Ukrainian human rights activist to speak on antisemitism, Russia
“It’s very important — not only for Jews. What starts with the Jews never finishes with the Jews. That’s why those on the left and the right have to fight against this phenomenon.” Natan Sharansky
A Ukrainian human rights activist once accused of being a U.S. spy will discuss the war with Russia and rising antisemitism Tuesday at Trinity University.
The Chabad Center for Jewish Life & Learning will present “A Historic Evening with Natan Sharansky” as its annual L’chaim event. The event, honoring the Soviet dissident, will take place at 7 p.m. in Laurie Auditorium. General admission is $25; a student ticket is $10. For information and to buy tickets, go to www.chabadsa.com.
Sharansky, born in Donetsk, Ukraine, in 1948, fought for the right of Soviet Jews to emigrate to Israel. After graduating from the Physical-technical Institute in Moscow, he became active in the Zionist and human rights movements. When he applied for an exit visa to Israel, his application was denied for security reasons.
In 1977, he was arrested on treason charges after allegations of being a U.S. spy. A Soviet court found him guilty, and he was imprisoned in a Soviet jail and gulags for nine years of hard labor and solitary confinement. International pressure led to his release on Feb. 11, 1986.
He emigrated to Israel, where Sharansky helped Soviet Jews integrate into Israeli society. As an Israeli politician, he served as minister and deputy prime minister in four governments. Sharansky is chairman of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy.
The human rights activist has written several books, including his memoir “Fear No Evil,” and “Never Alone: Prison, Politics, and My People.” He received the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1986 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006.
Rabbi Chaim Block, senior rabbi and executive director of the Chabad Center, said it’s an honor and privilege for San Antonio to host a person of “stature, depth and achievement.”
“We’re looking forward to hearing his insights into how he brings his experience to inform modern-day challenges and issues,” Block said. “It’s an event not to miss.”
Sharansky said he would share two important lessons with the audience.
“First of all, to remind ourselves, the Jewish people, that when we are united, we are very strong,” he said. “We defeated the most powerful empire of the world, brought down the Iron Curtain, and millions of Jews left for freedom.”
His second lesson will explore the ideology of communism and the undermining of freedom in society.
Sharansky said it’s been very alarming to see the rise of antisemitic incidents in Europe and the United States.
“It’s very important — not only for Jews,” he said. “What starts with the Jews never finishes with the Jews. That’s why those on the left and the right have to fight against this phenomenon.”
A centerpiece of his talk will revolve around the war between Russia and the land of his birth.
“The brutal attack on Ukraine should alarm all of us,” Sharansky said, “and the effort of Russian leaders to restore the Russian empire and change the rules, which the free world has built. It’s very important that the free world should be united in helping Ukraine fight against this danger.”