Exploring The Jewish Population Left In Belarus

The Jewish population in Belarus has a long history, dating back to the 8th or 14th century. Over the centuries, the Jewish community in the region has faced various challenges, including persecution, violence, and migration. Before World War II, Jews were the third-largest ethnic group in Belarus, comprising more than 40% of the urban population. However, the Holocaust resulted in the deaths of an estimated 600,000 to 900,000 Jews in Belarus, with some sources stating that 90% of the Jewish population was killed. In recent years, the Jewish population in Belarus has continued to decline, with estimates ranging from 12,926 to 60,000 as of 2023. Antisemitism and indifference from the Belarusian government have also been concerns for the Jewish community in the country.

Jewish population in Belarus before WWII

The Jewish population in Belarus before World War II was significant, with Jews living in all parts of the country since as early as the 8th century. By the 14th century, there was a well-established Jewish presence in the region, and by the early 19th century, approximately 200,000 Jews (5% of the total population) lived in Belarus. This number grew steadily, and by 1897, the Jewish population had reached 910,900, constituting around 14.2% of the total population.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, economic developments and new opportunities led to the migration of many Jews to urban centres such as Minsk, Bobruisk, Vitebsk, Pinsk, and Gomel. Despite widespread poverty, Jewish cultural life flourished, with various religious, Zionist, socialist, and communist movements active in the country.

Following the Polish-Soviet War (1919-1920) and the Treaty of Riga, Belarus was divided into Eastern Belorussia (under Soviet occupation) and Western Belorussia (under Polish occupation). This division had a significant impact on the Jewish population, with 350,000-450,000 Jews coming under Polish rule. Despite this, prior to World War II, Jews remained the third-largest ethnic group in Belarus, comprising more than 40% of the urban population. Cities like Minsk, Pinsk, Mogilev, Babruysk, Vitebsk, and Gomel had Jewish populations of over 50%.

In the late 1930s, with the Soviet annexation of Eastern Poland, Belarus was once again united, and the Jewish population within its borders increased significantly. By 1939, the Jewish population in Belarus was estimated to be around 1,175,000, including Jews from Poland, Ukraine, and other neighbouring regions.

However, the outbreak of World War II brought devastating consequences for the Jewish community in Belarus. The German occupation, which began in the early months of the war, led to the establishment of around 250 ghettoes across the country, with the largest in Minsk, holding 100,000 prisoners. The Holocaust resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Belarusian Jews, with estimates ranging from 600,000 to 900,000 victims.

Jewish life in Belarus before the Holocaust

Prior to World War II, Jews were the third-largest ethnic group in Belarus and made up more than 40% of the urban population in cities such as Minsk, Pinsk, Mogilev, Babruysk, Vitebsk, and Gomel. Most Belarusian Jews lived in small towns called shtetls and worked as petty merchants, shopkeepers, artisans, craftsmen, or farmers. Despite widespread poverty and economic restrictions, Jewish cultural life flourished, with religious, Zionist, Bundist, socialist, and communist movements competing for the youth's hearts. The region also became the centre of the Jewish Hasidic movement and produced incredible scholarship, literature, and culture.

The tolerant rule of Duke Gediminas in the 14th century allowed the Jewish community to thrive and spread throughout the northern provinces of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which encompassed modern-day Belarus. Over time, the Jewish population grew in wealth and influence, with communities in Brest, Grodno, Minsk, Trakai, and Lutsk prospering under the leadership of Jewish elders.

However, the expulsion of Jews from Lithuania between 1495 and 1503 disrupted this prosperity. While the expulsion was not accompanied by cruelties, it was a result of religious reasons, the need to fill depleted treasuries, and personal animosity. Many of the exiles settled in Poland, while others migrated to Crimea.

In the late 19th century, rapid economic development and new social and economic opportunities led to the migration of a majority of Jews to urban centres. This period also saw the rise of the Jewish socialist movement in Belarus, with the Bundist movement beginning operations in 1897.

The Treaty of Riga in 1920 split Belarus into Eastern Belorussia, under Soviet occupation, and Western Belorussia, under Polish occupation, causing 350,000-450,000 Jews to fall under Polish rule. The Soviet occupation brought brutality and violence, with tens of thousands of Belarusians, including Jews, being labelled "anti-communist" and deported to labour camps. This set the stage for future violence against the Jews, who were accused of collaborating with the Soviets.

By the beginning of World War II, there were an estimated one million Jews in Belarus, including refugees from the German invasion of Poland. The German occupation during the war resulted in the establishment of ghettos and the killing of hundreds of thousands of Belarusian Jews.

The Holocaust's impact on Belarus's Jewish population

The Holocaust had a devastating impact on Belarus's Jewish population, which has never recovered.

Before World War II, Jews were the third-largest ethnic group in Belarus, comprising more than 40% of the urban population. In 1939, there were around 1,175,000 Jews within its borders, including 275,000 Jewish refugees from Poland, Ukraine, and elsewhere. This was a significant increase from the 910,900 Jews (14.2% of the total population) recorded in 1897.

The Holocaust brought about a near-total collapse in these numbers. It is estimated that 800,000 of the 900,000 Jews in Belarus were killed during the Holocaust—a loss of 90% of the country's Jewish population. The remaining 10% of the Jewish population either fled the country or went into hiding.

