1. Advance Planning

A. Macro

• A month or so before the weekend, the Rabbi or the President of the congregation should give a Dvar Torah, or a short explanation, about why and how the Soviet Jewry weekend will be marked. Congregants who were activists for Soviet Jewry, participated in demonstrations, wrote and received letters, or went on trips/visits to the Soviet Union during the 1970s or 1980s should be asked to come forward after the talk – for the purposes of exhibition material and further participation. Efforts should be made to find a former refusenik and ask him/her to participate in the program.

• Create an exhibition using the interviews from our Let My People Go website and the links provided, as well as what the congregants bring. You might concentrate on the struggle of the refuseniks or on what your community did for Soviet Jews or add the story of the mass Aliyah / mass emigration. Whatever way you tell the story – it is an amazing one.  We will be happy to add a few pictures if you need some.

2. Preparation for the Leil Shabbat Meal

1. Ask congregants who have a personal story to prepare a short (5-10 minutes) presentation.

2. Prepare and distribute bumper stickers to the activists (Am Israel Chai or similar).

3. You might want to have a typical Soviet  menu (including: herring, beet or cabbage soup, dark bread, instead of Challot, pickles, potato soup, boiled potatoes, Russian salad, eggs, cabbage, mushrooms, cheese…). Also, find out what Prisoners of Zion were given to eat and commemorate their courage by setting a place with those items. Someone familiar with the Soviet Union should also explain the poor food and health conditions and the problems of unemployment faced by Refuseniks.

4. Print a Shiron (songbook) with songs the refuseniks and/or Western activists used to sing (Kol Ha'olam Kulo; Od Avinu Chai - Am Israel Chai; Oseh Shalom Bimromav, Kachol Velavan, etc.)
Kol Ha'olam Kulo:
www.hebrewsongs.com/song-kolhaolamkulo.htm
www.shiron.net/songView.aspx?song_id=1708&singer_id=0&song_title=2932e7

Kachol VeLavan was composed in the USSR by Israel Rashal:
www.hebrewsongs.com/?song=kacholvelavan
www.shiron.net/songView.aspx?song_id=4312&singer_id=0&song_title=57ade

Tumbalalaika:
www.hebrewsongs.com/song-tumbalalaika.htm
Hebrew with chords
www.mp3music.co.il/tabs/10120.html  www.tab4u.com/songs/song?id=2748 

5. A class (older children or adults) can prepare some typical East European/Russian items such as: matryoshka dolls, or paper cuts, with images of Refuseniks, Prisoners of Zion, leading Israeli figures of the time, Let My People Go! banners…
See:
http://russian-crafts.com/nest/history.html
www.omanot.com/index_files/Page1011.htm
www.zygmuntfrankel.com/jewishpapercut1.html
www.artifolk.co.uk/catalog/products/full_craft_sets/house_of_crafts_russian_doll_painting_kit.htm
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwnwSl2qQpE

3. Shabbat Activities

A. Friday Night

After the meal, continue with one or more of the following activities, originally produced for Exodus, an educational kit about Soviet Jewry created in 1990-1991.
04-05: Jewish World Circles
06: Dilemmas
07-08: Suitcases

B. Shabbat Morning

Dvar Torah
During Shabbat Services, either the Rabbi or a person familiar with the subject, gives a Dvar Torah.
With the kind permission of Rabbi Reuven Hammer, we offer you a sample Dvar Torah.
09: Struggle for Jews Hammer
NB: If you choose Shabbatot such as Parshiot: Lech Lecha, Beshalach, Shemot, Vaera, Emor, Behar or Shlach Lecha, it is easier to find a Biblical link to Exodus and coming to Eretz Yisrael.
Nehama Leibowitz Iyunim [Studies] in Parshat Hashavua:
www.60israel.org/JewishAgency/English/Jewish+Education/Compelling+Content/Jewish+Time/
Jewish+Sources/Iyunum/

4. Motzei Shabbat (Saturday Night) or Sunday

A. Film and Discussion

1] Screen the film of your choice, e.g.:
Refusenik
      http://www.refusenikmovie.com/press.html
Let My People Go (Shlach et Ami)
In Hebrew only:
http://ecom.gov.il/IBAPirsum/ProductPage_en.aspx?product=30384&language=en-US
18 of 22 parts.
In English: 
http://ecom.gov.il/IBAPirsum/homepage_en.aspx?category=1&product=30385&language=en-US
[NB: Part 2 is about the Ingathering of Exiles, not only about the Soviet Jewish Exodus.]

2] Divide into groups.
Copies of interviews from the website can be distributed for people to read in relation to the film – one interviewee for each group.

B. Discussion Questions

[Also an option for a Shabbat afternoon discussion, i.e. before the film.]
• What is the difference between a Refusenik and a Prisoner of Zion?
•  What is the difference between between a dissident and an Aliyah activist?
• Why were some put in prison or exiled? Why others were expelled from the Soviet Union? 
• When, i.e., during what periods, was immigration allowed?
• What happened to Soviet Jewry after the Six Day War?
• Why was (the failed) hijacking of a plane in 1970 so important? What happened to those accused of the hijacking at the Leningrad Trials?
• Why does the film interview well-known congressmen, historians and politicians?
• Was there a wider aspect of the refusenik/ Aliyah/Human Rights movement that affected others, not just Jews?
• What means of action did the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry in the USA choose? What happened in other countries of the free world?
• Who were the real heroes or where there more than a certain group?
• How do you explain the fact that so many prominent politicians in the West were engaged and involved in actions to open the iron gates?

C. Alternative Program

[Also an option for a Shabbat afternoon discussion, i.e. before the film.]
1] Explore the history and modes of the struggle for Soviet Jewry in the West and the Soviet Union itself. Different ideas and modes of protest were created and they show evidence of a great deal of resourcefulness.
See: History and Resources on www.jewishagency.org/letmypeoplego 

2] Plan a demonstration for a worthwhile cause.
http://spider.mc.yu.edu/news/photogallery/photogallery_show.cfm?categoryID=8142

3] After the film and planning your demonstration, hold a "Prisoner of Zion" dinner. Find out what the prisoners ate and make the meal into a commemorative event.