A gripping compilation of oral histories of over 100 Jews who lived under Soviet oppression and made the difficult choice to leave the “workers paradise” to pursue freedom. They were ordinary people who made an extraordinary decision to defy government control, ubiquitous propaganda, and pervasive antisemitism, to seek a better future and freedom from oppression. Their stories, combined with a historical narrative, form an amazing, and now often-overlooked, tapestry of Jewish experience in the Soviet Union in the two decades before the country fell apart.
Book Reviews
What readers say about our books
They Were Fighters is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to understand the history of Jewish immigration from the Soviet Union to the United States in the 1970s and 1980s. It also provides a broader perspective on Jewish history, making it a must-read for those interested in the resilience and struggles of this community.
Through a powerful combination of the author’s narration and firsthand accounts from immigrants, the book paints a deeply moving portrait of the nearly one million Soviet Jews who left everything behind in pursuit of freedom. These stories vividly capture the life-altering challenges and triumphs of their journey, resonating with themes of sacrifice, courage, and hope.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in history, sociology, or the timeless struggle for freedom and dignity.
Galina Cherny
The author did an excellent job compiling historical information for this book and organizing it in a very effective way for reading and understanding the key points. It’s a must read for understanding what drove thousands of Jews out of the former Soviet Union. Younger generations need to read this book to understand why their parents and grandparents took such enormous risks to free themselves and their families from the evils of USSR.
Dmitry Litvak
Yanina Kisler’s book is a must read for students or anyone interested in Russian/Soviet life, history and politics. Detailed historical research along with personal accounts paint vivid images of life as it was experienced on a daily basis under socialist and communist rule and the antisemitism that it engendered. True life stories of courage, strength and survival by Jews who found a way to emigrate out of dire circumstances and at their own peril, provide a sobering picture and a wake up call to all generations, so that the horrors of past history will not be repeated ever again. An eye-opening book!
Lisa T.
Authors
Our authors are at the heart of Elevator Pitch Publishing.
Author
They Were Fighters
Yanina Kisler emigrated with her parents from the Soviet Union to the United States in 1978. She has a Master’s degree from MIT and worked as an electrical engineer for 35 years. She and her husband have two daughters and three grandchildren.
Yanina’s ProfilePresentations
Yanina has presented material from her book at venues in the Boston area. At well-attended talks sponsored by Shaloh House in Brighton and Cary Library in Lexington, she explained the historical trends and movements that led to the concentration of Jews in Eastern Europe that came under Soviet oppression, and she presented the personal stories of the people who risked all that they had to leave the Soviet Union and find freedom in the West.
PAST TALKS
Shaloh House – March 17
Cary Library – April 10
FUTURE TALKS
Planning for future talks is underway for the Boston area and for Philadelphia.
Contact us
We are happy to hear your ideas about your own book or your thoughts about books were have already published. Please email us at yanina.kisler@elevatorpitchpublishing.com