קיִעװ

Kiev, situated on the Dneiper River, has been a key commercial crossroad between Europe and Asia since its founding in the ninth century. Jews have lived in Kiev since its earliest days and have played a significant role in the city's economic development, despite perennial hostility from the surrounding community.

The Kievan Jewish community was wealthy and vibrant. By the end of the nineteenth century it had a beautiful synagogue, a hospital for the poor, over twenty schools, and a library. There were lawyers, physicians, and engineers, as well as merchants, artisans, and members of the military.

Jews made up about seventeen percent of Kiev University's student body. Golda Meir was born in Kiev. Shalom Aleichem lived in the city. Writers, among whom are Ilya Ehrenburg and J. Kaminer, were also natives of Kiev.