The Mysterious Encounter with Stalin: The Story of Yosef J.

Era: The 1960s. Location: The Soviet Union. Background: A KGB persona.

Yosef J. was a man whose name appeared in the press for fifteen years after Israel's founding. He was spotted at various locations worldwide, present and involved in significant events, and often close to famous individuals. Reports described him as a liaison between Israel and global leaders, passionately advocating for Jews in the Soviet Union until he vanished behind the Iron Curtain. These tales were attributed to a short man with a paralyzed left hand and a limp in his left leg. Journalist and author Chaim Guri wrote of his exploits after meeting him during Israel's War of Independence, alongside Palmach commander Yigal Allon.

This man frequently traveled, meeting on behalf of Israel with China's leader Mao Zedong, Soviet rulers, and was even photographed with the formidable Soviet President Joseph Stalin. He was also seen with French Prime Ministers, networking from India and China to Stockholm. Yet, his origins, identity, and background remained ambiguous. Some speculated J. was an operative of secret services, leading Israeli authorities to deem him a 'security risk,' prohibiting officials from engaging with him and warning Israelis abroad against forming connections with him for unknown purposes.

His identity unraveled when the press reported his arrest alongside an American businessman and imprisonment in East Germany. The duo was accused of smuggling goods into the communist nation and sentenced. His true name was revealed: Yosef Gabion Gutman.

He was born in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1926. There, he contracted polio, leaving him with a paralyzed left hand and a weakened left leg. During World War II, he worked to smuggle Jewish refugees, forging passports to save lives. After Israel's establishment, he immigrated but held onto numerous forged documents, including Polish, French, and Russian passports. Utilizing various identities, including his legitimate Swiss passport and Israeli citizenship, he garnered allies and assumed positions across different nations. He continued smuggling, now of a different nature — illegal goods.

J. successfully deceived authorities in various countries until his arrest in East Germany, where he was tried but did not serve a lengthy sentence. Unexpectedly released, he relocated to the Soviet Union, after which his trail faded away.