Tue Feb 18th, 2025

Eduard Kuznetsov, a prominent figure in Soviet Judaism, has passed away

January 7, 2025 ,

by Dr. Israel Jamitovsky

Eduard Kuznetsov, a true figure and symbol of the memorable struggle waged by Soviet Jewry in the last century for its religious and cultural freedom, and especially in its desire to leave the Soviet Union of that time and ascend to Israel, recently passed away in Israel. Beyond the historical justice that comes with reviewing and evoking his career, it is certainly an excellent opportunity to make it known to the new generations of Jews and gentiles interested in the Jewish problem.

Kuznetsov was born in Moscow in 1939, but in 1941 his father was enlisted in the Soviet Army, so he was raised by his mother. He studied philosophy at Moscow State University. While he was studying at university, he was directly involved in various literary publications that circulated underground, such as Syntax y Boomerang and actively collaborated in the edition of the Poetic Anthology Phoenix

But in the Soviet Union, everything had its limits. In 1961, Kuznetsov was arrested for participating in literary events with a clear political and protest theme, which were held periodically in Mayakovsky Square in central Moscow and attended by leading figures of Soviet literature.Kuznetsov was sentenced to seven years in prison.

On June 15, 1970, Kuznetsov took part in an attempt worthy of a thriller. Since the Soviet authorities prevented him from leaving the USSR like so many other Jews, he led, along with Mark Dymshits and other Soviet Zionists, an attempt to seize an empty plane in Leningrad and head to Sweden, and finally to Israel. Among the figures who also participated in the event were fervent Zionists such as Yosef Mendelevich and Kuznetson's wife Sylvia Zamanson. Both Kuznetsov and Dymshits were sentenced to death by the Soviet authorities.

Coinciding with the Hanukkah holiday, the mobilization of world Jewry, protests and international pressure took place. On December 31, 1970, one day after the Hanukkah holiday ended, a kind of miracle occurred, as Mendelevich recently declared in an Israeli weekly, with the sentences initially imposed on Jewish and Zionist dissidents being considerably reduced, namely:

 1) Kuznetsov and Dymishits were sentenced to fifteen years in prison.

2) Yosef Mendelevich to twelve years in prison.

3) Silvia Zalmanson to ten years in prison.

Furthermore, from the beginning of 1971, Silent Judaism began to gain momentum, and in that same year 12.500 Jews received visas to emigrate, a significant figure, given that in the past only a very small number of Jews were able to do so. In 1973, 30.000 Jews left the USSR, and in 1974, 35.000 did the same.

On a personal level, this process was also felt. In 1974, Silvia Zalmanson was released as part of a prisoner exchange that benefited the USSR and was promoted to Israel. In turn, in 1981, after being imprisoned for almost 11 years, Yosef Mendelevich was released and that same year almost 200.000 Jews received the relevant authorization to leave the USSR. Finally, in 1979, Eduard Kuznetsov and Mark Dymshits were released after being subjected to nine years of imprisonment together with the Baptist preacher Georgi Vins, the writer Alexander Ginzburg and the Ukrainian nationalist leader Valentyn Moroz in the framework of an exchange with two Soviet spies arrested in the United States. Once released, Kuznetsov immediately ascended to Israel. It was the victory of the so-called Silent Judaism, that of the few against the many.

                   Important journalistic deployment

Kuznetzov married Sylvia Zalmanson, they had a daughter, but years later the couple divorced. Later Kuznetzov married Larisa Gershtein, an activist in the cause and problems of Soviet Jews, and they lived near Jerusalem.

His journalistic career includes heading the News Department of Radio Liberty in Berlin from 1983 to 1990. In 1991 he was director of the Russian-Israeli daily Vermia But faced with working conditions that they considered inappropriate, together with other journalists they founded the Israeli-Russian daily Vesti(News), is its director, making it the most widely read daily among Russian-speaking migrants living in Israel. In 1999 he also directed the daily Mig News and between 2003-2007 he did the same in a literary and artistic publication called Note.

He was also a member of the Gratitude Fund, an organization that aims to financially support former Soviet dissidents.

                  Testimonies of his strength and courage

Kuznetzov is a member of the PEN CLUB and his works have had a wide impact in Europe. He is the author of four volumes, namely:

  • Prison Diary written in prison in 1973 and secretly brought to the West. In 1974, this volume won the Gulliver Prize in France for the best book written by a foreign author.
  • I am an Israeli citizen, outlined in 1975 and also secretly conveyed to the West.
  • The Mordovian Marathon  written in 1980.
  • Russian Romance released in 1984. The various books were translated into several languages
  • It should also be noted that Kuznetsov participated in the television series and documentary entitled Free choice   and in 2018, he was awarded the Prize Lifetime contribution Awarded by Israel's Channel 9 television for his significant contribution to Russian-language journalism in Israel.

He died in Jerusalem on December 22, 2024 at the age of 85. Like few others, he was an example of unparalleled commitment, courage and bravery.

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