The Fifth problem: math and anti-Semitism in the Soviet Union

I almost prefer honest, outright, mathematically incontradictable racism to the American variety, where considerations favoring a diverse student body counsel holistic evaluation of candidates such that a Goldberg or Tanaka might, despite being a superior student of math, might be less the student the university needs than certain other students

This, right here, is an excellent example of why institutionalized racism is a terrible thing. In any other situation, universities would be clamoring to have a student of such calibre study at their institution. But because this man was, heaven forbid, a <i>Jew</i>, they simply couldn't take him in.<p>This comment is mostly pointed at my home country of Malaysia, where "special rights" of members of a certain racial group is <i>enshrined in our freakin constitution!</i>[0]<p>[0]: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Malaysia#Article_153_-_Special_Position_of_Bumiputras_and_Legitimate_Interests_of_Other_Communities" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Malaysia#Articl...</a>

Harvard penalized Jews in admissions here in the early 20th century by various means, and continues the sick practice today with Asians.

As a preamble there most definitely existed anti-semitism in Soviet Union. I am a Russian living in the US with Jewish family in Russia. This is a throw away account.<p>With that said, stories of anti-semitism told by Russian Jews in US should not be taken at face value. These folks are subject to a very strong selection bias. Most of them came to the US as refugees who were recognized by the US State Department as being discriminated against for being Jewish in USSR/Russia. Secondly they have interest in maintaining the story anti-seminitism because it validates their narrative and could potentially help their relatives immigrate to the US.<p>Additionally many stories of anti-semitism that I heard were something a non-jew would experience as well but attributed to anti-semitism. As a personal example, I was at first denied admission to a specialized school in very late Soviet period. They eventually let me in because my mother found out that I had the highest score on the entrance exam of any one. Their excuse was that they had to let the kids who were in the paid summer program at the school first and now the class was full. A Jewish kid's parents would have been told they already have too many Jews in the advanced program. Both cases are just the admissions persons asking for a bribe.

About a year ago I read a paper that listed a number of those "Jewish Problems" (ambiguous or hard problems given at entrance exams). For those interested - <a href="http://arxiv.org/abs/1110.1556" rel="nofollow">http://arxiv.org/abs/1110.1556</a>

My mom and dad faced identical problems in the late 70s. I would urge no simple comparisons between elite private U.S. university admissions in 2012 and public Soviet Union university admissions throughout the century.<p>The experience of Jews in the Soviet Union is substantially distinct from the experience of nonwhites in the contemporary United States.<p>Remember: If Harvard wants to, it doesn't have to admit anyone at all. There are lots of universities in America, in fact lots of best ones. There was only one MGU.

As far as know from my Russian friends raise of anti-Semitism in the Soviet Union started in late 1970s / early 1980s.<p>Is that correct? Does anybody know why? Was it because of renewal of Russian nationalism?

My mothers father had to bribe the admissions board of Moscow U. to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars to let her in. This was in the late 60's/early 70's. Anti-Semitism, but of course. They left as soon as possible for Israel and then America.<p>Honestly, I often think that if Germany and the Soviets had not hated Jews so much the world would be a very different place.

“Do you know that Jews are not accepted to Moscow University?”<p>“What do you mean?”<p>“What I mean is that you shouldn’t even bother to apply. Don’t waste your time. They won’t let you in.”<p>How awful.

&#62; The problem looked innocent enough at first glance: given a circle and two points on the plane outside the circle, construct another circle passing trough those two points and touching the first circle at one point.But the solution is in fact quite complicated. Few of my future colleagues at Harvard and Berkeley would have been able to solve it right away. One must use “inversion,” a concept that was not studied in high school and hence could not possibly be allowed in this exam.<p>I became quite curious about solving this problem, I tried to look up what he means by "inversion" but could not find it. Anyone knows what it could be?<p>Update: Wikipedia suggests <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inversion_in_a_point" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inversion_in_a_point</a> but obviously this is covered by high school program and is not very complicated.

wow! what a great read. This article confirms the anti-semitism in USSR, which has been described by several others.<p>I am surprised there is no mention of Grigory Perelman[1] in the discussion here on HN. The genius mathematician who proved PoinCare Conjecture, a problem standing for 100 years. And then later on refused the million dollar prize which was to be awarded for the proof[2].<p>The reason, this article reminds of Perelman is that he also faced similar kind of discrimination, in the USSR. But it was more subtle in Perelman's case. And he was able to get what he wanted from the USSR system, in terms of going to the university he wanted.<p>Masha Gessen has written a biography on Perelman in her book 'Perfect Rigor'. The book also serves as a commentary on the Russian Math culture (which is very very impressive by the way) and their education system.<p>Now reading this article, I want to read Edward Frenkel's book as well.<p>[1] - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grigori_Perelman" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grigori_Perelman</a><p>[2] - <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/24/grigori-perelman-reclusiv_n_511938.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/24/grigori-perelman-re...</a><p>Edit: typo

I'm often amazed by the stupidity of our species, but not usually infuriated.<p>Well, I guess that whole global race for talent didn't work out so well for the USSR.

I see questions here in the thread about how university selection currently works in the United States. There is quite an exhaustive thread on that subject, "'Race' in College Admission FAQ &#38; Discussion," on the College Confidential discussion site,<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1366406-race-college-admission-faq-discussion-10-a.html" rel="nofollow">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/13664...</a><p>and the first few FAQ posts in that thread link out to much official information about current United States policies on the subject, current college practice, and the controlling Supreme Court cases. There is, of course, a case currently before the Supreme Court that may result in a change in the controlling law, and commentary about the pending case is also linked to from that thread. The issue of admission of Jews to United States universities is also discussed there.

thank you for your remarkable courage and determination.

Interesting read and I've heard similar stories, as well as know one person who got in, but still talks about how terrible it was even after admission... this is of course terrible and blatantly stupid of any nation to discriminate of bright minds on questions of faith or origin... but what does it have to do with Hacker News?

From article: "People of other nationalities, like Tatars and Armenians, against whom there were prejudices and persecution—<i>though not nearly on the same scale as against the Jews</i>"<p>The Soviet Union <i>killed</i> Ukrainians by the <i>millions</i>.