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The Soviet Refusenik Movement – Analysis of a Social Justice Movement

Updated: 5 hours ago


Grade Level: 7-12
Duration of video 1: 2 minutes, 51 seconds
Duration of video 2: 10 minutes, 24 seconds
Themes: Advocacy • Civil Rights • Global Solidarity • Government Action • Media Influence





Supporters at a 1983 rally on Simḥat Torah protest in solidarity with Soviet Jews, part of the global Refusenik Movement demanding the right to emigrate from the USSR.

Photo: Center for Jewish History / American Jewish Historical Society – “Soviet Jewry rally on Simḥat Torah, 1983,” no known copyright restrictions (via Wikimedia Commons).


Description:


In this lesson, students will explore the Soviet Jewry Freedom Movement through two powerful videos: U.S. Representative John Lewis Speaking for Soviet Jews (1987) and The Soviet Freedom Movement (Unpacked). By examining this historical social justice movement, students will gain insight into the broader themes of advocacy, solidarity, and global human rights. Using a set of 10 criteria, students will critically analyze the movement’s structure, impact, and legacy, applying these same tools to better understand other social justice efforts as well.



Lesson Plan:


🎯 OBJECTIVES (SWBAT):

  • Read about, discuss, watch videos, and answer questions about what the Soviet Refusenik Movement was and why it mattered.

  • Discuss how individuals and groups across the world supported Soviet Jews.

  • Analyze the movement using 10 key criteria for evaluating a social justice movement.

  • Collaborate with a partner to deepen understanding through discussion and writing.


🧰 MATERIALS:


📋 LESSON FLOW


  1. Warm-Up / Do Now:

    • Prompt: Write the question below on the board:

      “What does freedom mean to you?”

    • Ask students to:

      • Reflect silently in a journal or on paper

      • OR discuss briefly with a partner

    • Introduce Vocabulary:

      • Refusenik – someone denied permission to emigrate from the Soviet Union

      • Emigrate – to leave one’s country to live in another

      Tell Students:

      “Today, we are going to learn about an important social justice movement in world history: The Soviet Refusenik Movement.”


  1. Video 1: US Representative John Lewis Speaking for Soviet Jews (1987) (2:51):

    • Before watching – ask students:

      “Why do you think a member of the U.S. Congress would speak out about human rights in another country?”

    • Show Video 1: Rep. John Lewis Speaking for Soviet Jews (1987) (2:51)

    • After Viewing – Discuss:

      “What values or ideas did U.S. Representative Lewis believe in that made him want to help Soviet Jews, even though they didn’t live in the United States?”


  1. Video 2: The Soviet Jewry Freedom Movement (Unpacked) (10:24): Teacher says:

    • Before watching – ask students:

      "How would you feel if you wanted to leave your country to seek religious freedom, but your government not only refused to let you go, but also punished you even more for trying to leave?"

    • Show Video 2: The Soviet Jewry Freedom Movement (Unpacked) (10:24)


  2. Partner Activity – Student Worksheet 1: Short History + 4 Video Questions

    After watching both videos, students will work with the person sitting next to them to complete Student Worksheet 1: Short History + 4 Video Questions.

    This promotes peer discussion and strengthens understanding before moving into the critical thinking activity.


  3. Reunite as a class and discuss the answers to these written questions.

  4. Social Justice Movement Analysis – Student Worksheet 2: 10-Question Movement Analysis Chart


  5. Whole-Class Discussion / Debrief

    • Reunite the class:

    • Discuss:

      • Was this a fair and peaceful movement? What evidence did you use to arrive at your answer?

      • What made it a powerful movement?

      • How is it similar or different from other social justice movements today?


  6. Exit Ticket / Homework Options: 

    • Option A – Reflection Paragraph:

      Was the Soviet Refusenik Movement a fair and just social justice movement? Use at least 2 of the 10 questions from Student Worksheet 2: 10-Question Movement Analysis Chart to explain your answer.

    • Option B – Creative Poster or Google Slide: Design a visual poster or slide with:

      • What the movement wanted

      • Why it mattered

      • A quote or idea from the videos

  7. Further Study: Analyzing Other Historical Movements: 

    Teach the following lessons about other historical movements, where students will analyze each movement using the 10 criteria:





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All materials on this website are available for educational use under Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Educators may download and share the content with attribution, for non-commercial use and instructional purposes, and without modification. Embedding any materials within any website-whether educational, institutional, public, or private-is prohibited without prior written consent of Balanced Learning Resources. Unauthorized embedding or redistribution may violate copyright and licensing terms.


©  2025
All materials on this website are available for educational use under Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Educators may download and share the content with attribution, for non-commercial use and instructional purposes, and without modification. Embedding any materials within any website-whether educational, institutional, public, or private-is prohibited without prior written consent of Balanced Learning Resources. Unauthorized embedding or redistribution may violate copyright and licensing terms.

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