Kirovograd

Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine:

Kirovograd.

Community history 

The first mention of Jew residents of Elizavetgrad (Kirovograd at that time) appear in 1765.

Jews were allowed to settle only in 15 of 50 provinces of Russia including the Kherson province to which the Elizavetgrad belonged. Given the favorable geographical location of the city, the Jewish population began to increase significantly. In 1911 the Jewish population of the city reached 29,518. Life of the Jewish community has become part and parcel of city life. The city had 14 synagogues and prayer houses, including the famous Grand Choral Synagogue, which was completed in 1853. In 1895 the architect Lishnevskiy begun and in 1896 completed the reconstruction of the Choral Synagogue. It has acquired the look which it has today. Charity got great development. A network of soup kitchens was organized where one could dine just for a penny.

Jews have made a significant contribution to the development of Elizavetgrad. Some years up to 80% of doctors were Jews. The city had several Jewish Theatres. Jews were skilled musicians, journalists and actors. In Elizavetgrad in 1897 an electric tram was put on rails, the fourth in the Russian Empire, sponsored by a well-known entrepreneur Brodsky. A significant part of industrial and banking entrepreneurs were Jews.

During the existence of the Jewish community of Elizavetgrad it survived three routs: in 1881, 1905 and 1919. During the Holocaust more than 15 thousand people were destroyed in Kirovograd and in the Kirovograd region 22 745 people of Jewish nationality were killed.