In 1831 the Poles revolted. Besieged the city of Brest. City Circle strengthened set of forts and ramparts. Military work was in full swing, but was silent inner-city life. Import and export ceased completely. On everyone's face - fear and despair. But it did not last long. A year later, with subduing Poland Russian, urban life took its former appearance.

However, the uprising has left the city of eternal memory, significantly affects his entire life. It is putting up there with a first class fortress. Poles before also had some small fortress in Brest, but very small and not durable.

In 1832 came the order of Emperor Nicholas I to construct a fortress on the site where the city itself (on the banks of rivers), and all the home city to move a mile farther east on purchased for this purpose by the Government 2 land: Kobrin land’s on the Lithuanian side, a second, smaller to the south, on the side of the Volyn, where the city now stands. Work began immediately. With the expansion of the space occupied by the work, little by little people were transferred to the new location.

{92} Brest Jews appealed to the scientist and esteemed higher sphere Jew Isaac Ber Levinsohn from Kremenets, which should apply to reward them for their destroyed houses.   /1/ [Hebrew Text ] It is remarkable that the Jews themselves did not dare to Brest, solicit, introduce, as once .

The details of this treatment are: vowels and leaders Brest sent to Levinsohn in Kremenets deputation of three respectable inhabitants of Brest. Levinson received a deputation immediately wrote a petition and folded hymn in honor of the then Crown Prince Alexander II on the day of his marriage. This hymn singing this chorus synagogue in Brest. Regimental band accompaniment. The commandant of the Brest-Litovsk fortress presented to Emperor Nicholas I anthem with translations into Russian and German. Petition acted

[Hebrew text]

The petition has been highly successful.

But without the petition would pay them, and, perhaps, to the extent in which they were paid after the petition. Nikolaev officials spared no expense. But a terrible political coup and killed the spirit of the Jews so that they are just mad or became stupid. All that generation felt like horrible torment on and expect good vain.

In 1835, a terrible fire destroyed most of the houses up to 500 still undefeated in the old town. Then rigging at the new location was faster. Coming soon: a new city lined with broad straight streets, the present plan. The work lasted only two years. And due to the construction and making it work, many artists of different hands, the city grew and the material recovered.

Other houses in the old town little by little disappeared fire or collapsed or destroyed, so that not even a hint of them left.

Suffered a similar fate, the men of the old city, houses of worship. They were transferred to a new city, leaving behind their former names olds. But with the expansion of the new town were added and new houses of worship.

Big Miracle synagogue remained still on the old city until 1842 when it was removed and. Treasury paid for her 8000 rubles.

With the destruction of synagogues found immured in the wall of granite slab with the inscription: Grandee Saul Samuel Yudichev female gallery synagogue built in memory of his wife {93} Dvoira etc. (this stove again immured in the new town hall of the synagogue   /1/ [Hebrew Text to be translated] .

At the site of the old city stands second to none fortress now living another life, separated from the city, the military. Fortress is not connected with the city almost nothing. There are dating, there are links trade, business and also friendly, but not the hostel. The fortress has its own special needs, entertainment, clubs, schools, medical care, shop, and almost everything you need you can get into the fortress, so there are no cases of need, come to town land of thousands of military and population size have connections there and only on holidays are. There are too few urban dwellers in the fort, where now admitted by ticket only. In short, the city and the fortress-two similar but quite divided city. However provisions and supplies go through the hands of Brest and Terespolsky contractors.

After a few years, city deputies (still remaining Parnes) the city decided to start building a new synagogue in the heart of the new city. Drafted plan was sent to St. Petersburg to allow Emperor (as required for the construction of over 10,000 rubles), which for religious reasons, some Christian changed the layout, and then allowed  /2/ Poor houses of worship! As people live suffered. In the former Russia was not allowed to build churches. Polish kings had to authorize construction of Jewish houses of worship. Then Crusader plans to Brest or other synagogues. During the persecutions of the Uniates Nicholas certainly wanted to reconcile Moses with Peter and Paul, which will start cruciate synagogue. .

It began construction in 1851. State-owned 8000 rubles and received donations from all sides, formed the large sum was not sufficient for the construction, causing it lasted until 1862.

According to the census in 1860 in Brest was 19343 persons of both sexes. Of these, 5534 soul of Orthodox religion (with a garrison in the fortress), 3394, Catholic, Protestant, and 95 10320 Jews.

During the Russian-Turkish war in 1878 to the east of the city on peasant land was added a significant part of the city called "Town", populated by Jews for the most part the poorest class, well-earned during the war, doing laundry and sewing ammunition for the army. On the town as several factories and workshops, enormous; intendanskie {94} warehouses, a slaughterhouse, the two of prayer, etc. The number of homes on the town is more than 200.

