This paper explores the theme of gaining the ability to speak in RussianIsraeli literature, which is written by immigrant writers who continue to use the Russian language in Israel. Often caught between Israeli and Russian, Eastern and Western cultures, these writers create characters who grapple with identity issues. Frequently, Jewishness becomes for them not just a recourse to memory or their own roots but takes on the scale of a miracle: the miracle of speech acquisition after a long period of silence. The works of Julius Margolin, Yulia Shmukler, and Efrem Baukh illustrate how openly speaking about their Jewish identity can lead to sudden and miraculous salvation in catastrophic circumstances. In contrast, Linor Goralik radically reinterprets this motif through a postmodernist lens, offering a new perspective on the problem of miracles and catastrophes. By applying philosopher Alexei Losev's theory of miracle to the analysis, this paper aims to elucidate the significance of the speech acquisition motif for RussianIsraeli authors. It explores the functions of this motif and investigates its various interpretations in the context of Russian-Israeli literature. Through analyzing selected works, this paper demonstrates the evolution and transformation of this motif over time. Additionally, it examines how the motif interacts with broader themes such as identity, memory, trauma, and the quest for meaning. 

Read more