RussianJewish

Russian Jewish is a label for Jews with historical, cultural, or political ties to the lands of the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, or the modern Russian Federation. It includes Ashkenazi communities that formed in the Pale of Settlement and later settled in major cities such as Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and other urban centers. The history of Russian Jewry has included periods of restricted civil rights under imperial rule, violent pogroms in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and significant emigration during successive upheavals.

In the 20th century, Soviet policy limited religious life and independent Jewish organization, while promoting secular culture. The state established the Jewish Autonomous Oblast in the Far East in 1934 as a symbolic homeland. Jewish life persisted in cities through synagogues, schools, and cultural groups, though it faced periodic repression. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, many Russian Jews emigrated to Israel, the United States, and other countries, with others rebuilding communities inside Russia.

Culturally, Russian Jewry contributed to literature, science, music, and education. The Russian language remained a common medium, while Yiddish and Hebrew survived or revived in education and religious practice. Identity among Russian Jews today is diverse, spanning secular, traditional, and religiously observant communities, including Hasidic and Orthodox groups alongside those who identify primarily with Jewish culture.

Today, large Russian Jewish communities are centered in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, with smaller groups in other cities and in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast. The global diaspora includes Israel, the United States, and Europe. Contemporary concerns include preserving heritage, supporting Jewish education, combating antisemitism, and maintaining ties with the broader Russian-speaking world.