"Siddur Hashalom", censorship in the first Jewish Prayerbook published in the Soviet Union

The Cold War was a dark period for Soviet Jewry, where within the USSR, Judaism was systematically eradicated and open practice of Judaism could result in severe sentences or death. At the same time, the regime was attempting to portray itself to the outside world as an open and benevolent society, and much propaganda was created for display to its critics, particularly in the USA. The crowning achievement of the Soviets’ attempt to show that there was freedom of religion in the USSR was the publication of Siddur Hashalom, published in Moscow in 1956. Compiled by head of the religious community in Moscow, Rabbi Shlomo Shleifer, the Siddur attempted to make an impression that the USSR was a defender of peace in the world, and many references to this are made in the Siddur. The Siddur was published without Russian instructions or translations so as to prevent the younger generation from learning Jewish Prayers.

In the Sabbath Morning prayers, appear 2 prayers on behalf of the defender of peace in the world, being the USSR and for the success of its government.

Some interesting censorship can be found in the book, such as the omission of Ve’al Hamilchamot (commemorating the Maccabean Revolt)  ועל המלחמות in the Al Hanissim prayer to be recited on Hannukah, apparently to prevent the Soviet Jews from getting any ideas of planning a revolt.

In the Birkot Hashachar, the blessing of Shelo Asani Goy שלא עשני גוי (That you have not made a gentile) was revised to Shelo Asani Oved Kochavim שלא עשני עובד כוכבים (That you have not made me a pagan star worshipper) and in Aleinu Leshabeah, the entire verse of Shehem Mishtachavim Lehevel Varik שהם משתחוים להבל וריק was omitted.

A copy I acquired recently had inserted a typed letter by the compiler Rabbi Shlomo Shleifer, in which he apologizes and alludes to the omissions and changes he was forced to make in this edition, and requests that the readers will not judge him as a result.

This Siddur was the first published in the USSR since 1928. Despite Shleifer attempting to receive permission to print this volume already during the Stalin period, permission was only granted in 1956, 3 years after Stalin's death. 3,000 copies were authorized, though Shleifer's son-in-law Emanuel Richlin states (הגחלת 1986), that with undercover talks with the printers, they managed to up the printed amount to 3,430 copies.