Former Refusenik Natan Sharansky Speaks With Rabbi Daniel Schonbuch on the Viktor Frankl Podcast
Former Soviet dissident and Israeli statesman Natan Sharansky, who spent nine years in Soviet prisons for defending the right of Jews to live freely, is warning that Americans should never take freedom for granted—and should be vigilant whenever socialist ideas gain influence in public life.
In a wide-ranging interview with Rabbi Daniel Schonbuch on the Viktor Frankl Podcast, Sharansky reflected on his experience living under Soviet communism and explained why he believes Americans should pay close attention to the resurgence of socialist movements, particularly in New York City.
The conversation turned to the growing influence of democratic socialism following the rise of New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Drawing on his firsthand experience of life under an authoritarian communist regime, Sharansky stressed that while America today is not the Soviet Union, history demonstrates that societies should never dismiss ideologies simply because they are presented with appealing slogans or promises of greater equality.
Sharansky explained that many oppressive regimes began by promising fairness, justice, and economic opportunity. Over time, however, they concentrated power, discouraged dissent, and restricted the freedoms they initially claimed to protect. He cautioned that citizens must evaluate political movements not only by their rhetoric but by whether they strengthen or weaken individual liberty, free expression, and democratic institutions.
Throughout the discussion, Sharansky emphasized that free societies depend upon open debate, respect for differing opinions, and the protection of individual rights. When political movements begin dividing people into competing groups, demanding ideological conformity, or discouraging honest disagreement, he said, history offers important lessons that should not be ignored.
Having endured years of imprisonment because he refused to surrender his beliefs or abandon his Jewish identity, Sharansky spoke about the importance of moral courage. He noted that freedom survives only when ordinary people are willing to defend it, even when doing so carries personal or political consequences.
The interview also explored Sharansky’s acclaimed books, including Fear No Evil and Defending Identity, and his reflections on Jewish identity, the struggle against antisemitism, and the enduring influence of Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl. Sharansky discussed how Frankl’s emphasis on meaning, responsibility, and human dignity continues to provide guidance for people confronting political pressure and cultural upheaval.
As New Yorkers continue to debate the city’s political future under the growing influence of democratic socialism, Sharansky’s message serves as both a warning and a challenge. Freedom, he argued, is never self-sustaining. It must be protected by every generation through moral conviction, personal responsibility, and the courage to oppose ideas that threaten liberty before it is too late.
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