ABSTRACT
It was in the Russian Empire that all the modern Jewish political movements and ideologies— several variants of Zionism, Bundism, territorialism, Yiddishism— emerged. The Evsektsii assumed the lead in making the "revolution on the Jewish street". Acknowledging that among Jews there was still little genuine support for Bolshevik ideals and programs, Evsektsii activists were determined to "revolutionize" the Jewish population by destroying the institutions and uprooting the traditional values of Jewish society. Soviet historiography generally downplayed or ignored the Holocaust of Soviet Jewry, though no consistent line was followed. During the "Black Years", 1948– 1952, what was left of Yiddish culture and institutions was destroyed, along with any remaining illusions about the benevolence toward the Jews of the Soviet government and Communist Party. Perestroika allowed the formation of "informal" organizations— those not sponsored by the government or Party— and many nationalities began organizing "people's fronts" and cultural organizations.
