Poland and Lita (jan 1, 1740 – jan 1, 1943)

Description:

Historic Poland and Lithuania, which includes modern Belarus and Ukraine. For most of this time period, the region was part of the Russian Empire. Revived as a center of innovative and influential Jewish learning by the Hassidic movement, subsequently home to the Hassidic and Misnagdic movements.

Nearby Hungary and Romania were also important centers of learning.

Perhaps the most significant center was Vilnius, Lithuania.

The majority of Ashkenazi Jews today are descended from this community.

The religious movements and philosophies of this community (perhaps most notably Hassidism) remain extremely influential today, and this community also saw the foundation of the Bundist and Labour Zionist movements.

Communities destroyed during the Holocaust, hy"d.

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