Jewish Lives Under Communism: New Perspectives

This volume explores Jewish life in the pro-Soviet bloc from the end of WWII to the collapse of Communism in 1989, focusing on the agency of Jews and their creativity in developing and expressing their identities under Communist regimes. It challenges a dominant strand in history writing by showing the wide variety of Jewish experiences in law, traditions, and institutional frameworks across different Communist countries and within a single country.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 260 pages
Publication date: 15 July 2022
Publisher: Rutgers University Press

This comprehensive volume offers fresh and groundbreaking perspectives on Jewish life in various countries within the pro-Soviet bloc, spanning from the aftermath of World War II to the collapse of Communism in late 1989. Comprising a collective of twelve esteemed historians and anthropologists hailing from Europe, Israel, and the United States, the authors delve into the experiences of Jews under Communism by exploring the ways in which they creatively asserted and expressed their identities, both religious and secular, even in the face of considerable adversity. Rather than solely examining formal state policies, the volume takes a deeper dive into the agency of Jews and their innovative approaches to development and self-expression in Communist Europe, particularly in the aftermath of the Holocaust. By adopting a transnational lens, the book challenges prevailing narratives in historical writing, highlighting the diverse range of Jewish experiences across different Communist countries and even within individual nations, such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, East Germany, and the Soviet Union. By focusing on networks spanning east-central Europe and beyond, as well as the various forms of identity available to Jews during this pivotal period, the volume initiates a significant reevaluation of social and cultural life under Communist regimes.

Weight: 420g
Dimension: 155 x 235 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781978830790