The Wende Museum’s Robin Center for Russian-Speaking Jewry – an initiative envisioned and funded by the Peggy and Edward Robin Family Foundation – is pleased to invite the public to a weekend of thought-provoking programs on January 25 and 26, 2025, dedicated to the history of Soviet Jewry, resistance movements, and the cultural revival sparked by underground publishing efforts in the Soviet Union. As the events of the Soviet Jewry movement transition from recent memory to recorded history, this is a pivotal time – a “Wende moment” – to shape the course of future scholarship of Soviet Jewry and to ensure that the significant contributions and experiences of those who led and guided the movement are preserved and accurately represented in historical narratives. Launched at the Wende Museum in 2021, the Robin Center for Russian-Speaking Jewry works to deepen and expand awareness of the history of Russian-speaking Jews, Jews who lived in the Soviet Union, and the Refusenik movement through digitization, public partnership, acquisition of at-risk collections, and sustained, dynamic programming with an emphasis on engagement with archival materials through artmaking workshops and educational activities. With support from the Koum Family Foundation, the Wende is engaged in an unparalleled comprehensive, interdisciplinary project to illuminate this history for current audiences through public and educational programs. To further these efforts, the Meyer & Renee Luskin Public History Program at the Wende Museum presents “Voices of Defiance: Soviet Jewry and the Refuseniks,” a one-day symposium dedicated to the examination of the resistance movements of American and Soviet Jews during the Cold War period and reflection on the enduring legacy of the Soviet Jewry activist movement. Convening esteemed scholars, students, community members, and key historical figures, the event will take stock of the movement and assess and possibly shape the direction of scholarship of a history that defined a generation of Jewish life globally and contribute to a celebration of its legacy. RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/voices-of-defiance-soviet-jewry-and-the-refuseniks-tickets-1089286748989?aff=mailchimp&mc_cid=1d68e5fd4c&mc_eid=b21b990baf Full Schedule: 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Registration and Welcome Reception 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM: Opening Remarks - Setting the Stage for the Symposium Speakers: Justin Jampol and Richard Robin 9:15 AM - 9:45 AM: Keynote Address – “My Fight for Russian-Speaking Jewry: Past, Present, Forever” Speaker: Zev Yaroslavsky 9:45 AM - 11:00 AM: Panel Discussion #1 Topic: Refuseniks and Activists (USSR) This panel will be a platform for the personal stories of resistance, struggle, and triumph in the face of Soviet repression by Jews living in the USSR. Together, they will discuss the efforts within the Soviet Union that helped secure the freedom of Soviet Jewry and the lasting impact of this movement on human rights advocacy. Speakers: Alexander Smukler, Marina Furman, Dr. Gennady Estraikh Moderator: Dr. Shaul Kelner 11:00 AM - 11:15 AM: Morning Break 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM: Panel Discussion #2 Topic: Jewish Leaders in the Free Soviet Jewry Movement (USA) This panel will bring together American activists who played key roles in the Soviet Jewry movement. Demonstrating transnational solidarity through coordination with Refuseniks, aid travel to the USSR, and organizing pressure campaigns against US politicians, these leaders played an outsized role in amplifying the cause of Soviet Jews and setting a powerful precedent for grassroots activism in human rights movements globally. Speakers: Frank Brodsky, Alan H. Molod, Morey Shapira Moderator: David Waksberg 12:30 PM - 1:45 PM: Lunch Break Details: Kosher food trucks in the sculpture garden with fireside and fountain-side seating Location: Victor Family Garden Terrace 1:45 pm - 2:15 pm Special Presentation Topic: Unveiling a New Global Research Portal Presenters: Julie Chervinsky and Dr. Brandon Schechter (Blavatnik Archives) 2:15 PM - 3:30 PM: Panel Discussion #3 Topic: Researching the Past: Opportunities and Obstacles to Providing Access to Scholars and Students This panel will address the experiences of leading academics and institutional leaders in accessing and studying artifacts and archives of Soviet Jewry and the related activist movement. Discussions will highlight efforts made with available archival material, alongside reflections on challenges like restricted access and preservation concerns. The panel aims to give insight into ways these materials can be made more accessible for scholars and students in order to expand and deepen our knowledge of the movement and to draw connections between the past and the present. Speakers: Dr. Ann Komaromi, Dr. Michael Beizer, Dr. Elissa Bemporad, Dr. Nadia Iermakov Moderator: Dr. David N. Myers 3:30 PM - 3:45 PM: Afternoon Break 3:45 PM - 4:30 PM: Closing Remarks - “Where do we go from here?” Speaker: Mark B. Levin 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Sunset Reception in the Garden Details: Light bites and vodka-infused cocktails for event attendees. Curated Jewish music by Dr. David MacFadyen (Professor of Musicology, Music Industry, and Comparative Literature, UCLA). Location: Victor Family Garden Terrace