A few days ago, thanks to the long bus ride to and from Eilat, I finished Natan Sharansky's book "Fear No Evil". For those not familiar, the book talks a little about his Zionist activities in Soviet Russia in the 1970s and then gives a detailed and fascinating account of the almost 10 years he spent in jail for his activities.
Sharansky always knew he was Jewish, but in Soviet Russia there was an effort to eliminate all national and religious identities. At the same time, Jews faced very real Antisemitism, sometimes from individuals and all too often from restrictions and caps on Jewish enrollment in schools and jobs. As he grew more and more aware of his identity he applied for an exit visa, but was denied. After this, he became increasingly active in public protests; helping inform Western journalists of the terrible human rights conditions faced by ethnic minorities and religious people. Eventually he was accused of spying for the US and arrested. He spent over a year being interrogated and then from 1978 to 1986 suffered through mental and physical torture, a near starvation diet at times and extreme KGB pressure on him and his family. Through it all his wife (who was able to leave for Israel just a few months before his arrest) organized an international movement for his release, traveling the world and talking to Presidents and Prime Ministers about his situation.
The book is about how he managed to survive, and more importantly how he managed to maintain his beliefs and his dignity. How he was able to study the book of Psalms his wife gave him, the fights to simply get her picture back, and the agony of knowing that simply stating the truth of the Soviet system would keep him from seeing his mother and brother for another 6 months or year.
What struck me while reading this book more than anything else was the responsibility that I feel towards Israel. He spent a decade in jail, dropping from 150 to as low as 75 lbs at one point during a hunger strike, often being put in solitary confinement without a jacket for weeks when it was below freezing. And yet I am here not just without any physical pain but with help. I was given a grant to come here, I live in a comfortable apartment and I have never been restricted in talking about the good and bad of Israel or the United States.
That it is so easy for me to be here and fully experience and participate in life here makes me think that I absolutely must do things to be worthy of my luck.
Israel is far from a perfect place; across the political spectrum people find faults. But it is also wonderful in its own way and full of people not just willing to help but who will go out of their way to make life better for you. It has been almost 4 months since I arrived and thanks to my job at the Israel Democracy Institute I feel like I am really starting to do things which might have some impact on Israeli society, making it closer to the ideal vision I have for it.
I also know that when I head back to the US in a month I can't just leave Israel behind. I can't just say "that was a great experience I am glad I did it." No, I must use my luck of coming here freely and not after years of torture and continue advocating for Israel and even more importantly for what I believe Israel can and should be. If he could do it from jail, shouldn't I be willing to do it from my couch?
Sharansky always knew he was Jewish, but in Soviet Russia there was an effort to eliminate all national and religious identities. At the same time, Jews faced very real Antisemitism, sometimes from individuals and all too often from restrictions and caps on Jewish enrollment in schools and jobs. As he grew more and more aware of his identity he applied for an exit visa, but was denied. After this, he became increasingly active in public protests; helping inform Western journalists of the terrible human rights conditions faced by ethnic minorities and religious people. Eventually he was accused of spying for the US and arrested. He spent over a year being interrogated and then from 1978 to 1986 suffered through mental and physical torture, a near starvation diet at times and extreme KGB pressure on him and his family. Through it all his wife (who was able to leave for Israel just a few months before his arrest) organized an international movement for his release, traveling the world and talking to Presidents and Prime Ministers about his situation.
Avital meeting with Reagan and Bush in 1982.
The book is about how he managed to survive, and more importantly how he managed to maintain his beliefs and his dignity. How he was able to study the book of Psalms his wife gave him, the fights to simply get her picture back, and the agony of knowing that simply stating the truth of the Soviet system would keep him from seeing his mother and brother for another 6 months or year.
On his release in Berlin he was told to walk straight. He immediately walked in a zig-zag towards freedom.
What struck me while reading this book more than anything else was the responsibility that I feel towards Israel. He spent a decade in jail, dropping from 150 to as low as 75 lbs at one point during a hunger strike, often being put in solitary confinement without a jacket for weeks when it was below freezing. And yet I am here not just without any physical pain but with help. I was given a grant to come here, I live in a comfortable apartment and I have never been restricted in talking about the good and bad of Israel or the United States.
That it is so easy for me to be here and fully experience and participate in life here makes me think that I absolutely must do things to be worthy of my luck.
Israel is far from a perfect place; across the political spectrum people find faults. But it is also wonderful in its own way and full of people not just willing to help but who will go out of their way to make life better for you. It has been almost 4 months since I arrived and thanks to my job at the Israel Democracy Institute I feel like I am really starting to do things which might have some impact on Israeli society, making it closer to the ideal vision I have for it.
I also know that when I head back to the US in a month I can't just leave Israel behind. I can't just say "that was a great experience I am glad I did it." No, I must use my luck of coming here freely and not after years of torture and continue advocating for Israel and even more importantly for what I believe Israel can and should be. If he could do it from jail, shouldn't I be willing to do it from my couch?
