In Estonia, Looking Beyond Jewish Renewal to a Strong Jewish Future

Dormant for more than 50 years, Jewish life in Estonia was reborn in 1989 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. A small community of about 4,000, Estonian Jewry has since made great strides in its efforts to reclaim a Jewish heritage nearly lost during the Holocaust and half a century of religious repression under Communism.

Today, the Jews of Estonia – the vast majority of whom live in the capital, Tallinn – are creating a vibrant hub of Jewish activity. By attracting new members through innovative programming for youth, the elderly and the middle generation, the community and JDC are working together to ensure a continuum of Jewish life and leadership for the future.

Since the Dor va Dor Jewish community center was opened in Tallinn in 2000, it has become a home away from home for the younger generations. Here, they attend Sunday school, madrich training courses, holiday celebrations and diverse social activities. JDC strives to intensify each program’s Jewish component, reconnecting as many Jews as possible to their roots, and to one another.

The elderly, too, are a vital part of Estonian Jewish life. With support primarily from JDC and the Claims Conference, the Welfare Center -- a freestanding program based in the community center complex -- provides survivors with services ranging from homecare to hot meals. The center also organizes holiday gatherings, a Jewish food club, and other activities to offer golden-agers a meaningful social outlet.

Middle generation members (people 35-55 years old) – having spent most of their lives under Communism – until recently had no Jewish connection of their own. So JDC launched the Gesher ("bridge") program at the community center to draw them into community life. Now, while their children attend the Jewish school and their parents the Golden Age clubs, a core group from the middle generation participates in Shabbat celebrations, Judaism courses and yoga classes, helping to close the Jewish family circle.

The revitalization of Jewish life in Estonia has come a long way in the little more than a decade since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Members are now eager to invest in the Jewish community, from paying membership dues at Dor va Dor to volunteering their time to help launch new initiatives. Through their ongoing cultivation of a new generation of leaders and strong partnership with JDC, they now look beyond Jewish renewal to a strong Jewish future.