The Scope of the Study

Abstract

The Jews of the former Soviet Union have frequently been the subject of intense controversy. Especially during the past two-and-a-half decades, a period which may be said to have begun with the Six Day War in the Middle East, they have provoked unprecedented attention. How many of them are there? How strongly do they identify themselves as Jews? How do their patterns of identification, belief and practice vary from one category of the population to the next? Will they leave or will they stay? If they leave, where will they go? What types of Jews are most likely to emigrate? How do they perceive antisemitism in their countries? Will they be persecuted or will they enjoy new freedoms? If the latter, will they undergo a cultural revival undreamed of under Communism or will they assimilate and cease to exist as a community? These are among the chief questions that have enlivened discussions of Jews in the republics now known as the Commonwealth of Independent States. They are the questions I examine here. They have sparked debate for intellectual reasons and because they have serious policy implications not only for the CIS countries but also for Israel, the United States and some other countries such as Germany.