The Pete Quiñones Show Reading Solzhenitsyn's '200 Years Together' w/ Dr Matthew Raphael Johnson - Part 90
Nov 29, 2025
Dr. Matthew Raphael Johnson, a researcher and former professor specializing in Russian history, delves into Solzhenitsyn's '200 Years Together'. He explores the Jewish religious status during early Bolshevik rule and the confiscation of synagogue treasures. The duo discusses the linguistic tensions between Hebrew and Yiddish, the resilience of synagogues amid persecution, and Jewish contributions to Soviet culture in arts and cinema. They critique Soviet manipulation of religious practices, emphasizing Solzhenitsyn's disdain for state-favored mediocrity in the cultural sphere.
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Smart Appliances And Eavesdropping Joke
- Matthew and Pete joke about 'smart' appliances sending data and welcome eavesdroppers listening to their show.
- Pete says listeners who tap in probably hear the only intelligent things their opponents hear.
Differing Soviet Treatment Of Religions
- Bolshevik power was hostile to all religions but treated Jewish practice with relative restraint in the 1920s.
- Solzhenitsyn notes confiscations happened but large-scale synagogue destruction was far less common than for Orthodox churches.
Material Seizures Over Mass Destruction
- Yaroslavsky proposed confiscating synagogue silver and taxing expensive seats, showing material targeting.
- Pete and Matthew emphasize these measures were often administrative and less violently enforced than actions against the Orthodox Church.
