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Presenter: Yefim Kogan

In 1812 there were only 20,000 Jewish people in Bessarabia, and by the end of 19c the number increased more than 10 times! We know where some of these 20,000 came from, because we have documents from 17-18 centuries regarding Jews in Moldova Principality. Under the Russian Empire there was a large influx of Jews into Bessarabia in 19c. Was it a better life for Jews in Bessarabia than in other places? The Jewish records give us some clues of where people can from in 19c. The birth records point to a place where father was registered in other Russian gubernia, or was a resident of other country: Austria(Galicia), Turkey, Holland. Jews in Bessarabia acquired surnames only in the beginning of 19c. Some surnames are pointing to the "old" country/region of a family. We also have famous historians, researchers of 19c who provided information of migration of Jews into Bessarabia.