Rough notes taken listening to guide:
See pics below
6 synagogues in MoscowActive Jewish life now; Gorbachov ended State anti-semitism.
Pale of Settlement 16th century, abolished in 1817 huge influx of Jews, shtetls started disappearing.
Jews stopped observing wanting their children to blend in, assimilate.
After the revolution there was no anti-semitism. Stalin brought it back in, on his orders anti fascist committee of the cream of Jewry, (there was jewish theatre with scenery painted by Chagall.) 100 member committee exterminated in 1948. Doctors plot idea that Jewish doctors malpracticed on politicians.
Jews excluded from jobs etc marginal anti semitism. Refuseniks Golda Meir, they let Jews go, having broken Jews spirits withholding work and privileges. Jews sent to Siberia 1825 onwards, common place of exile, gulag camps Siberia and everywhere not exclusively Jews.
Many proud young Jews now. Jewish education available. 250,000 Jews in Moscow. There is Jewish secular university.
Chabad mostly. Reform doesn't have a synagogue, has services in memorial centre.
Kremlin Chanukah held there in 1992.
Jewish population involved in govt activities now. Jews might put different nationality on passport but everyone accepts that Jews are achievers. Now nationality is off the passport; it just says Russian citizen.
Russian orthodoxy and govt are in bed together. Resurgence of Russian orthodox religion.
Victory Park Synagogue
Jerusalem of Gold
Jewish partisans
Jerusalem of GoldBow Hill major commemorative place of WW2. Memorial buildings of different religions on this site. 1998 this Jewish memorial building-Holocaust museum opened. Educational, religious and historical.
Open to different denominations: reform, orthodox and Mountain Jews from the Caucuses (Crimea) more focused on regional nationality and closer to orthodox, one of the richest communities.
Student groups come here daily to learn about tradition, religion and the tragedy.
Russian Jewish congress who owns this have a lot of connections and activities with Christian groups realising its importance, particularly Protestants who study the Holocaust. Fund raises money in Lubavich, first ally of the righteous of the world. Purpose to find mass graves and put gravestones there, both Jewish and non-Jewish who work together. Last year commemorative dates honour former republic - working together very important, conferences about the Holocaust.
Guide addressing our group in Jewish Museum, Victory Park
Before WW1, 85% were Jewish doctors.
Nicolas 2nd limited Jewish doctors to 5%. They were allowed to immigrate. Mostly wealthy people could leave.
Candlesticks made of railway spikes, 1914, used at the front.
Documents to prove that Jews participated in parliament.
Documentary
Posters for Holocaust Memorial Day
(Ugly new city of the 60s called Mos Vegas. Plain grey Soviet buildings. Seen from bus, no photo.)
Beautiful boulevard on our way to the Poliokov Synagogue. Poliokov was a Jewish philanthropist who funded the building of shules and schools.
No comments:
Post a Comment