I know many Ashkenazi Jews were originally Yiddish speaking, did Ashkenazi Jews in Russia speak Yiddish or Russian?
Or German, or Greek? I was looking at some beautiful Russian art, and I felt a little guilty liking it. I know there are lots of Russian Jews, but Soviet Russia and Aristocratic Russia did some terrible things to Jews in history.
I know Germany and Israel have some good relations these days. But Russia?
If yes, why is that so? I realise the reasons may be different for all three, so if you have knowledge in just one of the groups, still happy to hear.
Also, how did so many Germans end up living in Russia?
I know many Russian Jews who donβt consider themselves Russian but only as Jewish, and I wonder how Russians themselves see Russian Jews.
I know large numbers of Jews served in all of these armies, but how much prestige and authority could they earn? What was the furthest that Jews could advance in them?
I grew up in a Russian Jewish family, but we didnβt speak Russian all that much. My grandma always made lots of Russian dishes and showed me Soviet cartoons and Russian music, I would tell all my friends I was Russian, and I took a strong interest in learning the language. My ex, whom I dated for three years, was also Russian, and I admittedly wanted to have a big Russian wedding with all the traditional food.
As Iβve gotten older, Iβve become much more informed regarding Russiaβs antisemitic past and also the hatred towards us that still lingers there. Russia played a huge role in spreading the myths and vitriol that eventually lead to the Holocaust. The more Iβve learned about all this, the less I desire to even visit Russia or speak the language.
But I also feel like Iβm mourning a core part of my identity. I grew up without many Jews around, and honestly since my parents are from the Soviet Union they didnβt know all that much about Judaism. I always felt more Russian than Jewish. I love Russian food, Russian music, and its rich cultural history. But still, it is not exactly a safe or welcoming place for us jews.
Curious, how do you all feel about it?
How many Jews, Poles, Ukrainians, Roma, Russians, Serbs and other nations meant to be destroyed survived till 1962 across German controlled territories? Does the word "Jew" even have its proper meaning or now it is a term used just to insult somebody and picture him as the enemy of the Reich, because there are no real Jews left to opress? Can Poles even rise up against GG if most of them have been exterminated?
plus both kronstadt and makhnovian flags are in cyrillic so american right wingers cant read them and get mad and key ur car
Can anybody find this quote?
Not sure. But I think that I am not the only one. Sorry for the somewhat long text.
So, I'm forty in a couple of months. I have my own apartment. I have a loving wife. The sky is overhead. The sea and high mountains are a couple of kilometers from the house. But the soul is not calm. Why am I writing this here? I am the son of a Jew from Russia. For Russians I am a Jew, and for Jews I am Russian. And if you ask me about self-identification, then I'm just a person. I never thought about choosing a nationality. But oddly enough, although now the twenty-first century, society requires a person to determine who he is and to whom he belongs. I do not want. I feel uneasy and uncomfortable in both countries, in Russia and in Israel. In Russia because of the politics and the general situation of the country, because of the government. In Israel, because of the completely alien oriental way of life for me, because of the language that I cannot learn even at the level of the alphabet. Because of the snobbish attitude of many people I met. I do not want to remain a declassified element within a very narrow Russian-speaking community in the forty-five-degree heat. What to do? There was practically no strength left for socialization. Maybe someone has solved this question for themselves?
...is migrating to Israel after much paperwork and waiting.
At Moscow airport, customs found a statue of Lenin in his baggage and asked him, "What is this?"
The man replied, "What is this? Wrong question comrade. You should have asked: who is he? This is the most respected Comrade Lenin who laid the foundations of socialism and created the future and prosperity of the Russian people. I am taking him with me as a memory of our glorious days."
The Russian customs officer says, "my apologies, comrade, you may proceed".
At Tel Aviv, the customs officer asks, "What is this?"
He replies, "What is this? Wrong question Sir. You should be asking 'Who is this?' This is Lenin, the maker of socialism and made my life a living hell in Russia. I take this statue with me so I can spit on him every day."
The Israeli customs officer says, "I understand Sir, you can go on."
Once he arrives at his new house, he puts the statue on a table, and to celebrate his immigration, he invite his friends and relatives to dinner.
One of his friends asks him, "Who is this?"
He replies, "My dear friend, 'Who is this' is a wrong question. You should have asked, What is this? This is ten kilograms of solid gold that I managed to bring with me without customs and tax."
A Russian Jew had been allowed to emigrate to Israel.
At Moscow airport, customs found a Lenin statue in his baggage and asked him, "What is this?"
The man replied, "What is this? Wrong question comrade. You should have asked : Who is he? This is Comrade Lenin. He laid the foundations of socialism and created the future and prosperity of the Russian people. I am taking it with me as a memory of our hero days."
The Russian customs officer was a bit shamed and let him go without further inspection.
At Tel Aviv airport, the customs officer also asks our friend, "What is this?"
He replies, "What is this? Wrong question Sir. You should be asking 'Who is this?' This is Lenin, a bastard that made me, as a Jew leave Russia. I take this statue with me so I can curse him every day."
The Israeli customs officer said, "I apologize Sir, you can go on."
In Israel, when he arrives at his new house, he puts the statue on a table.
To celebrate his immigration, he invite his friends and relatives to dinner.
One of his friends asks him, "Who is this?"
He replies, "My dear friend, 'Who is this' is a wrong question. You should have asked, What is this? This is ten kilograms of solid gold that I managed to bring with me without customs and tax."
