Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Putting the Soviet Jewry Issue on the Public Agenda in the United States: From Indifference to the Jackson-Vanik Amendment Chapter 3 Freedom of Choice and the Committee of Eight: Israel Versus the American Jewish Establishment Chapter 4 Round Two of the Freedom of Choice Debate: The Israelis Fail Again Chapter 5 The 1980s: The Soviet Jewry Advocacy Movement is Kept Alive Chapter 6 The Reagan Gorbachev Summits: Moving Toward a Resolution of the Soviet Jewry Issue Chapter 7 The Conflict over Turf in the American Soviet Jewry Advocacy Movement: The Dominance of the CJF Chapter 8 The Final Struggle over Soviet Jewish Emigration: A Quota that Ended the Freedom of Choice Debate Chapter 9 American Jews, Soviet Jewry Advocacy, Israel and American Politics: American Jewish Leaders Redefine Their Political Interests
Fred A. Lazin is the Lynn and Lloyd Hurst Family Professor of Local Government at Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Fred Lazin's book covers one of the great humanitarian campaigns of
our time. But even beyond the struggle over the fate of Soviet
Jewry, it provides wonderful insight into the ways in which
humanitarian impulse, public policy, and civic society come
together in America. Lazin has provided a valuable account of how
the system can work when there is sufficient good will and
dedication to do the right thing.
*Princeton N. Lyman, Council on Foreign Relations*
Future researchers of the Soviet Jewry movement in America are
given much to build on in this exquisitely researched study that
touches all bases of this complex subject. Researchers in this area
cannot afford to ignore this work.
*Henry Feingold, Baruch College, The City University of New
York*
This thoughtful, deeply-researched book about the politics that
affected the destination of Soviet Jewish émigrés powerfully
illuminates key issues characterizing the relationship between
governments, organizations, and communities in Israel and the
United States. Written by an accomplished scholar at home in both
countries, it makes important contributions to our understanding,
among other subjects, of immigration, ethnicity, advocacy groups,
ideological conflict, and political entrepreneurship.
*Ira Katznelson, Columbia University*
This important study focuses on the American Jewish community and
the ways it tried to influence U.S. policy on Soviet Jewry, often
in conflict with the views of the government of Israel. It makes a
significant contribution to understanding the influence of
organized groups generally, and provides particularly fascinating
material for those interested in the complexities of Jewish
politics and communal life in the United States.
*Joel D. Aberbach, University of California, Los Angeles*
In this important new study, Fred Lazin lays bare the tensions and
contradictions embodied in the 'We Are One' slogan deployed by
American Jews to signal solidarity with Israel. Rather than bow to
Israel's strong desire to channel all Soviet Jewish refugees its
way, American Jewish leaders initially demanded that immigrants
select their own destination. When it eventually became clear that
the costs of settling so many refugees in the United States would
overwhelm local federations, only then did the US Jewish leadership
accept a cap on Soviet Jewish immigrants. As Lazin shows, this
decisive event marked a kind of declaration of independence of
American Jewry, an assertion that its interests, rather than
Israel's, would automatically govern community priorities.
*Kenneth D. Wald*
Lazin has written an indispensable study of the U.S. Jewish
community's struggle on behalf of Soviet Jewry. . . . Highly
recommended.
*CHOICE*
Fred A. Lazin has written an interesting and informative account of
how both the United States and Israel responded to the issue of
Soviet immigrant Jews. It is a detailed book based extraordinary
research into the archives… . Lazin has written a rich book,
throwing much light on a complex issue.
*Shofar: An Interdisciplinary Journal Of Jewish Studies*
Meticulously documented through access to the extensive archives of
the Jewish Agency and through interviews with many of the key
players, [Lazin's] case study provides new insights into the growth
and political maturity of the American Jewish community.
*American Jewish History*
Fred Lazin's well-researched narrative, The Struggle for Soviet
Jewry in American politics, is the most comprehensive work to date
on this central issue in Israeli-U.S. diaspora relations.... Until
1967, Israelis were far better informed than their American Jewish
counterparts about the situation of Soveit Jews. This important
point, which is well developed by Lazin, has been overlooked by
most historians of Soviet Jewry. Lazin is also very good in his
general discussion regarding the 'turf issues' at the core of his
book.... An important contribution. It will broaden and deepen our
understanding—and appreciation—of a time in which the American
Jewish communal agenda, and American Jewry's relationship with the
state of Israel, moved in radically new directions.
*Jews and The Sporting Life: Studies In Contemporary Jewry*
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