Exodus by Leon Uris had a far-reaching effect on Soviet Jews. In this book, many of us encountered for the first time a positive image of Jews — warriors, rather than helpless victims. Uris’s characters aroused strong feelings of affinity and inspired national pride.

The book was perfectly in tune with our own search for a renewed Jewish identity. We felt that our struggle was becoming an essential part of a sweeping historical process –- the ingathering of the exiles and the restoration of Jewish sovereignty in our ancient land.

A significant number of copies of Exodus were smuggled into the USSR over the years and made a profound impact on the hearts and minds of thousands of Soviet Jews.