Jews have had a presence in Poltava for more than 200 years, dating back to 1800. By 1900, there were more than 11,000 Jews living there (20 percent of the population), and the thriving community included 10 synagogues. Jews owned large flour mills, distilleries, lumber warehouses, and printing presses. They had a modern elementary school, attended by 300 children who studied both religious and general subjects. There was also a girls vocational school, a hospital and clinic, a home for the elderly, a bank, and a library.
The Jewish community in Poltava thrived for several decades, with the population growing to nearly 20,000 people. The town was a center for printing Jewish books, and many of the Jews worked in white collar jobs and various trades. The local sock factory was a major employer as well.
The Germans entered Poltava in September 1941. Fortunately, many Jews managed to escape just prior to the invasion. Of those who remained, 5,000 were killed almost immediately, and two months later another 3,000 Jews were executed. Others met a similar fate in the months that followed; the local Jewish cemetery includes 20,000 graves of people killed by the Nazis.
In the late 1960s, there were approximately 5,000 Jews living in Poltava. There was no synagogue, but many Jews prayed privately (practicing religion was prohibited in the former Soviet Union).
In the early 1990s, the Jewish community in Poltava started to rebuild, just as occurred all over the country. Many families knew of their Jewish heritage but were unfamiliar with the traditions and teachings. Gradually, local religious institutions were re-established, bringing people together to observe the holidays. Children began to learn in after school programs and summer camps. Slowly but surely the Jewish community has grown and now included hundreds of families.
The current ongoing crises has again brought significant hardship to the Jews of Ukraine. We continue our lifesaving work, providing for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the people.
