Ephraim Kholmyansky

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Ephraim (Alexander) Kholmyansky (b. in 1950 in Moscow) – refusenik, activist of Jewish revival movement in Russia, teacher of Hebrew, Prisoner of Zion.

[edit] Biography

Ephraim Kholmyansky
Ephraim Kholmyansky

Kholmyansky was interested in Jewish revival and first of all learning of Hebrew. Gradually became a prominent Hebrew teacher in 1980-s in the USSR and headed the clandestine network of Hebrew teachers uniting different cities in the USSR. At the peak of its activities the network was active in 20 cities of USSR. KGB started a close follow up and arrested Kholmyansky in The Soviet Estonia in 1984. While Kholmyansky was in preliminary confinement, KGB made a home search in his Moscow apartment. KGB claimed to recover a shotgun during the search, but it is widely believed that it was a frame up. During the following criminal investigation, however, the accusation of keeping weapon illegally was dropped, leaving ammunition only. The accused declared an unlimited hunger strike, that he continued also after he was sentenced. When Kholmyansky was hospitalized to the prison hospital, his weight was 42.5 kilos (he is 177 cm tall). He was force-fed, spend a lot of time in the special punishment cell. Many believe that it was due to Kholmyansky’s staunch struggle that he received a relatively short imprisonment term – 1.5 years. Some time after serving his term Kholmyansky was granted visa to Israel, where he arrived with his family. State secretary George P. Shultz, three senators (including Ted Kennedy), ten US congressmen, Margaret Thatcher, Bob Hawke and other public figures took part in the struggle to free Kholmyansky. His case may be seen as a valuable historic document about the struggle for human rights in the USSR in the period of Brezhnev stagnation. Kholmyansky lives with his wife and 5 children within Machanaim in Ma'ale Adumim, Israel.

[edit] References

  • “Refusenik”, documentary movie by Laura Bialis
  • "The Sound of Silence", memoir of Ephraim Kholmyansky (Russian: Эфраим Холмянский. Звучание тишины. — Иерусалим, 2007. При поддержке КЕРООР Hebrew: ק"ק מוסקבה‎)
  • Reuter 15.10.84 «Hebrew teacher force-fed in Soviet jail»
  • The New York Times, February 14, 1985 «Crime and punishment. The ordeal of a quiet Soviet Jew» by Anthony Lewis.
  • The New York Times, February 5, 1985 «Soviet said to sentence popular Hebrew teacher to labor camp» by Seth Mydans.
  • Washington Jewish Weekly 14.02.1985 «Kholmyansky Sentenced, Sharansky Ill»
  • Jerusalem Post 07.12.1984 «English bishop supports imprisoned Soviet Jew»
  • Enn Tarto. Estonian: Riigikogu liikme arupärimine
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