Jewish Entrepreneurs

The first Jewish residents in St. Petersburg were wealthy merchants and physicians who had to be invited by the Russian court to live there due to bans on Jewish residency. Catherine the Great wished to bring Jewish contractors and physicians to the city, so she gave some Jews official protection to live in St. Petersburg. In 1861 Tsar Alexander II lifted restrictions and allowed certain categories of Jews, such as retired soldiers, those with higher education, and specific kinds of craftsmen, to live outside the Pale of Settlement, including in St. Petersburg. Jews with legal residence in St. Petersburg were allowed to invite rabbis to live there as well. A new community of Jewish elites, including professors, businessmen, bankers, and doctors, grew quickly in St. Petersburg. Jewish bankers, businessmen, journalists, scientists, and lawyers played increasingly important roles in society. Jewish entrepreneurs in St. Petersburg often owned residential buildings and rented out apartments to make a profit. 

 

Select from the drop down menu above to explore some of the Jewish entrepreneurs who owned buildings in St. Petersburg.

series of apartment buildings

M. K. Chaplits apartment building, Dobroliubov Prospekt 21A