JL;DR

Daily Podcasts Video Research

Tag: Birobidzhan

0 Culture History

THE VAZ-2101 WAS ONLY CALLED A LADA WHEN IT WAS EXPORTED

Reyzl Grace in Lehrhaus · 24 Feb

In "The VAZ-2101 Was Only Called a Lada When It Was Exported," Reyzl Grace narrates the defiant and adventurous spirit of Elkie, a woman planning an audacious drive to Israel from the Soviet Union amidst bureaucratic challenges.

0 Communities History

Off the Rails in Birobidzhan

Jonathan Arlan in Tablet · 10 Jul 2018

Birobidzhan, the administrative center of the Jewish Autonomous Oblast in Russia, was established in the 1930s with the aim of creating a Jewish homeland.

0 History Culture

Back in the USSR

Adam Rovner in Jewish Review of Books · 4 Jan 2017

"Masha Gessen's book 'Where the Jews Aren't' dives into the complex history of the Soviet Union's Jewish Autonomous Region, Birobidzhan. The book explores the lives of Yiddish author David Bergelson and historian Simon Dubnow, shedding light on their experiences and contributions to Jewish culture. Gessen critically examines Bergelson's alliances and actions, revealing his complex relationship with the Soviet regime. While Dubnow is portrayed as a more sympathetic figure advocating for diaspora nationalism, Gessen overlooks the role of anarchist Petr Kropotkin in the early discussions about a Jewish territory in Birobidzhan. Gessen's narrative touches on themes of displacement, loss of home, and the tumultuous history faced by these Jewish intellectuals. However, the book falls short in fully exploring the geographical and political context of Birobidzhan and its connections to larger Jewish nationalist movements."