Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971

Russia and "Soviet Union": Jews in Omsk

Exiled Jews - Cantonists - first community - synagogues - numbers

from: Omsk; In: Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971, vol. 12

presented by Michael Palomino (2008)

<OMSK, town in S.W. Siberia, Russian S.F.S.R. The first Jewish settlers in Omsk were exiles to Siberia. During 1828-56 Jewish children who had been seized for military service were sent to the *Cantonist regiment in Omsk [[For Cantonists see also *Pale of Settlement]].

The community was formed by the exiles and ex-servicement o the Russian army.

In 1855 the first synagogue was founded and a second in 1873. The Jewish population numbered 1,138 Jews (3% of the population) in 1897.

There were 4,389 Jews in the province of Omsk in 1926

[[The Big Flight from Barbarossa to central Russia is not mentioned, and the heavy anti-Semitic propaganda and sovietization since 1948 not either]].

and 9,175 Jews in 1959.

[[These were those Jews who had the courage to indicate on the form that they were Jews. The real number can be estimated the double]].

In 1970 the Jewish population was estimated at about 10,000. There was no information available on organized Jewish life in Omsk and at that time no synagogue existed in the town.

[Y.S.]> (col. 1391)

[Table. Jews in Omsk]
Year	Number	Remark
1897	1,138
1926	4,389
1941-1945		Influx of Jews by the Big Flight from Barbarossa
1948-1959		Heavy anti-Semitic propaganda and sovietization
1959	9,175	These were those Jews who had the courage to indicate on the form that they were Jews. The real number can be estimated the double.
Table by Michael Palomino; from: Omsk; In: Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971, vol. 12

Sources

Encyclopaedia Judaica (1971): Omsk, vol. 12, col. 1391

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