CultureJuly 17, 2026
gulag
/ˈɡuːlɑːɡ/
Definition
A forced labor camp system in the Soviet Union, used by the state to imprison and punish perceived political enemies or dissidents.
Etymology
The word is an acronym for the Russian 'Glavnoye Upravleniye Lagerey,' which translates to 'Main Administration of Camps.' It entered the English language during the Cold War to describe the brutal network of Soviet prisons.
In the news
The article mentions that Moisei Beregovsky was sentenced to a gulag for six years after being falsely accused of 'Jewish nationalism' by the Soviet regime. This highlights the severe state-sponsored repression of Jewish culture and scholarship during the Stalin era.
Lost Holocaust music, nearly erased by Stalin, goes on tour in Asia
Read the full article ↗Jewish Telegraphic Agency