Yosef Mendelevich was born in Riga, Latvia in 1947. He lived through extreme anti-Semitism and saw his father arrested. Although the situation was difficult, Mendelevich fought back. He secretly began to study Judaism and founded an underground organization to fight for Jewish rights. When his attempts to obtain an exit visa to immigrate to Israel were unsuccessful, he tried to hijack a plane to the West. This led to his arrest and a twelve-year sentence in the Gulag. Even in prison, he studied and observed the commandments, going on a hunger strike when his books were confiscated. With help from Jews around the world, Mendelevich was freed in 1981. He made aliyah and studied at various yeshivot to obtain rabbinic ordination. He also earned a master’s degree in Jewish history and served in the IDF. His efforts led to the mass immigration of Soviet Jews to Israel. Now a father and grandfather, he continues to be active in Jewish education and social action.
Nonfiction
Unbroken Spirit: A Heroic Story of Faith, Courage and Survival
- Review
By
– April 30, 2012
Barbara M. Bibel is a librarian at the Oakland Public Library in Oakland, CA; and at Congregation Netivot Shalom, Berkeley, CA.
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