Jewish Moscow:

A century and a half of upheaval and resurgence

Sunday, December 12

USA (10:30 am PT / 1:30 pm ET)

UK 6:30 pm / France 7:30 pm / Israel 8:30 pm

The talk will last approximately 90 minutes

About this talk

Moscow, capital of modern Russia, is home to the largest Jewish community in the country, numbering some 250,000 people. Today Jewish life here flourishes, and anyone traveling to Moscow will find beautiful historical and new Synagogues, Community Centers, Jewish museums and more. The community is also known for its rich religious and cultural life. But it was not the same in the past.

Our talk will cover the period of about 140-150 years, from the time when Jews were first allowed to settle in Moscow to the present days. We will look at the Jewish business empires of the late 19th century and find their traces today. We will find out how a Jew became the best Russian landscape artist and will speak about the time when Jews were expelled from the city. We will visit the Old Choral Synagogue and the Bolshaya Bronnaya Synagogue as well.

We will learn the unique story of a modern "shtetl" created in the early 20th century and which still exists today. We will discuss the economic activities of the Soviet Jews in the small towns around Moscow - and how their traditional role as middlemen continued even during communism. We will look at the Jewish Community Center in Marina Rosha and visit the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center - dedicated to the history of Russian Jews. Finally, we will also pay a visit to the Holocaust Memorial Synagogue located in the Victory Park.

About Evgenia

Evgenia Kempinski is a Russian Jew born and raised in St. Petersburg. Her family was originally from the Pale of Settlement - Poland, Ukraine and Belorussia. She has been an official St. Petersburg tour guide for over 15 years and she is the founder and owner of St.Petersburg Jewish Tours - a company offering Jewish travelers a unique experience of showcasing the best of Russia from a Jewish point of view.
She currently lives in Haifa, Israel, still keeping close connections with St. Petersburg and its Jewish community.

This event is live and interactive and spots are limited

Choose your contribution amount

With your contribution you will also be donating to the Jewish Family Center "Adain Lo" located in St. Petersburg, Russia, a unique Family Center which unites over 1,000 families in St. Petersburg. Among the programs there are kindergartens with inclusive education, help to families in need, family camps, travel and more.

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