I wtote ahead of time that I was coming and had the luxury of a private tour in English by the Head of the Museum, Mr. Gramberg, who was most accommodating and generous with his time. The museum (which is for the large part not in English) is well organized in a chronology of the Jewish people of Estonia. Digital guides are available. It is appears small enough to cover everything in 30 minutes, but the stories and explanations kept my attention for hours.

This was a fascinating exploration of a community that developed mid 19th century, was wiped out even before Wannsee, and has reestablished itself not just with a synagogue but also a school - essential for flourishing. The exhibits are in Estonian and Russian but the English audio guide was comprehensive and we also had an excellent tour by the director. We were on the trail was of forebears who left Tartu for Glasgow in 1891 and learned useful stuff. I’m sorry Karen (2019) experienced the reception as hostile - sadly Jewish communities across Europe have to be very careful about security these days. Perhaps a notice on the gate would help visitors?

This is a very interesting place indeed. The unique exposition sheds light on the generally rather unknown part of the Jewish history in Estonia. I particularly enjoyed the central part on religion. Nice archival materials, well-organised, visually accessible and super informative. The staff is very friendly and truly passionate about what they do, so go ahead and learn as much as you can from them. It is a very nice little place and an absolute must-see for everyone interested in history and Jewish diasporas.