Yerusalimka


Yerusalimka or Ierusalimka, the name derived from Jerusalem, was a Jewish quarter of the town of Vinnytsia. In the beginning of the 20th century Vinnytsia, the chief town of Podolia Governorate, was inhabited by 40,00 people, half of which was Jewish. Ierusalimka started to build up as handicraft suburb of the town of Vinnytsia at the end of the 18th century. Ierusalimka became famous for its architectural style, so called Jewish borough Baroque.
In 1942, a large part of the quarter was destroyed by German occupation troops. One infamous photo, The Last Jew of Vinnytsia, shows a member of Einsatzgruppe D about to execute a Jewish man kneeling before a mass grave. The text The Last Jew of Vinnytsia was written on the back of the photograph, which was found in a photo album belonging to a German soldier. It was captured by the Red Army on 20 March 1944.
Today, some Jewish buildings are still in the quarter, particularly the synagogue, which was erected, as is written on its wall, in 1903.
Here is the verse of the modern poet Monya Shuster on his home quarter:

Oh Ierusalimka

Jewish quarter of poor

On your narrow paths

My footsteps could be seen

Here first thunderstorm

And sunset and sunrise

Here children cries

And mothers tender eyes


Ierusalimka is now one of the central quarters of the town of Vinnytsia.