Tallinn is a gem at the heart of the Gulf of Finland. The ancient Hanseatic city is the capital of Estonia and also has a long Jewish history. It’s an amazing experience to join one of Gil Travel’s Jewish heritage tours of Estonia and explore Tallinn’s Jewish past. Estonian Jewry suffered through both Nazi and Soviet occupations, but the Estonian Jewish community endured and is actively preserving its unique culture.
The ultra-modern Tallinn Synagogue and historical Jewish cemetery are important Jewish landmarks in Estonia and are two highlights of a visit to a designated European Capital of Culture that has more than 60 museums and art galleries. When it comes to luxury accommodation, fine dining and high end travel experiences, modern Tallinn is light years away from the drab austerity of communism. A luxury tour of Estonia is a real delight!
The Resilient History of Estonia’s Jewish Community
Jews have lived in Estonia for hundreds of years. In the early 1200s Estonia was perceived as a wild pagan frontier, attracting the attention – and greed – of European Christian powers that launched the Northern Crusades. The conquering Teutonic Knights and other military orders were closely followed by merchants and traders, who were followed in turn by Jewish settlers. It’s likely that there was a small Estonian Jewish community by the 1300s.
The modern Jewish history of Estonia began in the 19th century when Jews started arriving in significant numbers. Talented and ambitious Jews left the Pale of Settlement to build new lives in the cities of Tallinn and Tartu, establishing the Tallinn congregation in the 1830s. Tragically, the Tallinn synagogue was destroyed by Russian bombing in World War Two. By the 20th century, most Estonian cities had a Jewish community, complete with schools, synagogues and cultural organizations.
The inter-war period was a brief golden age for Estonian Jews. The government policy towards all ethnic minorities was one of tolerance and respect, reinforced by an innovative legal concept of ‘cultural autonomy’ for individual groups. The Jewish community thrived and prospered, making a major contribution to wider Estonian society. The Estonians firmly rejected anti-Semitism in the 1930s and outlawed German inspire agitation against Jews.
Estonian Jewry began to suffer in 1940 when the Soviet Union invaded Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and unleashed communist repression. When the Germans invaded around 75% of the Jewish community in Estonia managed to flee. The rest – approximately 1,000 people – were murdered. Following the collapse of communism, Estonian Jewry quickly embraced freedom and began rebuilding their cultural institutions. A generation later, the small Estonian Jewish Community is secure and self-confident.
Must-Visit Jewish Heritage Sites in Tallinn
The seaside city of Tallinn is the main focus of Jewish heritage tours in Estonia. The center of Jewish life in the city is the striking Tallinn Synagogue (which also contains a mikveh and is next to the Estonian Jewish Museum). The synagogue – also known as the Beit Bella Synagogue – was inaugurated in 2007 and can seat up to 200 people. From the outside, the ultramodern design looks like almost anything except a synagogue. In fact, the architects succeeded in creating an open and airy space that’s filled with natural light and is decorated with traditional Jewish motifs and symbols.
The Tallinn Jewish cemetery is over a hundred years old and also contains a memorial to Estonian Holocaust victims. If your ancestors are buried in the cemetery or you want to find a specific grave, there is an electronic database that will show you exactly where to find each burial plot. Another important Holocaust monument and an outdoor exhibition is located at the site of the Klooga Concentration Camp. The camp is just a short drive from Tallinn and is set amidst beautiful forests and lakes, in stark contrast to its cruel history. Gil Travel can organize a private trip to Klooga with an expert guide.
If you want to experience a friendly Shabbat welcome in Tallinn, the local Chabad House is delighted to offer hospitality to American Jews. It also operates a kosher food service and community services and classes. Another great local organization is the non-profit JCC Tallinn. The JCC runs all kinds of interesting projects and community activities for all age groups. It’s a really good way to connect with members of the Jewish community of Estonia, make new friends and gain some special insights into a resilient Jewish culture. Gil Travel can arrange introductions and meetings with Estonian Jews and can coordinate a whole range of cultural activities from fun to highbrow.
Luxury Experiences While Exploring Tallinn’s Jewish History
Tallinn is a beautiful city and historical Hanseatic port, renowned for its architecture and culture. While you’re visiting the remaining Jewish landmarks in Estonia, it’s absolutely worth exploring Tallinn and soaking up the city’s culture and history. Jewish visitors are usually highly impressed by Estonian herring and other fish, as well as the traditional rye breads and dairy products. Gil Travel can arrange for kosher gourmet dining and opportunities to sample delicious Jewish Estonian dishes.
One reason why Gil Travel’s luxury Jewish heritage tours of Estonia are so popular with US Jews is that they can be tailored to a higher intellectual level than typical tour packages. If you are interested in the Jewish history of Estonia your tour itinerary can include exclusive guided tours led by local historians and cultural experts, lectures, visits to libraries or archives, and as much time as you need to really explore individual sites. If you want to plan a tour for a synagogue group, book club or another interest group, you can create a customized itinerary.
Since the collapse of communism, Estonia and the Baltic states have looked towards Europe and Scandinavia and quickly began to close the cultural and economic gap. Estonia is a great place for a luxury vacation with superb hotels, including boutique hotels and historic estates. It’s also a small country that’s easy to get around, especially if you opt for private transportation with your own chauffeur. Estonia has a tradition of tolerance and anti-Semitism never took root in mainstream society. US Jews are welcomed and generally find Estonians to be open and friendly people.
Crafting Your Perfect Jewish Heritage Tour in Tallinn
Estonia usually has pleasant summers and cold (but not extreme) winters. The autumn weather can be unpredictable and is often wet so most tourists prefer to visit between mid-May and mid-September. If you do travel in midsummer, you’ll enjoy ‘white nights’ with up to 18 hours of daylight and midnight twilight. It can be a real pleasure to enjoy long evenings and late sunsets, especially if you take a trip to the forests or to a national park, or just stroll through the old town and stop for a glass of locally produced vodka or fruit wine.
If you’re planning to take your kids or grandkids to Estonia, Gil Travel will suggest a range of options that will balance fun and energy-burning activities with the chance to learn about the Jewish history of Estonia and gain some valuable exposure to a fascinating foreign culture. Estonia has a beautiful coastline and islands, as well as pine forests and lakes and is a wonderful country for hiking, exploring and getting close to nature.
Estonia (and the other Baltic states) are not well-known in the US. That’s a pity because they have an important Jewish history and cultural heritage. There are also small modern Jewish communities that are delighted when foreign visitors give their cultural preservation efforts a boost. A tailored trip to Estonia with Gil Travel will open up a fascinating Jewish world in the Gulf of Finland. Estonia was a beacon of tolerance in the 1920s and 30s and produced an extraordinarily self-confident and culturally active Jewish community. The surviving – and new – Jewish landmarks in Estonia really come to life when you explore Tallinn and other cities with an expert tour guide.
Get Started with Gil Travel
A customized tour of Estonia is also a chance to sample the Baltic concept of luxury with top quality hotels and fine dining, as well as luxury shopping. Talk to Gil Travel today and start planning a tailored itinerary for you and your family (or travel group). If you have a family connection to Estonia, we may also be able to help you to research your family history and identify modern locations with a family connection.
