The Jewish Autonomous Region of Birobidzhan in Siberia

The Jewish Autonomous Region (JAR) of Birobidzhan in Siberia is still alive. once famous “Siberian Zion”, at the confluence Bira and Bidzhan rivers, a stone’s throw away from China day Pacific Ocean, 9,000 km six days by train Moscow, geographical reality. political class Soviet Union decided to create territory size Belgium for settlement Jews, choosing region on border between Union. It believed that Jews needed, like other national minorities, homeland with territory. regime thus opted establish an enclave would become JAR 1934. We should note creation was first historically fulfilled case building officially recognised since antiquity well before Israel. Nevertheless, many historians declared this experiment failure history only tragic. interesting note, however, survival post-Soviet Russia has been not historical curiosity, legacy policy, but today – after collapse it represents very study. also topic useful analysis understanding inter-ethnic relations, cooperation, coexistence unique geographic resettlement produced special “local patriotism”, as example different ethnic groups living JAR, based Yiddish roots.