Let My People Go

“Sam Lipski is a fine journalist. He has joined Suzanne Rutland to write about Australia and the Soviet Jews 1959–89. As Opposition Leader in the 1980s, I strongly supported the efforts of the (then) Australian Government to provide freedom and a future life for many Jews in the Soviet Union. It is an inspiring and fascinating story which reflected well on the common humanity of Australians.”
— The Hon. John Howard AC, Prime Minister of Australia, 1996–2007

“Let My People Go is a compelling and beautifully written account of the Australian contribution to the release of Soviet Jewry. The work opens a window on the role played by Australian parliamentarians and Jewish community leaders over three decades from 1959, most notably the tireless work of Isi Leibler, and also some revealing insights into the personal involvement of Lipski himself. Australians can be proud of this story.”
— Hon. Mark Dreyfus QC MP, 2013

“The struggle for the freedom of Soviet Jewry was one of the most powerful displays of strength and solidarity by the world Jewish community. The campaign not only changed the fate of the Jewish people; it brought down the Iron Curtain and impacted upon the entire world. Yet even those intimately familiar with the struggle will be surprised to discover in Let My People Go, the story by Sam Lipski and Suzanne Rutland, how the Australian Jewish community and its leaders were among the campaign’s initiators, and how they saw it through to its successful conclusion. This is a unique testament to how a small group can play a big role in history.”
— Natan Sharansky, Chairman, Jewish Agency for Israel, Jerusalem, Prisoner of Zion