In July 1978, the Soviet dissident Anatoly (Natan) Sharansky was sentenced in a Soviet court for the “crimes” of teaching Hebrew, seeking emigration to Israel, and being part of the human rights movement in Moscow. He was charged with treason and espionage and sentenced to 13 years in prison and hard-labor camps. At his sentencing, he delivered the moving “Speech to the Soviet Union.” In this seminar, students will do a close reading of Sharansky’s powerful address to the Soviet court, exploring the foundations of Sharansky’s Zionism, his unwavering commitment to human rights, and his enduring message of Jewish freedom that continues to resonate today.
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