The Republic of Belarus

Jewish presence in Belarus dates back to the 8th century. By the first half of the 20th century, they constituted the third-largest ethnic group in the country. During the Holocaust, approximately 246,000 Jewish people were murdered in Belarus.

Currently, the Jewish community of Belarus is the third-largest in the former Soviet Union, following Russia and Ukraine. Minsk is home to the majority of the community, with approximately 20,000 Jewish residents. Significant populations also reside in Bobruisk, Mogilev, Gomel, Vitebsk, Brest, Grodno, and other cities. Synagogues and Jewish schools operate in most urban centers with a substantial Jewish population. The Union of Belarusian Jewish Public Associations and Communities was established in 1991.