Jewish Life in Europe Before the Holocaust

Jewish communities have existed in Europe for 2,000 years. Before the Holocaust, nine million Jews lived throughout Europe, in every country. More lived in Eastern Europe than in Western Europe. Poland, the Soviet Union and Romania had the largest Jewish populations. Although always a minority, Jews played an important role in European society and often felt a deep connection to the countries in which they lived. 

Jewish communities in pre-war Europe were diverse. Their religious practices, language and legal rights differed in each country where they lived. Many worked in trade, commerce or skilled crafts because of historic restrictions on the types of jobs they could hold. But Jews did every kind of work. The majority of European Jews were not rich, but their culture was vibrant and strong. 

Across pre-war Europe, Jews faced discrimination in varying degrees. In Western Europe, restrictions on Jews began to ease in the 1800s. New laws gave Jewish individuals civil rights and equality. Many became part of non-Jewish society through business, marriage or social association. They generally lived in large towns beside non-Jewish neighbours. A relaxed form of Judaism also became popular in Western Europe. 

In Eastern Europe, similar changes began in the 1900s. But there, it was common for Jews to live in towns called shtetls, apart from the non-Jewish population. Life in these towns was traditional and revolved around religious observances. Yiddish was the common language.