The Six-Day War: Perception within the USSR
The Six-Day War of 1967 awakened the national consciousness / national identity of Soviet Jews. The work on the project presumes research at the libraries and archives, interviews with contemporaries, both in Russia and abroad. A book will result the work on the project. Our study will provide a first panoramic overview of reactions to the Six-Day War. A book will be published based on the results of the work.
The Six-Day War of 1967 awakened the national consciousness / national identity of Soviet Jews. In the Soviet Union, emerged perhaps the most notable independent movement in terms of numbers and effectiveness. It was dominated by refuseniks – people who aspired to Aliyah to Israel. The leaders of the refuseniks have a leading role in shaping the historical narrative about the perception of Israel's victory in the USSR. The range of responses to the Six-Day War was much wider. The victory of Israel, like a flash of lightning, highlighted both the self-reflection of Jews and the attitude towards Jews. Our study will provide a first panoramic overview of reactions to the Six-Day War.
The work on the project presumes research at the libraries and archives, interviews with contemporaries, both in Russia and abroad. A solid body of sources will be a good basis for a documentary book. The historical collection will reveal the impact of Israel's victory on the most diverse strata of society and will show a wide repertoire of responses – public and non-public.
Project leader – Dr. Semyon Charny.
Photo: A protest rally against the "Israeli aggression" in Moscow in June 1967 (source – The State Central Museum of Modern History of Russia).