Kosher stay is guaranteed. All Kosher travelers are welcome to make themselves feel like at home.
It is inspiring and encouraging when visitors from all over the world take interest in Jewish life in S.-Petersburg.
The history of the S.-Petersburg Jewish Religious Community dates back over 200 years.
During this historical period, a small group of Jews, at first, no more than chance visitors to the capital, has turned into a prosperous community rich in cultural, social and political traditions. Trough more than a century of its existence the St Petersburg Jewish community has been making a considerable impact on major aspects of Jewish life in the whole country. Moreover, in many respects it has been a center of spiritual and religious life of Russian Jewry.
Throughout its history, the Jewish community in our city has experienced periods of great progress, and has also survived through inevitable decline under the obscurantist Soviet regime. Today Jewish life in S.-Petersburg is undergoing a rapid revival. The heart of the city Jewish religious Community has always been and still is the Grand Choral Synagogue. Our Synagogue complex, one of the city`s architectural pearls unites under its roof a number of Jewish Community Institutions as well as people not indifferent to the Jewish culture, history, books, architecture, decorative applied art and many more. You can easily meet these members of Jewish community, enthusiastic knowledgeable professionals who can guide perfectly discovering the St.-Petersburg Jewish heritage as well as beauty and uniqueness of our city.
We invite you to join us and become friends of Jewish Community in St.-Petersburg!
With very individual approach and attention to every guest and to Jewish traditions we offer a range of touring options
The suggested tours and itineraries can be very flexible -under our guides professional supervision but based on your time availabilities, expectations, wishes, budget and special requirements.
We can organize unique tailor-made itineraries lasting from 1. 5 hours for a “Grand tour of the Grand Choral Synagogue Complex” or “ Tour of Old Jewish Cemetery Complex” to half/full-day tours of “Major Jewish Sites in St. Petersburg in the Past and Present”and even custom-made packages of multi day tours that will include the most attractive and most popular sights of the city as well.
Informative, high- class walking and driving tours of Jewish heritage in St. Petersburg and its outskirts at first-hand for individuals or groups.
Why to tour? Description in brief:
During the 19th – the beginning of the 20th century a small community of Jews who had temporary lived in the capital of Russian Empire turned into a unique, rich both in all aspects, community, which seriously influenced all the processes related to the life of Jews living on a huge territory of the huge country, and religious life of all Jews. The wealthiest and the best educated Jews of that time became the members, the spiritual leaders and material guarantors of the community. They were the people who played a big role in the life of all the state and who contributed to the integration of Russian Empire into the world economy and culture. By the end of the 19th century St. Petersburg became one of the biggest world centers of Jewish life: international Jewish organizations were created, congresses of Zionists were held, the most famous Jewish political figures visited them. Many Jews living there became very famous in the world culture. Tough the Jewish community underwent both the periods of unique spiritual growth and hard times of the obscurant period of Soviet regime, which resulted to large extent in assimilation of many Jews and their deviation from national and religious traditions. But today the religious and cultural Life of St. Petersburg Jews is actively reviving
Jewish Heritage of St. Petersburg covers major Jewish sites and buildings where former Jewish institutions have been located in the city, mansions of prominent Jews of the past, old “Kolomna”district the Jewish life has flourished in the 19th century. Some of theaddresses are related to the not a remote historic past of St. Petersburg Jews that even some people remember, to the struggle of Jews of the right to be authentic in the Soviet period. The addresses of contemporary Jewish organizations, Community Centers and exhibitions, working in the city are available as well as the Old Jewish Cemetery-the huge memorial Moorish style complex of 19 century designed by famous architects that is the burial place for many historical people.
The part of our city’s cultural heritage is the Grand Choral Synagogue, which is an architectural monument of federal importance. The Grand Choral Synagogue was erected in 1893 to the decree of the tsar Alexander II. It was built to the design of architects Y.Shaposhnicov and L.Bahman in Arabic-Moresque style and isthe second largest Jewish House of worship in Eastern Europe. The permission to build the synagogue met the expectations of the city`s Jews and also was approved by the most progressive members of the Russian intelligentsia. But the emperor`s signature sealing the legal side of the issue gave only the start to the 24years work on making the dream come true.
The Synagogue Complex is famous for the splendid interiors of the magnificent Main Sanctuary, the Small Synagogue, the Synagogue of Georgian Jews, the unique Wedding Hall (“Alexandrovsky” hall) with the permanent Jewish exhibit inside containing praying articles and ritual objects from the Jewish Religious Community collection. The Complex boasts a newly constructed Mikvah, akosherrestaurant “Lechaim”, free-of-charge canteen for the needy and a kosher shop, which sells kosher items as well as religious articles, souvenirs and books. The kindergarten and the boarding school are located are run by Jewish Religious Community and are placed also at the Synagogue Complex.
Glatt Kosher touring for those who want to have absolutely kosher comfortable experience wherever they are guaranteed. The guests are guaranteed only kosher leMehadrin food under the supervision of Rabbi Menachem-Mendel Pewzner, the Chief Rabbi of S-Petersburg (all the preparation process meets all the standards prescribed by Jewish religious law). *Many pages of the history of Jewish religious movement “Chabad” were connected to St.-Petersburg , special “Chabad” itineraries on request.
Without losing our inspiration we always emphasize on new roots, new sites discovering, constant research work and self- improvement to share the information and inspiration with our guests. Author`s and Narrow topic - are our pride. Lectures or special visits organization- can be an additional option.
Being members of Jewish Community affiliated to the Grand Choral Synagogue, having close relationship with many local representatives of all the Jewish Community Centers (JCCs) and Jewish organizations, knowing each other personally and making friendship –we have access to all the buildings premises and Jewish city points of interest , we know all the “hidden” places (hidden even from the eyes of locals) and can easily organize the meeting with religious community representative or meeting with the representative of one of the local Jewish Centers/Jewish organizations. We have many interesting, friendly and talented Jewish personalities (artists, painters, musicians, doctors, teachers, etc.) possible to meet with. Master-classes, concerts of Jewish music or any kind of event possible to be organized.
This trip can be exclusively remarkable, touching, really special and even informative in case your, or your family roots are traced back from St-Petersburg(Leningrad/Petrograd) or any other city of Russia that is a common thing for many of our guests. Some of our guides-historians and archivists will be happy to create a special “Expeditional” programs. Genealogy/Ancestral research - is available on request.
Exclusive itineraries for Jewish Heritage tour of St.-Petersburg-upon request.
For more information about the sites available and the possible programs please feel free to contact us.
Our experience allows us to offer the complex of different professional services to those planning trip to St.-Petersburg:
- General sightseeing tours
- Transport servicewith driver/tour guide
- Interpreters and translators
- Hotel accommodation special group price
- Visa Support/ tour-ticket required in order to disembark without visa for cruiser ship passengers
It is possible to feel the atmosphere of a great city, staying within the Jewish life having a great Jewish heritage touring experience. You can rely on us and feel yourself not like a guest but a relative!