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Natan Sharansky      

Jewish Human Rights Advocate & Author of "Fear No Evil" & "The Case For Democracy"

Natan Sharansky is an Israeli politician, human rights activist, and former Soviet dissident known for his advocacy of democracy and religious freedom. Born Anatoly Borisovich Shcharansky in 1948 in Donetsk, Ukraine (then part of the Soviet Union), he gained prominence in the 1970s as a leader in the Soviet Jewry movement, fighting for the right of Jews to emigrate to Israel. Arrested in 1977 on charges of espionage and treason, he spent nine years in Soviet prisons, much of it in solitary confinement, before being released in 1986 as part of a U.S.-Soviet prisoner exchange.

After immigrating to Israel, Sharansky became a prominent political figure, co-founding the Yisrael BaAliyah party to support the integration of Soviet Jewish immigrants. He served in various ministerial roles, including Deputy Prime Minister, and was a member of the Knesset for nearly a decade. Beyond politics, he played a significant role in Jewish and democratic advocacy, serving as chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel from 2009 to 2018.

Sharansky has written extensively about human rights and democracy, with notable books including "Fear No Evil," which details his experiences as a political prisoner, and "The Case for Democracy," which argues for the spread of democratic values worldwide. His contributions to freedom and civil rights have earned him numerous honors, including the the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He is the only living non-American citizen who is the recipient of these two highest American awards. In 2020, he was the recipient of the Genesis Prize, awarded for his lifelong struggle for political and religious freedoms

Sharansky remains an influential voice on issues of democracy, human rights, and Jewish identity, advocating for global freedom and standing against authoritarian regimes.

Speech Topics

Social Justice & Human Rights in Today’s World: Lessons from my Life as a Dissident

The only living non-American citizen to be awarded both the Congressional Medal of Honor and Presidential Medal of Freedom, Natan Sharansky is heralded the world over for his courageous work as a prisoner of conscience and dissident in the former Soviet Union, working for the rights and freedom of Soviet Jews. A champion of the right of all people to live in freedom and a firm believer that the advancement of human rights is critical to peace and security worldwide, Sharansky has worked with dissident groups in authoritarian regimes for over 20 years. In this moving and compelling program, Sharansky draws on his awe-inspiring first-hand experience to highlight the importance of supporting democratic dissidents to build lasting peace and stable international relations and reveals practical ways in which we can help the struggle for human rights around the globe.

Recognizing and Fighting Partisan Anti-Semitism

The only living non-American citizen to be awarded both the Congressional Medal of Honor and Presidential Medal of Freedom, Natan Sharansky shares his guidelines for recognizing and fighting political antisemitism.

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