New Books Network Shaul Kelner, "A Cold War Exodus: How American Activists Mobilized To Free Soviet Jews" (NYU Press, 2025)
Nov 2, 2025
Shaul Kelner, an Associate Professor of Sociology and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt University, explores the remarkable activism that helped free Soviet Jews during the Cold War. He reveals how seemingly unrelated cultural elements, from pop culture to holiday rituals, were leveraged to mobilize support. Kelner discusses the evolution from small groups to massive campaigns, the unique tactics employed, and the pivotal role of American solidarity. He also reflects on the movement's lasting impact on U.S.–Israel relations and the lessons it holds for contemporary activism.
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Small Group To Nationwide Movement
- Early grassroots activists transformed Soviet Jewish suffering into a mass American movement through persistent organizing and awareness-raising.
- Shaul Kelner shows the movement's rise began with a few committed leaders who built nationwide engagement over decades.
Power Of Personalization
- The movement shifted in the early 1970s from abstract advocacy to personalizing victims as named 'refuseniks' and prisoners of conscience.
- Kelner argues naming, adoptions, and wearable names turned distant suffering into daily moral obligation.
Movement Woven Into Ritual
- Activism for Soviet Jews became woven into Jewish ritual life, creating a civic Judaism where holidays reinforced political action.
- Kelner notes holidays, life-cycle events, and symbols turned solidarity into a sacred communal practice.
