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Shtetl Part 1: A Jewish Universe
Sunday, February 8
USA 12:00 pm PT / 3:00 pm ET
UK 8:00 pm / France 9:00 pm / Israel 10:00 pm
The talk will last approximately 90 minutes
About this talk
A shtetl is often defined as a Jewish market town located in the territory of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and, later, within the Russian Empire's Pale of Settlement. Typically small and self-contained, shtetls were vibrant centers of Jewish communal life, culture, and tradition.
Yet such simple definitions do not fully capture the importance and influence of the shtetl in Jewish history.
This talk invites us to explore the many questions surrounding the phenomenon of the shtetl:
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What made the shtetl unique?
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Why do some researchers refer to it as a "Jewish Atlantis"?
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What shaped the distinctive character of Jewish communal life in these towns?
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What qualifies a town as a shtetl?
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What did a typical shtetl look like, and who lived there? Were non-Jews part of shtetl life?
We will also examine food, traditions, language, beliefs, occupations, community structure, and other key elements of everyday life in the shtetl.
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 Belarus. She has been an official St. Petersburg tour guide for over 15 years and is the founder and owner of St. Petersburg Jewish Tours, a company offering Jewish travelers a unique experience, highlighting the best of the former Soviet Union and Scandinavia from a Jewish point of view. She currently lives in Spain.
You may also be interested in
Shtetl Part 2: A Virtual Tour of the Once Jewish Towns of Eastern Europe on February 12
Shtetl Part 3: Exploring the lives of Jewish children in Eastern Europe on February 15
RECORDING INFORMATION
This talk will be recorded and shared with registrants the day after.
It will be available for 3 days, and 7 days for members.
Click here to register
You will be asked to select one of these options:
General admission - $18
Supported admission - $9
Sponsor this talk - $36
With your contribution you will also be donating to The Together Plan, a small charity with a big vision - to put Jewish Belarus back on the world map and help isolated Jewish communities find their voice and learn skills for self-development.