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Discover Jewish Odessa Jewish Pearl of the Black SeaOdessa, known as ‘The Pearl of the Black Sea” has an unparalleled and striking Jewish history. With over a million population, Odessa is Ukraine’s fourth largest city and a major seaport. It is a unique blend of Russian history and influence with a mediterranean flair. Jewish history and presence is strong and pervades this cosmopolitan city. The Odessa writer Isaac Babel called it “the city made by Jews.” With a Jewish population of approximately 400,000, Ukraine’s community is currently the fifth largest in the world. Jewish life in Odessa was renowned for prosperity and culture. The Haskala, the Jewish Enlightenment, manifested itself here with the first Jewish College in the world. It was also an important Zionist centre with the BILU and Am Olam Movements. The list of prominent Jewish citizens from Odessa would fill a book… This is where the world renown pianist Maria Grinberg lived. Called a “true feat of art,” she was the first Russian pianist to record all of Beethoven’s sonatas. International star of Yiddish theater, Jacob Adler began his career in Odessa. He was the father of the equally famous Stella of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York. The author and playwright Sholem Aleichem wrote his stories about Tevye the Milkman here which became the play Fiddler on the Roof. The list is endless! Even prominence and fame did not protect the Jews of Odessa from periodic outbursts of anti-Semitic violence and pogroms. This great community has seen its numbers diminish steadily. Before 1941 about half the population was Jewish. The Nazi terror as well as repression during Soviet times have left a community of 30,000. But it is a vibrant community, rightfully proud of its amazing history which could easily earn it the title “Jewish Pearl of the Black Sea.” Tour Options Package for cruise ship passengers (Black Sea cruise) Please see the "Discover Europe" section of our website for further tour options in Odessa. |
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