In this study, an attempt has been made to do exhaustive research on a school system whose rise, development and decline is not only indicative of the shifts in the Soviet Jewish policy, but an accurate barometer of the climate within the Jewish community of three million. The study is based almost entirely on original source material: reports, memoirs, decrees, statements and other documents which appeared in Soviet publications. Cuuricula, textbooks and school catalogues were also examined and articles by Soviet writers about the Yiddish schools were critically evaluated.