Riga Jewish History Tour

The history of the Jews of Riga is very rich and significant. Much of this heritage can still be seen today. In three hours with an experienced guide, both by car and on foot, it is possible to visit important places and receive information in a very concentrated way, but at the same time easily and comprehensibly. Please be informed on Shabbat and other Jewish religious holidays, the Synagogue and the Riga Ghetto Museum are closed. The duration of the tour depends on the intensity of the traffic on the street.

Itinerary

1. Several beautiful buildings in this part of the Riga was designed by Jewish architect Mikhail Eisenstein and in one of the buildings was born philosopher Isaiah Berlin. (30 min)
2. This is former territory of Riga Jewish Ghetto where many buildings are in the same shape as 80 years ago in the WW II time. (30 min)
3. On July 4, 1941, more than 300 hundreds of Jewish refugees from Lithuania and local Latvian Jews were herded into the basement of the synagogue which was then intentionally burned to the ground. There is a momorial place today. (15 min)
4. In November of 1941, the Nazi decided to completely exterminate Jewish prisoners of the Riga ghetto. During the events which took place on the 30th of November and the 8th of December of 1941, more than 25,000 people were killed in the Rumbula forest, including approximately a thousand of Jews who were deported from Germany. A complete memorial was opened on the 29th of November 2002. (1h 0min)
5. The Museum of Riga Ghetto and Holocaust in Latvia: a window into the story of the Riga Ghetto, the Holocaust in Latvia and Jewish life in Latvia before the Holocaust. (30 min)
6. The Riga synagogue on Peitavas Street is one of Riga's Art Nouveau jewels and a significant cultural monument. he Synagogue was built 1903-1905 and designed in the Art Nouveau style with Ancient Egyptian motives. (45 min)