He has constantly involved himself in political and international affairs, Russia's support for Arab states, and the Arab–Israeli conflict, such as when he spoke out against a 1991 state visit by Soviet Foreign Minister Alexander Bessmertnykh's visit to Israel: "Jews who spent years in Soviet prisons were far less enthusiastic than most Israelis about Soviet Foreign Minister Alexander Bessmertnykh's historic visit here Friday. ... 'It's nothing but a bad dream,' said Yosef Mendelevitch, another former Soviet prisoner, commenting on Bessmertnykh's visit, the first by a Soviet foreign minister to Israel. Mendelevitch spent about a decade in Soviet prisons on charges of attempting to hijack an airplane to Israel. He was freed and permitted to emigrate in 1981. He told Israel radio that he still distrusts the Soviets because of Moscow's alliance with Arab states. 'We should remember that a lot of the blood spilled here in the last 40 years was with Soviet weapons,' he added. Sharansky and Mendelevitch also criticized the Soviet leader for hinting Thursday in Amman that the tide of Soviet immigrants to Israel could be halted unless Israel stops building Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip." There have been many articles, books and documentaries about his life. Sources Unbroken Spirit: A Heroic Story Of Faith, Courage and Survival, Gefen: 2012. . Fear No Evil: The Classic Memoir of One Man's Triumph over a Police State, Public Affairs: 1998. . מבצע חתונה אסיר ציון (Hebrew original) http://www.ou.org/jewish_action/05/2013/up-close-with-rabbi-yosef-mendelevich/ References 1947 births Baalei teshuva Israeli activists Israeli Orthodox rabbis Mercaz HaRav alumni Living people Clergy from Riga Soviet dissidents Refuseniks