The mass murder of Jews in Belarus occurred between July 1941 and October 1943 in more than 500 ghettos, concentration camps, and mass killing sites. The Nazis and their collaborators used a variety of methods to kill the Jews, including shooting, hanging, and gassing. Many Jews were also killed in pogroms carried out by local anti-Semites. The largest ghetto was in Minsk, with 100,000 prisoners. Other large ghettos were located in Grodno, Brest, Baranovichi, and Pinsk.

By the end of the Holocaust, only a tiny fraction of Belarus's Jewish population had survived. The postwar years saw a gradual decline in the Belarusian Jewish population, as many of those who remained emigrated to Israel and the United States. This trend has continued in recent decades, with a significant increase in Jewish emigration following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the establishment of an independent Republic of Belarus.

Today, there are only an estimated 13,705 self-identifying Jews in Belarus, according to the 2019 census. However, the Israeli embassy in Belarus claims there may be up to 50,000 people of Jewish descent in the country as of 2017.

Jewish life in modern-day Belarus

The Jewish community in Belarus is represented by the Union of Belarusian Jewish Public Associations and Communities, which comprises about 100 Jewish organizations from nearly 20 Belarusian cities. The Union acts as a representative body to ensure that the Belarusian Jews are accounted for in governmental or regional affairs, and it also works to aid the practice of Jewish religious and cultural life in the country. There are over 70 religious and non-religious Jewish communities in Belarus, with 34 being members of the UBJOC, and the rest being part of the Litvak, Chabad, and Reform religious movements.

The Jewish population in Belarus has fluctuated over the years due to various historical events. Before World War II, Jews were the third-largest ethnic group in Belarus and comprised more than 40% of the urban population. The population of cities such as Minsk, Pinsk, Mogilev, Babruysk, Vitebsk, and Gomel was more than 50% Jewish. However, during World War II, the Holocaust resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Belarusian Jews. It is estimated that 800,000 to 900,000, or 90%, of the Jewish population in Belarus were killed during this period.

In recent years, the Jewish population in Belarus has continued to decline. According to the 2019 Belarusian census, there were 13,705 self-identifying Jews in the country, most of whom are of Ashkenazi origin. However, local Jewish organizations put the number higher, at around 30,000 to 50,000. The Israeli embassy in Belarus also claims knowledge of 30,000 to 50,000 Belarusians with Jewish descent as of 2017. The exact number of Jews in Belarus today is difficult to determine due to varying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Different definitions, such as the 'core' Jewish population, population with Jewish parents, 'enlarged' population, and 'Law of Return' Jewish population, can yield different estimates.

Despite the challenges and a history of antisemitism, Jewish life in modern-day Belarus persists and even thrives in certain aspects. There are numerous Jewish cultural institutions, schools, and publications. Kosher food is available, and there is a kosher restaurant in Minsk. Jewish charitable organizations provide support to needy Jews, and there are also organizations for war veterans and Holocaust survivors. Additionally, grassroots efforts to document and preserve Jewish heritage have led to the renovation of historic Jewish sites, the return of synagogues and cemeteries to Jewish communities, and the establishment of museums and memorials dedicated to Jewish history and culture.

Jewish emigration from Belarus

In the 19th century, the Jewish population in Belarus grew significantly, reaching 910,900 people or 14.2% of the total population in 1897. However, towards the end of the century, the economic situation of many Belarusian Jews worsened, leading to a wave of emigration starting in the 1870s. This emigration was also influenced by the rise of the Jewish socialist movement and Zionism in the region.

The 20th century brought further turmoil and upheaval for the Jewish community in Belarus. Following the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the Treaty of Riga in 1921, Belarus was divided between Poland and the Soviet Union, impacting the Jewish population on both sides of the border. During the Soviet occupation, tens of thousands of Belarusians, including Jews, were deported, arrested, or killed for alleged "anti-communist" activities.

The outbreak of World War II and the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 had devastating consequences for the Jewish community. Many Belarusian Jews attempted to flee to Soviet territory but were either stopped by German troops or prevented from crossing the border by Soviet soldiers. Those who remained were subjected to massacres, pogroms, and deportations to ghettos and concentration camps. It is estimated that 600,000 to 900,000 Belarusian Jews were killed during the Holocaust, with some sources placing the figure even higher at 751,861.

After World War II, Belarus remained under Soviet control, and antisemitism continued to be prevalent. Jewish religious and cultural life declined, and many Jewish institutions were shut down. As a result, a significant number of Jews emigrated from Belarus to Israel and the United States in the postwar years and the following decades.

The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the establishment of an independent Republic of Belarus led to a revival of Jewish life in the country. However, antisemitism remained an issue, and concerns about the Jewish community's status persisted. Despite these challenges, Belarusian Jewish organizations continued their efforts to promote and preserve Jewish religious and cultural traditions.

In recent years, several factors have contributed to an increase in Jewish emigration from Belarus. According to the World Jewish Congress, a recent study estimates the current Jewish-Belarusian population to be around 14,000 to 60,000. In 2023, there was a significant increase in the number of Belarusian Jews making aliyah to Israel, with 388 individuals emigrating, representing a 229% increase compared to previous years. Additionally, events such as the 2020-2021 Belarusian protests and the country's involvement in the Russo-Ukrainian War have also contributed to the rise in Jewish emigration.

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