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World Jewish News
Jewish Theme in Krasnoyarsk Museum
04.03.2009
In Krasnoyarsk, the 120th anniversary of the Regional Studies Museum was celebrated grandly.
Interest in the event is natural. Krasnoyarsk Museum has been considered the best regional studies museum in the USSR and Russia for decades already, it is also marked by the UNESKO. The Jewish theme of Krasnoyarsk area is modestly presented at the jubilee exhibition, although in the history of Krasnoyarsk, the Jews have left a noticeable trace. However, this is not only due to the extremely limited exposition area.
In the museum's storerooms, until recently, there have been little materials of Jewish culture but for the five Torahs, two of which have been given to Krasnoyarsk synagogue for usage, and one - as a gift. It is from this Torah that prayers are read.
However, at the exhibition, in the section "Photo on Yenisey" Jewish names prevail.
The first photo salon and photography editions appeared in 1865 thanks to the Akselrod family: Mendel Boruhovich and his wife (mistress of the salon) Roshna. His photo album "Great Way. Views of Siberia and the Great Railroad (from the rivers Ob to Yenisei)," published in Vienna, won the first prize at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900.
At the turn of the century, great popularity was enjoyed by photo salons of the Lutansky family (Joseph and Freida), M. Shapiro, and others. Excellent positives with amazing artistic and technical qualities are exhibited. Especially interesting is children's series.
As for the other sections, the Jewish theme can be seen only in a 3-story glass cabinet, where a shelf is devoted to Islam, Jews and Catholics.
At the "Jewish shelf," there are candlesticks, a Chanukah candleholder, Easter dish, the children's Torah and a kippah, all recently manufactured in Israel, and "Tfilat Israel" - a book of prayers in an artistic cover carved from bone (Vienna, 1892).
And in the middle there is a picture of the Chief Rabbi Berl Lazar presenting memorable Chanukah candleholder to Krasnoyarsk Rabbi Benjamin Wagner.
Nine years ago, the scientific worker of the museum N.A. Orekhova became interested in the Jewish theme of the museum under the influence of Victoria Davidovna Usova (now living in Israel).
Natalia Alekseyevna is now a sincere friend of the Jewish community. On her own initiative she established a personal fund of local Jewish leaders, and got involved in studying the history of the Jewish community in Krasnoyarsk and the province.
The unique material collected by her became a basis for a doctoral dissertation in history in 2008 on the topic: "The Jewish community of Yenisei province during the 1800s – 1930s."
Besides, she also created with the support of JDC a beautiful museum inn the community with a replacement exposition (people, books, documents, holocaust, objects of worship and utensils, hand-made objects), which is a reason for envy of many national and cultural autonomies, a variety of exhibitions of paintings and photographs.
Ahead is an extensive and interesting project on the Krasnoyarsk libraries. The three largest libraries - regional, city and children's library – originate from the rich collections of bibliophiles - Jews who have "voluntarily" given away their collection to the State in the early 20's after the revolution.
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