During the second half of the 19th-century, photography became very popular in the Russian Empire. New photography studios were opening in the large cities. As in other businesses, Jews became active in this new field. Sculpture of early 20th century photographer installed in Minsk About half of all photo studios in the Pale of Settlement, belonged to Jews in the…
During the 18th-19th centuries in the Russian Empire, one of the harshest punishments was the transport of criminals to hard-labor camps in eastern Siberia. The climate there was terrible: In the winter, it was freezing; and in the summer it was very hot and humid. Swarms of mosquitoes and many wild animals made living conditions worse. The first prisoners were…
In September 1939, as a result of the agreement between Germany and USSR, part of the eastern region of Poland was added to Belarus. More than 350,000 Polish Jews became citizens of the USSR. Vilenskaya Street (currently Sovetskaya Street ) in town Lida – Beginning 20th century In 1940, an additional 66.000 Polish Jews asked the Soviet government for asylum…
Earlier this month, during demolition of an old house in Grodno, contractors found a container hidden in a basement wall. It contained 11 gold coins dating back to 1897-98, and a gold wedding ring inscribed in Hebrew: “Rebecca, beginning of Iyar.” The estimated value of the find is $3,000. The house is on today’s Antonova Street, which was called Jerusalimskaya…