The book is a collection of essays by individuals who were deeply involved in the process that resulted in the resettlemnt of over 1 million Soviet Jews in israel, the U.S. and elsewhere. The Soviet Jewry movement also changed the face of Jewish activism in the U.S. and brought to light the many different approaches to a controversial and tragic situation. The contributors to this collection range from Israeli government represntatives who advised caution and behind the scenes approach, to Jewish groups who propagated open resistance, mass protests and in some cases physical actiona against what they saw as Soviet antisemitism. Eventually, the many points of view, working sometinmes together and sometimes at cross purposes, achieved the apparently impossible - they defeated the Soviet superpower and forced it to change its monolithic policy which had kept its borders closed for five decades. This is a must read for anyone interested in understanding the multifaceted aspects of U.S. Jewry and the lessons in political activism that won this victory. I recommend it highly even though I quite disagree with some of the views expressed by those whom I opposed during my own deep involvement in this struggle.

This is probably one of the better books on this subject. It also depicts an excellent view on race relations in general.

Very specific in detail, this book traces the background of the early anti-semitism and racism against the Blacks that gave a new foundation for the Blacks and Jews to have an alliance.

Friedman has tons of sources, and I doubt anyone would question his tone in his message, which is mainly both sides were at fault in their break up and how unfairly people judge each other.

What this books lack is a certain mode of getting somewhere. The chapters are labeled in decades but Friedman jumps around too much and you lose your chronological train of though.

All in all, if you want to know "What Went Wrong," them this book is for you.