This volume investigates the socio-political status and historical trajectory of the Jewish population within the Soviet Union from the 1917 Revolution through the late 1970s. Lionel Kochan, a noted historian of Jewish affairs, compiles a series of scholarly essays that examine the complex interplay between Soviet state policy, anti-Semitism, and the cultural identity of Russian Jews. The work utilizes a multi-disciplinary approach to analyze how the transition from the Tsarist regime to a socialist state fundamentally altered the legal and social standing of Jewish communities.

Scholars and historians frequently cite this collection as a foundational resource for understanding the institutional challenges faced by Soviet Jewry during the twentieth century. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which is tailored for researchers and students of Eastern European history.