"Gal Beckerman has written the definitive account of what might be
the most successful human rights campaign of our time. This is a
wonderful book: The narrative is thrilling and propulsive; the
writing is beautiful; and the research absolutely authoritative.
The movement to free Soviet Jewry will be studied for years to come
as a model of non-violent civil disobedience, and Gal Beckerman's
book will be read years from now as the masterwork on the
subject."
--Jeffrey Goldberg, National Correspondent, "The Atlantic," and
author of "Prisoners: A Story of Friendship and Terror"
"Gal Beckerman's book shines a long-needed spotlight on one of the
great human rights struggles of the past century. It is dramatic,
revelatory and deeply inspiring."
--Ron Rosenbaum, author of "Explaining Hitler" and "The Shakespeare
Wars"
"Among the great liberation strivings of the twentieth century --
civil rights in America, the end of apartheid in South Africa, the
independence of India -- one of the most painfully achieved was the
exodus of Jews from Soviet oppression. Gal Beckerman recounts the
historic trajectory of this grand assertion of human rights with
passionate clarity and pellucid conviction. His tireless
persistence in pursuit of a stirring heroic chronicle is itself a
form of heroism."
--Cynthia Ozick
"Gal Beckerman has written the Parting the Waters of the Jewish
experience. In this stirring epic -- intellectually brilliant,
historically authoritative and emotionally heartfelt in equal
measure -- he has chronicled one of the great liberation struggles
of modern times. And he has placed himself at the apex of his
generation of nonfiction writers."
--Samuel G. Freedman, author of "Jew vs. Jew"
"A beautifully written book with both depth and cinematic
qualities."
--Gary Shteyngart, author of "The Russian Debutante's Handbook" and
"Absurdistan" "A fascinating, deeply researched, and revealing
account of the brave Jews in the Soviet Union and of those in the
West who worked tirelessly on their behalf."
-- Sir Martin Gilbert, author of "Churchill: A Life"
"At last, the Soviet Jewry movement has found its chronicler. To
read this book is to relive the heroism and the heartache, the
desperation and the jubilation that marked the long struggle to
free Soviet Jews. This is a moving, reliable and memorable
narrative of one of the greatest human rights dramas of our
time."
--J onathan D. Sarna, Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun Professor of
American Jewish History, Brandeis University, and author of
"American Judaism: A History" "Colorfully fleshes out personal
stories within the headlines . . . A comprehensive, contextually
rich study. " -- "Kirkus Reviews" "Absorbing and inspiring . . . An
outstanding chronicle of a great effort conducted by determined and
courageous men and women." -- "Booklist," starred review
"Enthralling . . . A must read." -- "Russian Life" "Masterful and
highly readable history."' -- The Forward"Comprehensive and
readable . . .it's Beckerman's intimate portrait of the U.S. and
Soviet outsiders that makes us care about their struggle." --
Newsday
"Remarkable... The author is gifted at weaving this very human and
very political tale together." -- Cleveland Plain Dealer
"A brief review can scarcely compass the breadth and richness of
Beckerman's narrative or do justice to the unimaginable physical
and moral courage and the resourcefulness of the dissidents and
refuseniks crowding his pages. His honest recounting of their human
failings and rivalries makes their achievement all the more
remarkable. Beckerman also reminds us of the extent to which
contemporary American Jewry was shaped by this history. Struggles
create leaders and the Soviet Jewry movement was no exception. His
book constitutes a veritable who's who of American Jewish leaders,
who early in their professional lives came of age, in one way or
another, in the movement." -- "Jewish Review of Books"
"Wide-ranging and often moving." -- "The New Yorker"
"Beckerman's riveting and important book shows that it took the
grass-roots efforts of Jews around the world, as well as the power
of the American government, to bring this story to a happy ending.
If the movement to 'save Soviet Jewry' is not well remembered,
Beckerman writes, it is because 'it is a victim of its own
success.' Now that he has told the story so well, however, it will
surely take its rightful place as one of the greatest dramas in
modern Jewish history." "-- Tablet "
""When They Come for Us" will be a standard text about the
Soviet-Jewry movement for scholars, students, and general readers
alike." "--The Jewish Week "
"Fresh, surprising and exceedingly well-researched... Beckerman
wants to ensure that the story of this epic struggle isn't
forgotten, and I hope that, with this excellent book, he succeeds."
-- Anne Applebaum, "Washington Post"
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