Lived on this earth and Jews live, but, so to speak illegally. Peasant land, leased to for some time. At home, the Jews were allowed to build in the old way, and so openly and so long gave them gain by selling live on campus. Even appointed assistant bailiff and others and so on. But lined up at home during the war, when the government is generally more affectionate, more permits, and then it is difficult to alter. You can not then without order, and appoint an assistant bailiff. And if it all still seems monstrous phenomenon, in 1903 Pleve permit Jews to live on campus   /1/ Among the 101-village allowed the Jews in 1903 and you're done.

It may be added that the Emperor Alexander II treated the Jews favorably, even when at the opening of the anti-government organizations 60s and 70s were introduced repression. He was among the revolutionaries did not find any Jewish name. Meanwhile explained permission or looking through your fingers to build the town.

It was a resolution in the ban.

In 1906 the town destroyed many houses standing near the quartermaster stores.

In the early eighties in Brest lined up outside a huge beautiful central station, which was consecrated by the Emperor Alexander III

In 1895 a terrible fire destroyed the correct half of the city. It was then also a lot of casualties. Also burned the synagogue, which is once again be rebuilt soon after at the same place. Burned half also little by little be rebuilt, all stone, beautiful.

In 1902, the southern half of Brest burned together with post and telegraph office, a large living room and yard, etc. Losses were at 7,000,000 rubles. But soon this half be rebuilt. Now Brest, except margins, is a beautiful city: beautiful stone houses, streets are wide, paved, with sidewalks and lighting, clear and pleasant.

In 1905 the day Trinity Orthodox Jews smashed. Fortunately quickly suspended brutes, and cost the city a little pogrom victims of human and property. Especially spread it on the streets of Meat, curve and others, beginning in the living room yard. Everywhere smashed windows, tore featherbeds, down which flooded the streets, smashed furniture, robbed, etc. Self shot, but fell victim, her same. Summoned from the fortress troops squad suspended brutes who {95} this time the soldiers were, of course, not without other leaders and barefoot team.

But the panic, but fear. Seem to remember the Crusades.

But the synagogue be rebuilt and decorated with other houses of worship, what did not spare money Brest.   /1/ First, many people have built private share account prayer houses and houses of worship are named after these particular people. Now these people do not have to shave with the advent of railway funds and new pleasures.

But the sanctity of houses of worship in Brest, it is often subjected to desecration. Passing and stopped in Brest at the day's rest army was placed in Jewish houses of worship, where the soldiers were doing grave crosses and outrages. A humiliated stupefied people did not even consider it an insult. However it was only in wartime.

The cemetery of Brest has its own history. In the southern part of the city, next to the kosher meat shops, was located the old cemetery of the new city [S].

(Some say that it was a battlefield. [Cemetery or battlefield, in any case,] the Kohanim, descendants of ancient generations of religious functionaries, skirted this street, regarding it as a real cemetery, strictly conforming to the halakha [Jewish religious law]. They avoided this place, as if it were a cemetery, on the 9th of Av [date of destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem] when Jews visit cemeteries.)

Twenty years ago, it was still possible to see the worn-out gravestones. On some of them [Hebrew] letters could still be seen.

On the occasion that prisoners, assigned to clean the streets, dug pits in order to find clean sand to cover the dirt, they found skulls and bones of long-dead people. When that happened, they reburied the remains in the new cemetery [S].

Since that time kohanim do not avoid that place, and people do not visit the dead on the 9th of Av any longer.

There are two new cemeteries – one close to the inn Muranovka [S] and the second near the village Berezovka [E] (in 1835) for the reburial of the dead taken out of their graves according to municipal approval/authorization.   /2/ The unearthing/digging up of the dead was a terrible sight. The place was full of mourning relatives.

Afterwards they enlarged the second new cemetery [E]. In this cemetery are buried among others, the bones of Rabbis: Leib Katznelenbogen, Yaakov-Meir Padua, Soloveitchik, and many others.

There was no fence to the cemetery. Therefore there were many cases of spoliation/looting. Workers on the close by train and soldiers who passed through, trampled on the graves or even opened up the graves. Thanks to the ceaseless efforts of a talented public figure, Leib Feinstein (born in Domachev and lived since boyhood in Brest), the cemetery was surrounded by a solid brick wall.

{96} Through the efforts of the same Feinstein was built in Brest almshouse-shelter and food for the elders, frail and debilitated. Other charitable institutions in Brest as in other cities.

And so, after so many misfortunes, raids, bankruptcies, losses, fires and emigration (reinforced recently, as a consequence of specifically local conditions, and the general condition of the proletariat Jewish in Russia after the last war, political and economic movements) Brest, having vitality full of freshness and youth, overcome all adversity and gaining strength, trying to improve the giant steps, enter all believe in outstripped model cities, good and perfect.