“Karine Rashkovsky’s An Improbable Life: My Father’s Escape from Soviet Russia tells an important story, all the more important today as freedoms previously taken for granted seem fragile, and there is a price to be paid for being a Jew. Karine narrates her father Reuven’s life in his voice, first as a talented and ambitious Jew yearning for freedom in the oppressive world of the Soviet Union, and then as a Jewish activist, seeking freedom for himself and his fellow Jews and being oppressed for that very yearning. She tells of his journey to freedom and his new life in Israel, France, and finally in Canada, The story is told with charm and depth and includes her mother’s equally improbable journey and the struggles of her grandparents. It reminds us of the great achievement of the last generation, the exodus to freedom of Soviet Jews, the courage of a generation asking for the most basic of rights, the freedom to live as a Jew openly, joyfully. It reminded me of the courage it takes to confront Pharaoh, part the Sea, walk through the desert and reach the promised land.”
— Dr. Michael Berenbaum, Distinguished Professor, American Jewish University
“An Improbable Life is powerful, inspiring, and timely. This important contribution to Soviet, Canadian, and Jewish history and human rights is thought-provoking and jam-packed with lessons and legacies that are relevant locally and globally today. In skillfully telling Reuven’s remarkable story, Rashkovsky writes from the heart, bringing to life his indomitable courage, determination, strength, and hope despite the widespread social injustices and rampant antisemitism he and his family experienced. From discrimination at school and university, to being conscripted into the Red Army, to working on fighter jets, to succeeding in fleeing Soviet Russia against all odds, to immigrating and settling in Canada and beyond, Reuven’s adventurous life, survival, and success were certainly improbable. His story is a page turner, and his achievements are a poignant reminder and call to action to never give up on our dreams in the pursuit of freedom and social justice for all.”
— Dr. Karlee Sapoznik Evans, Historian and Human Rights Scholar
“Beautifully written, this is a rare first-person account of Reuven Rashkovsky, a person who managed to beat the odds by living a remarkable, successful and brave life in the circumstances which made it almost impossible. As a Jewish person born in the postwar Stalin's Soviet Union, he managed to get an education, build a family, and successfully fight to escape the country. Filled with details of everyday interactions, difficult decisions and genuine love for one's family, the book is impossible to put down. Highly recommended.”
— Dr. Anna Shternshis, Professor, University of Toronto
“A revealing, fascinating, and candid story of liberation from the burden of bureaucratically assigned Jewishness. The book is a good read for anyone, and a good source for historians of Soviet Jewry.”
— Dr. Gennady Estraikh, Professor, New York University
“Karine Rashkovsky’s An Improbable Life: My Father’s Escape from Soviet Russia is a must-read tour de force. While many books have been written on Soviet life, this one is undoubtedly unique. It offers an intimate glimpse into the mid-century life of a provincial Jewish family that in the face of daily struggles to survive and pervasive antisemitism not only perseveres, but achieves academic and professional success. Radiating with the narrator’s joie de vivre, this story illustrates how dedication, friendship, love, and unrelenting persistence help one person break free from the shackles of oppression. Readers are left with optimism and hope as they follow the challenges and triumphs of Reuven’s resilient story which chronicles immigrating to foreign countries, adapting to new cultures and languages, and overcoming personal tragedies, all the while devotedly working to better the world around him. Rashkovsky’s captivating writing style pieces together a work that is deeply cathartic for those from a similar background, and invaluable for anyone with an interest in the Soviet Jewish experience. This evocative, informative, and timeless narrative keeps readers hooked until the very last page.”
— Anna Waisman, Ph.D. (Cand.) Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, Vanier Canada Graduate Scholar, York University
“An Improbable Life by Karine Rashkovsky is a powerful and moving tribute from a daughter to her father, Reuven Rashkovsky, who has been a source of inspiration and a heroic figure since her childhood. Narrated in Reuven's voice, the book vividly portrays the challenges and resilience of Jewish life in the Soviet Union. Reuven's journey from a brilliant mathematician denied opportunities in Moscow to his dramatic escape and new beginnings in Israel, France, and Canada is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. Despite relentless antisemitism and numerous setbacks, Reuven's unwavering perseverance, ingenuity, and humor shine through. His story is a testament to the indomitable spirit of millions of Jews who faced similar struggles. This compelling narrative not only honors Reuven's life but also serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring human quest for dignity and freedom. A must-read for anyone interested in history, perseverance, and the triumph of the human spirit.”
