ODESSAPHILE: Jews in Odessa: a Story of Cultural Cross-Pollination

Odessa, the largest port on Black Sea in Ukraine, became a unique
cosmopolitan city in an ocean of traditionally isolated Russia. Why did
all the residents of many ethnicities in Odessa, even those who were
non-Jews, speak in the strong slang of Yiddish/Ukrainian/Russian mix
sparkled with Italian, French, and English, in which all residents of
Odessa insisted on communicating among themselves? Why do visitors of
Odessa feel the impression of a Middle Eastern or European Mediterranean
city and definitely not a Russian city? Why is Odessa the cradle of
Reform Judaism, the Resistance Movement, Zionism, Yiddish literature,
Klezmer music, and so many brilliant talents in many areas of the arts,
literature, and science? Why are violinists from Odessa so famous
worldwide? Why is Odessan humor world famous for its sarcasm? Was it not
this humor that made the Jewish writers from Odessa internationally
renowned? Why are Odessans so firm in their determination not to submit
to Russian imperialism? What does Odessan Jewish culture have to do with
it? Why is it a birthplace of Jewish resistance fighters: the National
Committee of Jewish Self-Defence that were the groups formed of young
secondary school students who singlehandedly protected the city
residents from pogroms during periods of rebellion and revolution. This
spirit of student resistance gave rise to the Bundists and the Social
Democrats. Why only in Odessa were these new Maccabees protecting the
Jewish population from pogroms while the Jews in the rest of the Pale of
Settlement were decimated? Only in Odessa will you find the answers.