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Sharansky Inspires Audience at WFHA

By Michael Feldstein

Natan Sharansky, who inspired a generation of Jews to fight for his release as a prisoner of conscience in Russia, spoke to a large group of area residents at Westchester Fairfield Hebrew Academy, encouraging them to always remember their identity.

"No one can take away your identity," Sharansky reminded the audience of about 125 people. "It's even more important than your physical life."

Sharansky, who lives in Jerusalem with his wife Avital, recently wrote the book, "Defending Identity: It's Indispensable Role in Protecting Democracy," which served as the platform for his talk on December 1.

The event, hosted by WFHA and held on the school's Lake Avenue campus, included a cocktail reception, a selection of music by the Motyl Chamber Ensemble, and a dessert reception.

"A couple of years ago I visited college campuses across America," Sharansky said. "I would often hear people ask the following question: As a Jew who wants to be moral, wouldn't it be better if Israel did not exist? Why do I have to connect myself to Israel? It's easier to simply be a light unto the nations.

"I reminded these people what it was like before Israel existed, and how difficult it was for Jews to maintain their identity. Many young Jews don't appreciate that, and take their Jewish identity for granted."

Sharansky shared his feelings about working for freedom in the world, versus working for the identity of his people. "I never felt a contradiction," said Sharansky. "I was personally deprived of both my freedom and my identity, and then was fortunate to reclaim them together."

He also recounted the struggles of living in Russia, especially when he was faced with the prospect of "double-think," where one was forced to say one thing publicly, but believe something else. "It was very uncomfortable," Sharansky said. "Life was predefined. To a small extent I was able to escape into the ivory tower of science. However, I still experienced a feeling of helplessness."

That changed after the Six Day War. "Suddenly we became more connected to Israel," he said. "We began to study the history and culture of the Jewish people underground. I suddenly understood that we were part of a tradition that goes back thousands of years, and it gave us a newfound hope. It gave us the strength to break down the wall of double-think, and I felt a sense of relief that I suddenly had an identity and that I could say what I really wanted to say."

Although his freedom and identity came together and was strengthened at this time, he was later accused of high treason by the Russian government, and placed into prison. "Once I had an identity," said Sharansky, I realized that there are things that are even more important than your physical survival. Your identity is bigger than your life, because it gives meaning to your existence. It gave me the courage to resist the KGB in my own struggle for freedom."

Sharansky explained this on a societal level, too. "When you have a society that becomes multi-cultured and anti-nationalistic, it loses its identity-and it will be less likely to promote freedom. Sometimes, though, a society encourages identity. For example, in the American Revolution, a person's identity was protected. The fight did not discourage individuals from having their own identity. And it's still true. I believe that if you want to be a good American, you better be a good Jew."

Sharansky was inspired by the 1987 rally in Washington, DC, on behalf of Soviet Jews, in which a quarter of a million people attended. "I spoke to non-Jewish congressmen after the rally, who told me that they greatly admired Jews for standing up and fighting for the freedom of Soviet Jews."

As for Israel, Sharansky believes that the only way to keep Israel a democratic state is to keep its Jewish identity strong. "Israel is where the history of our people will be made."