Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine:
Zhitomyr.
| Chairman of the community: Shlomo Wilhelm
Tel: +38 (0412) 22-66-08 Address: Malaya Berdichevskaya Str., 4, Zhitomyr |
Community history Education Community activities |
Community history
Zhitomyr Synagogue
Jews began settling in Zhitomir in the early 18th century. Even though officially they were not allowed to reside there until 1792. They were engaged in trade, crafts and contained inns and pubs.
In 1753 they built a blood libel.
In 1789 the Jewish population was one third of city residents (882 people).
In 1791 - 1261Jews lived in Zhitomir, and in 1847 - around 9,500 Jews.In the late 18th century Hasidism was widespreading around Zhitomir.
In the 19th century Zhitomir was one of the centers of Jewish cultural life.
In 1886 - 39 headers with 348 students and Talmud Torah with 423 pupils were registered in Zhitomir. In 1903-1904 - 54 headers, Talmud Torah, two-year collegewith 252 students, five private girls' schools with 372 pupils and women's vocational school operated there (from 1898). Jewish library operated
In 1847 The Rabbinical Trade-School was opened in Zhitomir, converted in 1873 to the Hebrew Teachers Institute, which was closed by the government as "unacceptable" in 1885
In the spring of 1920 the Jews of Zhitomir were suffering from the oppression of the Poles, who have seized the town. After the arrival of the Red Army (June 1920), Jewish institutions have been brought under control of the Soviet government and gradually eliminated.
In 1920, the Jewish Teachers College was opened in Zhitomir.
In 1922, all the headers and ieshivybyli closed.
In the late 1920s. header functioned underground. It was organized by Chabad Hasidim, in1934-37 years. - underground Chabad yeshiva . After the closing of the Yeshiva teachers have been sentenced to ten years imprisonment.
In 1945, the synagogue which was closed in 1962-63 years was opened.
In 1975 the Jewish cemetery was closed. In the 1970-1980's Jewish emigration to Israel and other countries. In 1989 the Jewish population of Zhitomyr was 10 700 (3.7%).
In 1992 the creation of the Jewish religious community in Zhitomir, at the same timethe community was returned to the synagogue.
At the same time young and energetic Rabbi Shlomo Wilhelm and his family arrives inZhitomir. Since then, Jewish life began to revive in the Zhytomyr region.
Over the past 16 years due to the energy and the daily work of Rabbi Wilhelm in Zhitomir a kindergarten and a Jewish high school, higher education institutions for girls and boys, Social and Rehabilitation Center "Children's Town" for orphans and disadvantaged children were founded.
Also during this time the Charitable Foundation "Or Avner", whose activities extend to ten areas of Western Ukraine and the Union of Jewish Religious Organizations of Zhytomyr region, which is composed of more than 70 Jewish communities located in the cities and towns of the thirteen regions Central and Western Ukraine were founded by Shlomo Wilhelm . Thanks to the work of Rabbi Wilhelm Zhytomyr became a center for thousands of Jews in western Ukraine.