文档介绍：JEWS IN ESTONIA There is little information on the first Jews to arrive in Estonia. Isolated mentions of Jews in the 14th century (1333) can be found in archival records, but these cannot be viewed as indicators of permanent Jewish settlements. The first mention of a Jewish congregation in Tallinn is in 1795, but this congregation was short-lived. Jewish settlement in Estonia actually began in the 19th century. By 1829, 36 Jews had settled in Estonia, a process that grew rapidly during the 1840's and 50's. Immigration into Estonia (as defined by the Republic of Estonia 1920 bor- ders) was granted in 1865 by Czar Alexander II, based on the following criteria: only "cantonists" of Czar Nicholas' soldiers, merchants and artisans of the first guild may settle in Estonia. These were the Jews who established the first congregation in Estonia, the largest of which was in Tallinn from 1830-1941. The Great Synagogue in Tallinn was completed in 1883 (on the former Maakri Street) and was destroyed in the 1944. Since then there has not been a synagogue in Tallinn, only a prayer house. It must be mentioned that prior to the creation of the Republic of Estonia in 1918, the Jews' rights had been cur- tailed with respect to land ownership, vocation choices, travel freedom and others. In spite of this, Jews managed to ensure a stable existence for themselves, largely than