— Dr. Alex Maizlish, Ph.D., Vanier Scholar, Mathematics and Data Science
“Karine Rashkovsky’s An Improbable Life: My Father’s Escape from Soviet Russia is an excellent biography of Reuven Rashkovsky. Reuven was born to a Jewish family in Uzbekistan, where his parents were evacuated during the war. He grew up in the provincial city Belgorod-Dnestrovsky, Ukraine, where he often encountered antisemitism. Rashkovsky studied at the University of Odesa, and although he was an excellent student, after graduation he was not accepted to a Ph.D. program because he was Jewish. His desire to live in a free world brought Reuven to the Soviet Jewry emigration movement. With great difficulty and risk of being arrested by the KGB, he and other activists escaped from the Soviet Union to Israel. Reuven’s life had many other improbable twists and turns including his participation in the Yom Kippur War, his work in tech, and his time teaching at various educational institutions in Israel, France and Canada. This is an amazing life and journey, with many unpredictable ups and downs, and unforeseeable suffering and jubilation.”
— Dr. Victoria Khiterer, Ph.D., Professor of History, Millersville University
“An Improbable Life offers a succinct and compelling account, showcasing how threads of family, friends, mentors, social institutions, political oppression, and antisemitism formed the tapestry of Reuven Rashkovsky’s life. Straightforward descriptions of living circumstances, academic, and professional pursuits amidst shifting political regimes, international wars, and spanning four continents are woven together in this engaging and informative narrative, highlighting how individual lives unfold within broader national and global contexts. Ultimately focusing on lived experiences shaped by happenstance, tragedy, hope, and effort, this book offers a glimpse into times past, invites important contemporary philosophical considerations, and serves as a profound testimony to the underlying beauty of hope and human resilience.”
— Dr. Jonathan S. Marion, Professor of Anthropology, Steps Along the Way
"The detailed color and engaging scenes Karine Rashkovsky brings to each chapter immerses readers in a powerful look into Reuven's life. The intimacy she brings to his stories, about say, being a soldier in Russia or the tense escape to Israel, invigorates the book with drama that makes these key moments in his life so compelling to read. What Karine has done with this book is not just an ode to her brave father but also give readers an in-depth cinematic view into areas of the world that dominate headlines today."
— David Silverberg, former artistic director and founder of Toronto Poetry Project, author, and journalist
“I was thoroughly engaged by the story of Dr. Reuven Rashkovsky's improbable life, and moved by his daughter’s devotion to the telling. Reuven provides a vivid picture of the disadvantages and vicissitudes, large and small, that Jews in the Soviet Union encountered on a daily basis. His description of his escape, well before large numbers of Jews were allowed to leave, is riveting. And as an educator, I was intrigued by his account of how the innovative and successful Brain Power enrichment program grew from its origin in his basement, and his mind. A highly satisfying read.”
— Dr. Sandra R. Schecter, Professor Emerita, Faculty of Education, York University
“‘Jews are just like everyone else, only more so.’ A catchy quote attributed to Lionel Blue, a British rabbi, journalist and broadcaster, and the first thought that came to my mind upon finishing Dr. Rashkovsky’s record of her father Reuven’s life. Having had the privilege of meeting Reuven in person, I’ve always found him interesting. Well, now I know that the meager interesting doesn’t come close to describing just how extraordinary a person he is, and how tumultuous—and, indeed, improbable—his life has been. This memoir depicts in great detail—not as a detached academic study, nor as a speculative work of fiction, but through a lived, first-person experience—the dehumanizing monstrosity of the Soviet regime, especially where it came to its antisemitic nature.”
— Alex Tsirulnikov, author of The E Apocrypha novel series
"This is an excellent and brutally honest reflection. Reuven’s story is extraordinary. It highlights the experiences of thousands of talented Jews who escaped the Soviet Union and Warsaw Bloc countries. These people had an unparalleled impact on science, education, and culture in the West. I hope that this book will evoke deep reflections among Americans and Canadians on how ideologically charged culture and propaganda full of hatred and antisemitism make us, descendants of Reuven’s generation, feel today.”
— Dr. Ruslan Dorfman, PhD, MBA. CSO at Pillcheck, Adjunct Professor at Department of Anesthesia, McMaster University
“This book will resonate particularly well with those who either lived through, or were involved with, the Soviet Jewry movement in the United States. I know now that the time I spent advocating for Soviet Jewry was time well spent. This book demonstrates the difference between life and opportunity in an authoritarian society and life and accomplishment in a western, liberal society.
So improbable were the events that occurred in Reuven’s life that if I were watching a movie, I would have assumed that the screenwriter had taken liberty with the facts for ‘dramatic effect.’
Despite initially planning to skim the book for this endorsement, after reading just a few pages, I realized how much my own life would be enhanced by reading the whole book! I did so, and I recommend that others should do so, too.”
— Dr. Ira Sheskin, Professor, Department of Geography and Sustainable Development, University of Miami
