New report says Soviet Union’s collapse and subsequent border openings may be responsible for exodus from eastern Europe
Europe has lost almost 60% of its Jewish population over the past 50 years, mainly as a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union which saw many Jews leave eastern Europe as borders opened, according to a new study.
Only about 9% of the global Jewish population now lives in Europe, down from a peak of nearly 90% in the late 19th century – but similar to the proportion 1,000 years ago.
