Perm is located in central Russia at the western foothills of the Urals that divide European Russia and Asia. In 1978, the city became the center of the province. Today, it is the greatest industrial center in the eastern portion of European Russia.

It was established in the 18th century, when a copper-smelting factory was built here at a site where the Yegoshiha River flows into the Kama River. Being favorably located at the confluence of two waterways and a thoroughfare, the city soon became the "transport gate" to Siberia.

The province also served as a place of exile for smugglers, counterfeiters and other criminals, who generally returned to their home communities following their period of exile. Still, a number of them chose to remain in the city following their period of detention. Many well-known people, such as Decembrist Hirsh Peretz, doctor Israel Blank (Lenin's grandfather) and many others once lived in Perm.

Today, the Jewish community of Perm is headed by the Chief Rabbi of Perm, Rabbi Zalman Deutch, and Jewish community Chairman Alexander Barsky.

Of Perm's total population of one million people, the city's Jewish population today is estimated around 7,000 people.
read more