Jewish Odessa

In 1940-s Odessa was the third city in the world in the number of the Jewish population (after New York and Warsaw). Only 3% of Odessa’s one million population are Jewish. Approximately 30 thousand Jews live in Odessa today. Despite this remaining small fraction of Odessa’s once thriving Jewish population this city continues to be considered a Jewish city. In 1916, the famous writer Isaac Babel described Odessa as “the city made by Jews”. In an attempt to understand Babel’s words of wisdom, one should not treat his writings as mere slogans but rather try to interpret their meaning.

It is hard to imagine today how many restrictions and regulations were imposed upon the life of every Jew in the Russian Empire. But, the young Odessa was heaven on earth for its Jewish settlers. On the territory of Odessa Jews received almost equal rights to other citizens of the city. Is it, then, surprising that one hundred years after the birth of Odessa one third of its population was Jewish? In Babel’s words, this city became “The Star of Exile.”

Join our tour to fill the unforgettable Jewish spirit of South Palmyra.