Shoah in Soviet lands film opens
The Mystery of the Black Book by Israeli director Boris Maftsir was presented in Moscow, Russia, at the International Film Festival for Creative Documentaries
A film about how and why the Soviets shelved the publication of a book detailing the murder of almost three million Jews under Nazi occupation has premiered.
The Mystery of the Black Book by Israeli director Boris Maftsir was presented in Moscow, Russia, at the International Film Festival for Creative Documentaries – ArtDocFest – on Saturday evening.
In October 1947, the ‘Black Book’ was due to hit Moscow bookshelves, but authorities halted publication, just as leader Josef Stalin was beginning to purge state institutions of Jews in senior positions.
Over 500 pages compiled by famous Soviet writers Ilya Erenburg and Vasily Grossman in 1944, horrific instances are documented such as how hundreds of bodies were “thrown into cesspits like puppies” with “children thrown alive into pits” but Soviet authorities did not want it published as it did not fit the official narrative, summed up as: we all suffered, we were all victorious.”
“The veil of silence over the Holocaust in the Soviet Union remains an especially tragic chapter in the history of Jews, one that has still not been fully reflected on, and studied,” said Ilia Salita, president and CEO of Genesis Philanthropy Group, which supported the film’s production.
“This film has tremendous educational potential, not just for the young but for those who didn’t have a chance to learn about their own history.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
