9781422280171

From Prejudice to Pogrom In the empire of the Russian czars, anti-Semitism was a part of everyday life for centuries, and in times of economic difficulty, it flared up into full-blown pogroms. These were terrifying attacks against Jewish neighborhoods. Mobs vented their frustrations on what they saw as their ancestral enemy, burning homes and businesses and—all too often—killing people.  In the last decades of the 19th century, Russia’s economic plight grew more strained by the year—and in the early 20th century, the country collapsed under the strain of famine, social upheaval, war, and revolution. This, combined with the continued violent persecution of the Jews, sent many thousands to seek refuge across the waves.

Jewish children in the streets of Warsaw, Poland.

C ustoms and B order P rotection

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