Vladimir Slepak was born in 1927 in Moscow, in an assimilated family, though his mother came of an ancient rabbis stock. Masha Rashkovsky was born in 1926 in Moscow, also in an assimilated family. Vladimir and Masha got married in 1951. Vladimir graduated from Moscow Aviation Institute in 1950 and started working first at Moscow Electro-Lamp Factory, which produced also the military equipments, and later in a classified research institute. Masha graduated from the 2nd Moscow Medical Institute in 1953. When Vladimir was still working at the factory he and Masha met a group of Zionist-minded Jews and have accepted their ideas. The decisive turn in their minds occurred in 1967 (the Six-Day War), which led to increased communication with Moscow Zionists. In 1969 Slepaks received an invitation from Israel. Vladimir was dismissed from his work, and they tried to apply to OVIR for an exit visa to go to Israel, but because of various bureaucratic problems they were able to submit the relevant documents in 1970 only. Soon they received a “refuse”, and that’s how started their life as “refuseniks”, in whose movement they and, in particular, Vladimir, took an active part. Vladimir repeatedly (not less than 10 times!) was arrested for 15 days for taking part in various actions of refuseniks. On June 1st 1978 Vladimir and Masha posted on the balcony of their apartment facing the Gorky street a banner with the words “Release us to our son of Israel” (one of their sons, who married a U.S. citizen, was able at that time to leave from the Soviet Union for Israel). Both were immediately arrested. Masha was sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment. Vladimir—to 5-year in exile to the village Tsokto-Hangil in Siberia. Masha voluntarily followed him. They were released in 1982, but only in October 1987 received the permission to leave for Israel. Now they live in Kfar Saba.
The information was provided by Vladimir and Masha Slepak. The photo was taken in the village of Tsokto-Hangil in 1980.
