Judaism in Lithuania - Lithuanian Jews Under The Russian Empire

Lithuanian Jews Under The Russian Empire

See also: History of the Jews in Russia and the Soviet Union

In 1795 the final Third Partition ended the existence of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the former lands of the Grand Duchy of Lithuanian became part of the Russian partition.

By the end of the 19th century, many of Lithuania's Jews were part of the general flight of Jews from Eastern Europe to the New World due to conflicts and pogroms engulfing the Russian Empire and the anti-Semitism of the Russian czars.

Millions of Jews, including tens of thousands of Lithuanian Jews, emigrated to the United States of America. Many Lithuanian Jews emigrated to South Africa, which became famous as a haven for its 120,000 Jews who were spared the Holocaust. A small number also emigrated to the British Mandate of Palestine.