Yosef Mendelevich - Leader of Soviet Jewry

Great Jewish Lives Series In the Soviet Union, believing in anything other than Communism was forbidden. Millions of people were jailed for holding onto their religion. Despite that, many Jews tried to keep whatever traditions they could, ignoring the dangers involved. Yosef Mendelevich had always known he was Jewish, but in the USSR, teaching about Judaism was against the law. So Yosef applied for permission to leave the Soviet Union and move to Israel. This began Yosef’s harrowing journey through labor camps and prisons. But no matter what happened, he never stopped teaching other Jews what it meant to be Jewish. And he held onto his belief that he would be saved one day. This is Yosef Mendelevich’s story. It’s the story of a man who risked his life to alert the world to the plight of the Soviet Jews. Leveled Reading: Level W / Grade 5-6 Pages: 128