The city of Volgograd, formerly known as Stalingrad and Tsaritsyn, established in 1555, is a major port and large industrial center that stretches over 70 km along the Volga River.

During World War Two, Stalingrad was almost completely demolished in the Battle of Stalingrad (1942-43). As the stage for the battle which catalyzed the Allied victory in Russia, this city is symbolic of the turning point in the Nazi army's onset.

While there were over 5,000 religious Jews registered in the city before 1917 Revolution, only a handful of them remained following the war.

Today, the Jewish community of Volgograd is headed by the Chief Rabbi of Volgograd Region, Rabbi Zalman Yoffe, community Chairman Erlich Aronov and Jewish Community Center Director Yael Yoffe.

Just over a million people reside today in Volgograd, with about 10,000 Jews among them. more