St. Petersburg from the Jewish Perspective: Life, History, Art

Sunday, August 27

USA 12:00 pm PT / 3:00 pm ET

UK 8:00 pm / France 09:00 pm / Israel 10:00 pm

The talk will last approximately 90 minutes

About this talk

St. Petersburg - the city which was the capital of the Russian Empire for 200 years, is known for its unique beauty and rich cultural heritage. Museums, palaces, bridges, squares, classical and modern architecture can be found all over. It's my privilege to show you the beauty of my city and much more; we will look at St. Petersburg through a Jewish lens.

We will learn about the Jewish history and heritage of St. Petersburg and about the 'maskilim' - enlightened, educated Jews who led the community in the 19th century. We will explore the role of Jews in the Russian Revolutionary events of 1917 and discuss the position of the Soviet Jews. We will learn about some well-known 'refusniks' and witness the miraculous changes and rebirth of Jewish life in St. Petersburg after the fall of USSR. While taking you around the city through images, I will also share with you my own family's story to illustrate the history and present-day life of our Jewish community.

If you have never been to St. Petersburg, this tour will give you a good taste of what the city is. If you have already visited St. Petersburg, this tour will show you the city and its Jewish Heritage in a new and unusual way.

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 the former Soviet Union and Scandinavia from a Jewish point of view. She currently lives in Haifa, Israel.

Choose your contribution amount

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.

Select below your type of admission. You will be asked to pay with credit card.