International Survey of Jewish Monuments

New Museum Brings Jewish History to Life in Tatarstan
(Federation of Jewish Communities of CSI 02/07/05)

KAZAN, Russia – In the very near future, the Jewish community of Kazan will open its doors to the past, with the launching of its new Jewish History Museum. Located in the city’s Jewish Community Center, people from throughout the region will now have the opportunity to view a series of historical artifacts that relate the rich history of the Jewish community, which dates back to the time when Jews began to settle in this region and form their own community here.

Anya Semolina, the Director of the ‘Chesed Moshe’ Charity Center, spearheaded this initiative for establishing such a museum locally.

Members of the Jewish community in Kazan are excited about the upcoming opening their museum. The museum is divided into two sections, the first of which depicts the life of Jews from the time of the ‘Cantonists’ (Jewish children forcefully conscripted to the army under Tsar Peter I). Dating from their settlement in Kazan, the museum is designed to carry its visitors right through to the Soviet revolution. Among the exhibit pieces are numerous documents containing the name of Jewish community members in the pre-revolution period.

The second half of the museum portrays the life of the Jewish community from the rise of communism, through to the modern day. With a sizeable number of items on display, the pieces depicting the 20th century include Tefillin, Mezuzot and a ritual shoichet’s knife.

"The Museum was established mainly for the younger generation, to show them that here in Kazan there was once a strong Jewish community, so that they may take pride in that," explained the city's Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Gorelik. "Through this and other initiatives, we are gradually returning towards this today."