This collection of essays investigates the complex socio-political status and cultural evolution of the Jewish population within the Soviet Union from the 1917 Revolution through the late 1970s. Edited by Lionel Kochan, the volume compiles contributions from various scholars to analyze how state policies, shifting ideological frameworks, and geopolitical pressures influenced Jewish identity, religious practice, and communal survival under the Soviet regime.

Scholars and historians frequently cite this work as a foundational academic resource for understanding the institutional challenges faced by Soviet Jewry. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a rigorous reference for students of 20th-century Russian history.