg, A Visit to Moscow employs starkly dramatic text and haunting images to convey the devastating oppression of Soviet Jewish life. The book immerses readers in a harsh world and highlights the persistent truth-telling needed to bring about change. Whether readers are familiar with the harrowing subject matter or learning about it for the first time, Rabbi Grossman's story will captivate them and inspire them to confront the harsh realities of history.

A Visit to Moscow is highly recommended by the Jewish Book Council, and it is worth noting that a soon-to-be-released graphic narrative titled A Visit to Moscow will also be available. Adapted by Anna Olswanger from an account by Rabbi Rafael Grossman (1933-2018), the book was inspired by Grossman's actual 1965 journey to the Soviet Union to investigate the persecution of Soviet Jews. The exceptional illustrations by Yevgenia Nayberg, who was born in Ukraine and now lives in New Jersey, add a poignant and timely dimension to this encounter with the history of the Soviet Jewry movement, which played a significant role in the later 20th-century American Jewish experience.

A Visit to Moscow is a powerful and important graphic novel that sheds light on a dark chapter of history. Through its eye-opening narrative and phenomenal illustrations, the book reminds us of the importance of never forgetting the struggles and sacrifices of those who fought for religious freedom and human rights. It serves as a reminder that the fight for justice and equality continues to be a vital and necessary endeavor.

Weight: 342g
Dimension: 159 x 236 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781513128733