Explore Jewish Estonia: A Virtual Journey Through History and Heritage

This time, our travels take us to Estonia—a small gem on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea.
Renowned for its natural beauty, Estonia is a land of lush forests, sparkling lakes, tranquil islands, and ancient fortresses.

At the heart of our journey is Tallinn, the capital city, often praised as "the best-preserved medieval town in Northern Europe." With its wide walls, towering spires, and narrow cobblestone streets, Tallinn transports visitors back to the 16th and 17th centuries.

While evidence of Jewish presence in Estonia dates back to the 14th century, the community truly began to take shape after 1865, following the reforms of Russian Tsar Alexander II.

My virtual tour will guide you through 150 years of Jewish life in Estonia, exploring the resilience and legacy of this vibrant community.

We’ll start with the Jewish community’s rise to commercial success in the late 19th century.

From there, we’ll delve into the fascinating phenomenon of Jewish Cultural Autonomy during the Independent Estonia of the 1920s and 1930s.

We’ll confront the dark chapters of the Holocaust and Soviet repression in the 1940s, and hear the courageous stories of Jewish refuseniks in Estonia during the late Soviet era.

Finally, we’ll arrive in modern times, where the Jewish community has been reestablished in an independent Estonia.

We’ll visit the Tallinn Synagogue and the Jewish Museum, and explore the contemporary Jewish community, discussing Estonia’s current attitudes toward Jews, Israel, the Holocaust, and other significant topics.

Join me on this journey through Estonia’s rich Jewish history—past, present, and future.