Selected text
My parents got married after my father moved to Tallinn. They got acquainted at a party and got married in 1922. They had a traditional Jewish wedding. All local Jews had traditional weddings. Wealthy or poor, there was a chuppah and a ketubbah issued by a local synagogue. Religion was an integral part of the life of Jewish families at the time.
There was a large Jewish community in Tallinn. There were many wealthy Jews, big businessmen and store owners. They contributed significant amounts of money to charity. There were Jewish craftsmen: tinsmiths, barbers and tailors. There were many Jewish lawyers, doctors and teachers. When Estonia gained independence [3], and the first Estonian Republic [4] was established, the higher educational institutions canceled the Jewish quota and Jews got greater access to higher education.
The Jewish community was very proud of the Tallinn synagogue [5]. Built at the end of the 19th century, it was very beautiful.
There was no Jewish neighborhood or Jewish street in Tallinn. Jewish houses were scattered all across the town. There were wealthier houses in the central part of the city where land was more expensive, and the poorer settled down in the suburbs.
Jews faced no anti-Semitism in Estonia. In 1926 the Jewish Cultural Autonomy [6], giving more extensive rights to Jews, was established. There were various Jewish organizations in Tallinn, including the Women's Zionist Organization, WIZO [7], children's and young people's organizations, such as Betar [8] and Hashomer Hatzoir [9], the Maccabi sport club [10] and others. Jews enjoyed many freedoms.
There was a large Jewish community in Tallinn. There were many wealthy Jews, big businessmen and store owners. They contributed significant amounts of money to charity. There were Jewish craftsmen: tinsmiths, barbers and tailors. There were many Jewish lawyers, doctors and teachers. When Estonia gained independence [3], and the first Estonian Republic [4] was established, the higher educational institutions canceled the Jewish quota and Jews got greater access to higher education.
The Jewish community was very proud of the Tallinn synagogue [5]. Built at the end of the 19th century, it was very beautiful.
There was no Jewish neighborhood or Jewish street in Tallinn. Jewish houses were scattered all across the town. There were wealthier houses in the central part of the city where land was more expensive, and the poorer settled down in the suburbs.
Jews faced no anti-Semitism in Estonia. In 1926 the Jewish Cultural Autonomy [6], giving more extensive rights to Jews, was established. There were various Jewish organizations in Tallinn, including the Women's Zionist Organization, WIZO [7], children's and young people's organizations, such as Betar [8] and Hashomer Hatzoir [9], the Maccabi sport club [10] and others. Jews enjoyed many freedoms.
Period
Year
1922
Location
Talinn
Estonia
Interview
Henrich Kurizkes