Embedded Files
The Jewish Autonomous Region (JAR), popularly known as Birobidzhan, was established in 1934 in Siberia, over 5,000 away from Moscow and along the Chinese border. The "Siberian Zion" served as the first modern Jewish homeland, predating Israel by 14 years.
It was established in accordance with the Stalin's nationality policies with the conviction that Soviet Jews should be provided a territorial homeland. It many purposes and benefits to the Soviet state. It aimed to counter Zionism, a movement that sought for the reestablishment of the Jewish ancestral homeland. According to Vitale, "The Soviet political class hoped to create an alternative to Palestine by fostering the development of a secular, non-religious Jewish culture based on the Yiddish language and the principles of socialism,". The Soviet state sought to counter religious Judaism in the JAR as well, hoping to create an atheist version. It also served as a strategic buffer against Chinese and Japanese expansion. With Russia and the Soviet Unions deep-rooted antisemitism, it also provided an opportunity to exile Jews. Some historians believe the project was tainted with antisemitism from the beginning, with the Soviet state "creating a “dumping ground” for Jews thousands of miles from any areas where they had traditionally lived and in terrain that was miserably difficult for human habitation," (Walker).
Location of Birobidzhan.
Soviet Propaganda
The Soviet state had many different methods of encouraging Soviet Jews to settle in the JAR. They used slogans like "To the Jewish Homeland!" that drew Soviet Jews to Birobidzhan with hopes of establishing a Jewish society where they could be surrounded by their distinct culture. Most strikingly, they utilized propaganda in order to encourage Jews to relocate to Birobidzhan.
In the propaganda poster to the left, "Build Socialist Birobidzhan" is written across the red banner. This poster shows the Soviet states intention to create a socialist Jewish territory, inviting Soviet Jews to be a part of its establishment and development. It also says "Strengthen the great achievements of Lenin's nationalist policy", relating it to the broader Soviet nationality policies. This poster was created by the OZET, the Society for Settling Toiling Jews on the Land, which facilitated the migration of Soviet Jews to agricultural settlements, like Birobidzhan.
The visual elements include industrial development and agricultural workers. The industrial imagery symbolizes modernization and industrial power while the agricultural imagery shows their goal of making Jews into productive farmers under socialism. It also features smiling, hopeful Jewish settlers.
This poster promotes a Jewish socialist utopia where they could benefit from industrial and agricultural developments and cultural autonomy while remaining within a socialist framework.
This pamphlet cover was created by IKOR, the Organization for Jewish Colonization in Russia, titled the "IKOR Pro-Birobidzhan Souvenir". It is written almost entirely in Yiddish, appealing specifically to Soviet Jews.
In the center it reads "Onward to our future! Jewish Soviet National Territory!", affirming the vision for Birobidzhan to serve as a homeland for Soviet Jews. The bottom caption says "Long live the land where national oppression is no longer possible!". This promises that Birobidzhan will be a place where Jews will not experience national oppression.
This propaganda poster utilizes classic Soviet symbolism, with a red star and hammer and sickle, showing its socialist intentions. The man planting the flag represents the establishment and foundation-building of Birobidzhan. The blueprints indicate construction and innovation, showing that Birobidzhan is moving toward modernization.
This poster aims to inspire Soviet Jews to see Birobidzhan as their homeland and a place where they could be free of oppression.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse