The Jewish Role in Bolshevik Revolution Essay Example for Free

The Judaic Role in redness Revolution EssayThe vast territory of the Russian Empire at one time hosted the largest Judaic population. Within these territories, the Judaic communities flourished, and developed galore(postnominal) new theologies and cultural traditions in spite of facing distasteful persecutions ( memorial of Jews). The Czars of Russia competed with each other(a) in persecuting the Jews. The Jews were unrestrainede scapegoats for all the economic and social problems of Russia. The Bolshevik revolution put an end to the Tsarist Regime. Jewish reference in Bolshevik revolution is not a new theme. There is extensive literature in English, French, and German reflecting the argument that Bolshevik revolution is a Jewish conspiracy. (Sutton)Those who try to prove that the revolution was non-Russian indicate Jewish names in an attempt to remove from the Russian large number the blame of the revolution of 1917.On the other hand the Jewish scholars argue that the Bolshevik leadinghip which pre-dominantly Jewish was not Jews in spirit.(Solzhenitsyn). However, by that logic, leading Russian Bolsheviks were also not Russian in spirit. Therefore, what exactly was the role of Jews in Bolshevik revolution? Can they be blamed for the revolution? Was in that location a Jewish conspiracy? What attracted them en bundlee shot toward the Bolshevik party? Let us start with the History of Jews in Russia.The History of Jews in Russia.Records exist from fourth century showing that Jews inhabited the cities of Armenia and that thither were substantial Jewish settlements in Crimea. Under the influence of these Jews, the ruling class of Khazaria adapted Judaism. After the oerthrow of the Khazarian Kingdom, the Jews fled to Crimea and Russian principality of Kiev. In the 11th and twelfth century, the Jews appeared to have occupied a separate quarter in Kiev called the Jewish T accept. At this time, Jews were also found in northeastern Russia (Hein). Though Russia had hardly a(prenominal)er Jews, countries to its west were unleashing anti-Semitic pogroms. Expelled en masse from England, France, Spain, and persecuted in Germany, Jews migrated to friendly state of Polish controlled parts of Eastern Europe. The Polish ruler, Casimir III invited the Jews to settle there as a third estate, performing commercial and middleman services between the King and the Nobility. The Jews performed the function of tax collecting, money lending, estate management, and trade. After settling in Russia, they extended to Ukraine and Lithuania, which would later become part of the Russian Empire (History of Jews). In 14th Century, the Lithuanians granted more privileges to the Jews. From Lithuania, they migrated to portions of western Russia. Between 16th to eighteenth centuries, the Jews entered Russia either illegally or with the permission of Polish or Lithuanians, as they were involved in trade (Hein).Tsarist Russia. The Tsarist government activity st arted the Jewish persecutions in Russia. Muscovite Russia became a very hostile environment for the Jewish people. The treatment of Jews was harsh in the reign of Ivan IV, The Terrible. For example, after his conquest of Polotsk some 300 Jews who refused to be converted to Christianity were drowned in Dvina. Jews were not tolerated in the area of Muscovy. From 1716, the policies of the Imperial Russian were openly anti-Semitic (History of Jews)The Pale of Settlement In order to backing the Jews out of Russia, the Tsars scoreed a Pale of Settlement, which included Poland and Crimea. The Jews were supposed to remain in the Pale. They needed special permission to move to Russia proper.Pogroms. Pogroms were mob violence against the Jews. In Czarist Russia, the number of pogroms unleashed against the Jews was numerous that it is impossible to count them. These pogroms were often unionised and incited (Spiro).The Czars nonionized the pogroms in order to run around the public attenti on from corruption and permit the masses to let off the steam. Jews were perfect scapegoats for economic problems of Russia. Problems of Russia had nothing to do with the Jews. The problems were total backwardness, highly corrupt and imperious government, and poverty. Whenever the public discontentment grew, the Czars organized a Pogrom to divert attention (Spiro). It is arguable which of the Russian Czars was the worst to the Jews(Spiro).Let us start with Nicholas I. Czar Nicholas I (1825-1855) sought to destroy all Jewish life in Russia. His period was a painful part of European Jewish history. He ordered the conscription of Jewish youth to the war machine from the age of 12 and they were force to serve in the military for 25 years (Hein).The youngsters were kidnapped, never to be seen again. Some Jewish parents were so desperate that they would cut off the index thumb of their sons in order to escape the conscription (Spiro). The Jews who were not taken into military were e xpelled from their towns and villages. He divided the Jews as useful and not useful. The wealthy merchants involved in trade were considered as useful and others as not useful. A law was instituted prohibiting Jews from wearing traditionalistic dresses (Hein). Alexander II (1855-1881) brought to end the harsh treatment of Jews. He implemented new policies for the assimilation of Jews. The Jews moved out of their settlements. Those having Russian secondary school education were given keener rights. This led to many Jews enrolling themselves in Russian schools .Emancipation of Jews began slowly. There was greater visibility of Jewish activities. This increased the anger of non-Jewish communities. The increased competition resulted in the formation of Jewish proletariat and a small Jewish upper class. Many Jews entered new professions (Hein) In 1881, Alexander II was assassinated and the situation for the Jews deteriorated. The Jews were blamed for the assassination. Thousands of Jew ish homes were burned large numbers of men, women, and children were killed. Families were reduced to a state of poverty (Hein). The new Czar Alexander III blamed the Jews for riots. He escalated anti-Semitism by depicting the Jews as Christ killers and oppressors of Christians. He organized one pogrom after another to keep the anger of the masses focused on the Jews. He promulgated a series laws against the Jews. These Laws were called the May laws (Spiro). He passed restrictions in Jewish landownership and prohibited Jews from living in villages. The state enforced anti-Semitic policies with waves of pogroms, which spread through the villages.These were carried out with the tacit knowledge of the brass and the police run oning it. Strict restrictions banned Jews from practicing many professions. The number of Jews studying in schools was curtailed. In 1886, an Edit of Expulsion was enforced on Jews of Kiev. Moscow was cleansed of its Jews, except a handful who were deemed useful . Alexander justified these repressive practices with these words But we must never forget that the Jews have crucified our Master and have shed his precious extraction (History of Jews). The persecutions resulted in many Jews emigrating to other countries. More than two million fled Russia. Vast bulk emigrated to joined States. Some of them turned to political activism and Zionism (Hein). When Nicholas II took over the situation deteriorated further. Pogroms become a government insurance. During his tenure one of the most famous pogrom was organized in Kishinev, 1903.This pogrom received foreign attention. New York Times accountIt is impossible to account the amounts of goods destroyed in a few hours. The hurrahs of the rioting. The pitiful cries of the victims filled the air. Wherever a Jew was met, he was savagely beaten into insensibility. atomic number 53 Jew was dragged from a streetcar and beaten until the mob thought he was dead. The air was filled with feathers and torn bedding. Every Jewish household was broken into and the unfortunate Jews in their solicitude endeavored to hide in cellars and under roofs. The mob entered the synagogue, desecrated the biggest house of worship, and defiled the Scrolls of the Law.The conduct of the intelligent Christians was disgraceful. They make no attempt to check the rioting. They simply walked around enjoying the frightful sport (qtd.in Spiro). From 1903-1907 the level of violence was unbelievable. There were 284 pogroms and casualties exceeded 50000 (Spiro). Thus, the Jews who migrated to Russia with a hope of living in peace were driven to despair by the atrocities of the Tsarist regime. The Jewish connection was devastated. People were looking for a demeanor out. They linked the ranks of radical Russians in large numbers. The leading of socialists, J.Martov and L.Trotsky were Jewish (Hein). The centuries of oppression led to the polarization of Jews and drive them to radicalism. They were desperate t o make things better (Spiro).socialist economy and Radicalism. The last 20 years of the czarist regime were a time of tension and renaissance for the Jews, especially at heart the younger circles. This awakening essentially stemmed from conscious resistance to, and rejection of, the oppressive regime, the degrading status of the Jew in the country, and the search for methods for change. One response to the oppressive policy of the czarist government was to join one of the trends of the Russian revolutionary movement. The radical Jewish youth joined clandestine organizations in the towns of Russia and abroad. Many Jews ranked among the leadership of the revolutionaries. The leaders of the Social Democrats included J. Martov and L.Trotsky, while Ch. Zhitlowski and G. A. Gershuni figured among the founders of the Socialist Revolutionary Party of Russia (Berdichev). With the growth of national consciousness in revolutionary circles at the shutting of the 19th century, a Jewish worker s revolutionary movement was formed. Workers unions, which had been founded through the initiative of Jewish intellectuals, united and established the Bund in 1897. The Bund played an serious role in the Russian revolutionary movement in the Pale of Settlement.It regarded itself as part of the all-Russian Social-Democratic Party but gradually came to insist upon certain national demands such as the right to cultural autonomy for the Jewish masses, recognition of Yiddish as the national language of the Jews, the establishment of schools in this language, and the development of the press and literature. The Bund was particularly successful in Lithuania and Poland, where after a short time it raised the social status of the worker and the apprentice, and implanted in them the courage to stand up to their employers and the authorities.(Berdichev)The misery of coarse people. The underlining cause of Russian revolution is deep rooted in the history. For centuries, autocratic and repress ive czarist regime ruled the country, while majority of population lived in utter poverty, economically and socially backward (Russia 1917-1941). In 1900, approximately 110 million people lived in Russia, 97 million of which were peasants and three million were industrial workers. Russia was socially and economically backward as compared to other countries like USA, Great Britain, and France. Large majority of Russians were peasants, who lived on the dependency of soil and aristocracy. The peasantry was growing rapidly and there was great demand for land, which was in the hands of aristocracy (Russia 1917-1941). Nicholas II ruled with an iron hand. The powerful sections of the society the aristocrats, the Church, the Bureaucracy, the police and the Russian forces maintained their traditional loyaltytowards the Monarch. Each of these powerful elites was interested in maintaining their status and welfare. The government activity was inefficient. The Tsar, Nicholas II insisted on rea ding every degree, which delayed the administrative decision for months. The army had been recently defeated in the war against Japan and police was chaotic. The economy was backward. The peasants were driven to misery and the food production was low. In places where industry was developing, the living conditions were so awful that the workers were angry and rebellious (Russia 1917-1941). The First World War increased the existing discontentment. The war took men from the fields to the front. Railway system was clogged up so the people starved in towns. Prices rose and there was famine in 1916-1917.The Tsar took up the command over the military and the day nowadays running of Russia was left in the hands of Tsarina who was very unpopular. The Tsarina was a German she was overly influenced by a holy man, Rasputin. The aristocrats felt wiped out(p) and the Church was scandalized. The Russian people lost confidence in the Romanovs (Russia 1917-1941). In February, there was a general uprising. This was primarily over the lack of food and the way the war was fought. It was a spontaneous uprising. Women queuing for food joined the industrial workers sparked of the revolution. The soldiers who were sent to control the agitators joined the revolution. Tsar was forced to abdicate and a provisional government was formed (Russia 1917-1941). The Provisional government was made up of middle class politicians. They were not revolutionaries. They did not give land to the peasant and continued with war. They failed to bring in more foods into the towns. These two aspects created unrest among the public. In April 1917, Lenin returned to Russia and promised people, Peace, Bread, and Land. This was what they wanted to hear. The Bolsheviks had catchy slogans like All power to the Soviets. By September 1917, 2 million people had joined the Bolsheviks (Russia 1917-1941). The problems faced by the common people prior to the Bolshevik revolution wereShortage of food supply due to famine and war.Ruled by an autocratic regime.Awful living conditions of industry workers. These conditions were similar to that of alienated Jews. However, apart from these problems the Jews faced intense anti-Semitic policies. The fear of impending pogroms made the life Jewish community miserable. A sense of alienation was prevailed among the Jews.The Jewish role in Bolshevik revolution. There were many opposition parties existing during the last days of Nicholas II. The Liberals, Socialists, and Communists. The liberals wanted to establish a parliament like that of England. This root word succeeded in establishing a Duma .But the Duma had no influence over the Tsar. The Socialists wanted a peasant revolution. The Communist wanted a working class revolution. The Communists were split among themselves, the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks.Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov or Lenin led the Bolsheviks (Russia 1917-1945). Many segments of the Bolshevik were socialally Jews especially in the le ading of the party. The rival party Mensheviks had higher Jewish representation. The idea of overthrowing the Tsarist regime was very attractive to the Jewish intelligentsia because of the centuries of oppression and suffering the Jewish community had undergone. The role played by Jews especially, the Jewish intelligentsia can be inferred by analyzing the leadership of Bolsheviks. Virtually all of the grand Bolshevik leaders were Jews they included the father of the revolution, Leon Trotsky (whose real name was Lev Bronstein in an attempt to hide his Jewish ness, he adopted the name Trotsky) Lev Kamenev, the early Bolshevik leader who later went on to become a leading member of the Politburo, was born with the surname Rosenfeld Grigori Zinoviev, head of the Petrograd Soviet, was born with the surname Apfelbaum and many other famous Communists of the time, such as Karl Radek, Lazar Kaganovich and Moses Urtisky, (the head of the Cheka) who all changed their names for reasons similar to that of Trotsky(Suppressed Link).Leo Trotsky was the brain behind the Bolshevik revolution. Trotsky was to lead the revolution and unquestionably, without him it would not have happened. Trotsky arrived in Russia with a large number of international communists in order to carry out the revolution. Two weeks prior to the October revolution, Lenin convened the Bolshevik party. The central citizens mission took the decision to seize power by violent endeavor. This committee consisted of predominantly Jews. There were four Russians, one Georgian (Stalin), one Pole and Six Jews. To monitor the take over, a committee was formed with majority Jewish. Trotsky was the professorship of Military Revolutionary Committee which was to carry out the actual seizer of power. Therefore, all the committees set by the predominantly Jewish Bolshevik party had majority of Jews in them (Weber). The Bolshevik revolution is described by an American Jewish community paper as largely a product of Jewis h idea and Jewish discontent (Weber).Winston Churchill stated in an article published in February 8, 1920 There is no need to exaggerate the part played in the unveiling of sovietism and in the actual bringing about of the Russian Revolution by these international and for the most part atheistically Jews. It is certainly a very great one it believably outweighs all others. With the notable exception of Lenin, the majority of the leading figures are Jews. Moreover, the principal inspiration and driving power comes from the Jewish leaders (Weber).David R.Francis, United States ambassador in Russia wrote in a dispatch The Bolshevik leaders here, most of whom are Jews and 90 percent of whom are returned exiles, care little for Russia or any other country but are internationalists and they are trying to start a worldwide social revolution(Weber).A Us military officer, captain Montgomery Schulyer sent two telegrams to Washington in March and June 1919 emphatically states the role of J ews in Bolshevik revolution. The first depict said It is probably unwise to say this loudly in the United States but the Bolshevik movement is and has been since its beginning, guided and controlled by Russian Jews of the greasiest type(Jews and Communism).The second report said of the, 384 commissars there were 2 Negroes, 13 Russians, 15 Chinamen, 22 Armenians, and more than 300 Jews. Of the latter number 264 had come to Russia from the United States since the downfall of the Imperial Government (Jews and Communism).Post revolution. Although the Jews were less than five percentage of countrys total population, they played a decisive role in infant Bolshevik regime. With an exception of Lenin, Leon Trotsky headed the red army, Yakov Sverdlov was the head of the Soviet government, and Grigori Zinoviev headed the communist international. They were many other prominent Jews in the initial Bolshevik government. Lenin was a thorough internationalist. He viewed his own fellow citizens wi th contempt (Weber) He considered nationalism as opposed to internationalism. In March 1919, Lenin delivered a speech on anti-Jewish pogroms. According to Lenin anti-Semitism was an attempt to divert workers hatred from the oppressors towards the Jews. It was a political trick employed by the Tsar to divert popular anger towards a scapegoat (Weber) A small group of Bolsheviks having come to power needed bureaucracy to run the government. The Bolsheviks revolution was possible because of the large presence of Jewish intelligentsia. Therefore, the Bolsheviks called upon the Jews to take up bureaucratic work of the Soviet apparatus. Many Jews responded this call. Men of Jewish origin dominated Lenins first politburo. Majority of Jews who were non-revolutionary and apolitical joined the Bolsheviks. In order to encourage the Jews to join the Bureaucracy, the Bolsheviks organized a Jewish division of nationalities commissariat. The Bolsheviks rejected anti-Semitism and loosened civil rest rictions on the Jews (Solzhenitsyn). The Jews were predominant in all organs of the Bolshevik government. The central committee of the Bolshevik party had 41 Jews out of 62 members. The secret police had 23 out of 36, the Council of Peoples Commissars (the Soviet Government) had 17 Jews out of 21.Out of 556 important functionaries of the Bolshevik state 457 were Jews (Weber).The Russian civil war. Russia was thrust into a civil war from 1917 to 19121, between the Bolsheviks ( rosy army) and the anti-Bolsheviks ( neat army).Anti-Semitism spread widely. The white army targeted the Jews, killing huge numbers. The Red army clamped down on anti-Semitic attacks. This created sympathy for the Red army among the Jews. Jewish youth joined the Red army in huge number. The white army was filled with anti-Semitism. Their slogan was Kill the Jews and save Russia. lastly, white army was defeated and the civil war ended (Russia 1917-1945). Jews retained their leading roles in Soviet society until growing anti-Semitism within the Communist Party itself led to a change in policy. Trotsky was the first major Jewish casualty he split with Stalin over the issue of international socialism. A Stalinist agent in Mexico City assassinated him in 1940 (Suppressed Link) Stalin started removing all important Jews from the Soviet Communist Party. He saw Zionism, the Jewish nationalism contrary to an international socialist brotherhood. Zionism was forbidden and Zionist organization was targeted for persecutions. Secular Jews were put in charge in order to spread hatred towards Jewish religion. Jewish communities were dissolved and their properties confusicated.Traditional institutes of Jewish culture and education were well-nighd down. Those Jews who were not Zionist were left alone and achieved prominent places within the post -Stalin Soviet (Suppressed link). However, Stalin maintained policy of Lenin towards anti-Semitism. In a letter dated January 12, 1931, he tell his semiofficia l position Anti-Semitism is of advantage to the exploiters as a lightning conductor that deflects the blows aimed by the working people at capitalism. Anti-Semitism is dangerous for the working people as being a false path that leads them off the right road and lands them in the jungle(qtd.in History of Jews). He declared anti-Semitism as a crime, which deserves death penalty.Despite the official Soviet opposition to anti-Semitism, critics of USSR view it as an anti-Semitic regime. The Soviet hostility towards Jewish religion, the huge casualties during the Great Purge, the non-aggressive pledge with the Nazi appear to be anti-Semitic. However, this hostility was applied to all religions and ethnic group. This reveals the fact that Bolshevism has no connection with Judaism. The Soviet Union did grant official equality of all citizens regardless of sex, race, religion and nationality. Many thousands of Jews however left Soviet Union with most settling in Israel and United States.The Jewish intelligentsia and BolshevismThe Socialist ideals were being formed in the Hebrew literature as early as 1820.In a monthly journal visions of a mad man the early socialist Moris vinchevsky writes, Go and tell them that all people are brothers, that in nature there are no great and no little people, lords and slaves, rich and poor, that there is not a person in the world who could say, I have the right to use the fruits of your work, the turn overs of other peoples hands (qtd.in Horowitz). For members of the assimilated Jewish intelligentsia, participating in the socialist movement was often a method of social integration. The ideology, which stressed strong class divisions rather than ethnic ones, helped them avoid the identity problems associated with assimilation and discrimination. All socialist organizations had Jewish members (Socialism and Jews).The concept of international brotherhood as against nationalism attracted the Jewish intelligentsia At the close of the 19th century, the Jewish proletariat increased and numbered some 600,000. Approximately half of them were apprentices and workers employed by craftsmen, about 100,000 were salesmen, about 70,000 were factory workers, and the remainder fooling workers, porters, and domestics. The desire of this proletariat to improve its material and social status, and its contacts with the revolutionary Jewish intelligentsia during the generation, which preceded the 1917 Revolution, became an important factor in the lives of the Jews of Russia (Socialism and Jews). The Bolsheviks believed in organizing the party in a strongly centralized hierarchy that sought to overthrow the Tsar and achieve power. Although the Bolsheviks were not completely monolithic, they were characterized by a rigid adherence to the leadership of the central committee, based on the notion of democratic centralism. The Bolsheviks took an internationalist stance that emphasized solidarity between the workers of Russia, Germany, and the rest of the world. The philosophy of Bolsheviks was based on Marxism. Lenin was guided by a spirit of internationalism. According to him nationalism did not exist and must not exist, and that the question of nationalism divided revolutionary from reactionary socialism (Bolsheviks)Jewish Chronicle published in London stated, There is much in the fact of Bolshevism itself, in the fact that so many Jews are Bolshevists. The ideals of Bolshevism are consonant with many of the highest ideals of Judaism. (qtd.in Weber).An American Bulletin carried the words of Rabbi S.Wise, Some call it Marxism I call it Judaism (qtd.in Weber) The socialist philosophy of the Bolsheviks, which was based on Marxism appealed to the Jewish intelligentsia. The spirit of internationalism, solved the problem of nationalism in an alien land. The promise of bread and equality of the proletariat solved the problem of poverty. The stand taken by the Bolsheviks against anti-Semitism gave them the dream of securi ty.Role of Western Jews. The Bolshevik revolution is seen by some as a Jewish conspiracy worldwide. However, this is not entirely true. In Britain the 300000 strong Jewish communities was a recent immigration from Russia. For the indigenous Anglo-Jewry, the fate of a fellow diaspora community could no longer be distant concern. The mass immigration brought the problem to their doorstep.For the immigration, Jews political interest in Russia was not a mere academic concern but it was mixed with sentimental attachment and close family ties. It was limited to relief work, philanthropy, and diplomacy. Relief funds were collected for people affected by pogroms. Lucien Wolf the defacto foreign secretary of Anglo-Jewry engaged in diplomatic activities with British government and at League of Nations (Khadish). However, there was no involvement by the British Jews in the Bolshevik revolution. In United States, millionaire Jews extended financial support to Bolshevik revolution. A group of we althy Jews and Jewish firms extended financial support to Trotsky. Jacob Henry Schiff, an investment banker was one of the main financiers. Jacob Schiff was a partner in Wall Street banking house of khuhn, Loeb and company. He was an active member in most Jewish charitable organizations and lobbied for the Jewish interest. He and other Jewish leaders successfully persuaded the federal Government to direct official remonstrance to Russia on behalf of human rights of Jews there. Leo Trotsky was given $20 million for the success of the revolution (Best).On March 1917, Trotsky left along with the communist revolutionaries Jacob Schiff and Paul Warburg helped him to reach Russia. Paul Warburg who was vice chairperson of Federal Reserve board handled large sums furnished by the Germans for Lenin and Trotsky. Rothchilds, the banking dynasty of Jewish origin, Olaf Aschberg, a Jewish banker, another Jewish financier Jovotovsky were some of the wealthy Jews who financed the Bolshevik Revoluti on(Rivera) Though, there was communication passing between the Jewish leaders in America, Germany, France and Britain, there is no hard empirical truth that western Jews conspired together for a Bolshevik revolution (Sutton).Conclusion. Jewish hatred for Tsarist regime had a basis in objective conditions. Of the leading European powers, Imperial Russia was most anti-Jewish. What else can we expect from centuries of oppression and suffering? However understandable, and perhaps so far defensible, Jewish hostility toward the imperial regime may have been, the remarkable Jewish role in the vastly more despotic Soviet regime is less easy to justify (Weber). Sonya Margolina, a Russian born Jewish writer calls it a historical sin She points to the role of Jewish communists in labor camps and the systematic destruction of churches by the Jewish communists (Weber).Neverthless,it cannot be concluded that Bolshevik revolution was Jewish consiparcy.The Jewish Bolshevik leaders like Trotsky had nothing in common with the people of Pale settlement. The Bolshevik Party had many Jews holding important posts. However, there were many Non-Jews holding important posts for example, Lunacharsky, Bukharin, Kirov, Beria, Molotov, Iron Felix Dzerzhinsky (founder of the KGB), Kalinin (First Soviet President), many others. Whatever their religious or ethnic background the Bolsheviks were essentially atheists who hated all religious and ethnic categories. When they came to power, the Bolsheviks burned down the synagogues and killed the Rabbis as much as they did it to the Christians (Spiro). Original Bolsheviks received funds from bankers. Some of them were Jews and many of them non-Jews. The Germans who wanted to weaken Russia did the main funding (Stanford University). In the first days after October revolution made great effort to hunt down Jews for use in the state bueracracy.This is not out of the love they had for the Jews but for the abilities of the Jews. They did the same to L atvians, Hungarians, and Chinese (Solzhenitsyn).Some anti-Semites pickax up some prominent Bolsheviks and claim that they were Jews. Trotsky was a Jew.However,he was one of the early critics of Stalin and his criticisms cost him his life. There were many Jews in the leadership of Bolshevik party. As Aristotle says, One swallow does not a summer make (qtd.in Green), we cannot say all Jews in Russia were Bolsheviks. We can conclude, therefore, that it is wrong to blame a single ethnicity for the crime of few individuals. We cannot blame all Germans for the Holocaust. Similarly, we cannot blame that Georgians are responsible for the atrocities of Stalin. Guilt should be assigned individually not collectively. Bolshevik revolution was a class struggle and nothing to do with ethnicity and religion (Green). 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