Berezino

The origins of the Berezino Jewish community date back to the sixteenth century. In 1905, many Jews participated in the revolutionary events that took place in the town. The famous actor of the Habima Theatre, Hanna Rovina, was born in Berezino.

Like many other Jews in the region, the Jews of Berezino suffered pogroms during the Russian Civil and Soviet-Polish Wars. During the interwar period, a Yiddish school operated in the town. During the anti-religious campaign of 1929-1930, some synagogues in the town were closed. In 1939, just over 1,530 Jews were living in Berezino, half the total population of the town.

The Germans captured Berezino on July 3, 1941. Together with the local Jews, all Jews from the surrounding neighborhoods were concentrated in the town’s ghetto. During a mass murder operation that lasted from August - December 1941 or January - February 1942 (according to other sources) more than 1,000 Jews were exterminated. The Berezino ghetto was liquidated during the last murder operation. The Red Army liberated the town on July 3, 1944.