Investor Presentaiton
of various ethnic backgrounds. He writes, "It is no exaggeration to say that the socio-class
environment with which my family was organically connected had a decisive influence on the
formation of my personality, on filling my soul and consciousness with feelings of solidarity,
class kinship with the poor, indignation at injustice, oppression at the emergence of revolutionary
and effective activity.”139
Also unlike in the Jewish revolution Slezkine describes, Kaganovich never expresses any
animosity towards his parents. While he is clear in his desire to move away from home, it is not
expressed as an escape from his mother or father but rather a journey towards something, namely
financial opportunities, his brother who was also in Kiev, and the dream of continuing his
education. Furthermore, Kaganovich actually reflects fondly on his parents and attributes his
resilience and work ethic to their influence. He notes, “we, the children, grew up and became
modern people - revolutionaries - Bolsheviks, but we did not oppose ourselves to our father and
mother but took all the best from them. We loved, and most importantly, respected and still
respect our parents."
"140 This shows little resemblance to Slezkine's descriptions of the Jewish
141
revolution as a "violent family romance." In a literal sense, Kaganovich does not fit this
particular aspect. In a metaphorical sense however, his transition to Bolshevism and his
shunning of his Jewish background in favor for a secular lifestyle are certainly symbolic of
patricide against the traditional Jewish community.
Conclusion
In many ways the years leading up to 1917 were Kaganovich's formative years; they
139 Ibid, 31-32.
140 Ibid, 34.
141 Slezkine, The Jewish Century, 220, 254.
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