In the 1920’s, the “Iron Curtain” descended, closing off the Soviet Union from Western Europe. The new regime tried to eliminate all vestiges of Jewish religious identity, turning much of the oppressed community into atheists. Under Stalin’s dictatorial, tyrannical rule, millions of Russians were murdered, and among them, unfortunately, many Jews. Stalin did not allow the Yidden to live a Jewish life. He forbade the practice of anything related to being a Jew, forcing Judaism and the observance of mitzvos to be practiced clandestinely.
Even after Stalin’s death in 1953, the policy of Jewish persecution continued, and it became clear to the rest of the Jewish world that the Soviet Jewish community was suffering a slow death of assimilation and, as some would call it, “spiritual strangulation.”
Fast forward a bit. In the middle of the ‘60’s, the Soviets issued a number of exit visas and many were given permission to leave. It seemed that perhaps a new, brighter era had dawned. But then in 1967, the Six Day War broke out, and diplomatic relations between Israel and the Soviet Union were broken off and the visas came to a screeching halt.
Following Israel’s miraculous victory, public activity for the Jews of the Soviet Union began, and in 1971, the first wave of immigrants from Russia arrived in Israel. As you are aware of the rest of the story, the USSR would eventually crumble and a full-fledged Jewish exodus would begin. There is much more to be said on the topic, but for the sake of enhancing the music at hand, we will do what we always do and leave a lot unsaid.
Now, if you are anywhere near my age, you may have had a classmate or two who were among the lucky few who escaped with some semblance of their Jewish identity still intact. Even if not, chances are you know the children of these immigrant survivors – if not also their brave parents and grandparents – who took the risk and withstood the ridicule in order to hold on to their very essence. I am still in awe of what they went through and what they had to overcome just to integrate and excel in their new environment.
As it pertains to the world of Jewish Music, the emotionally charged atmosphere that surrounded the Soviet situation inspired many well-known songs. For example, “The Little Bird,” “Am Yisroel Chai,” “Children of Silence,” “Hold On,” “Let My People Go,” and many more. One song that you may recognize is L’maan Yirbu by the uber-talented Heshy Walfish and his group The Messengers. This iconic tune was recorded on the group’s 1970 record appropriately titled Let My People Go and was especially dedicated to the plight of those Jews still trapped under Soviet reign.
{It is no wonder then, that in 1973, the masterminds behind the Jewish Education Program (JEP) music projects chose this tune for what would become the legendary song, “Dear Nikolai.” I might even suggest being so bold as to listen to one after the other to really bring home the flavor of today’s song – but I’ll leave that for you to decide.}
From the back of the record:
“Throughout his long and sometimes tortuous history, the Jew has given vent to his joys, sorrows, inspirations and failures through the flexible medium of music. There were the joyous songs of the Levites in the Bais Hamikdash and the melancholy melodies of those in galus. We today are also in galus, and although it may not be so evident to us here in America, to our brothers behind the “Iron Curtain” it is an all too obvious reality.
The Jews in Russia today have very little to connect them with their glorious past. Their religious freedom is restricted to the point of nonexistence. Fear of persecution prevents the young from learning all they want to about Judaism. They are, however, the driving force in Russian Jewry today. In songs recently smuggled out of the country, they have expressed this fear, anger and yearning to be free of the suffocating confines of the “Iron Curtain.”
In sympathy with our mistreated brethren, The Messengers would like to dedicate this, their second album, and particularly the song “L’maan Yirbu,” to Russian Jewry. May they live full, complete lives in the land that G-d promised them.”
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