Museum of the History of Jews in Odesa "Migdal-Shorashim" — Attraction in Odesa Urban Hromada

This is relatively small but I found the exhibits of artifacts Jewish life in all its facets including those of day to day life to be very moving. This is the product of the efforts of a dedicated staff and shouldn't be compared to larger possibly more "professional" museums which receive government support. There is only a single small sign visible on the street on a door jamb (if this is the proper term for it) which is visible only if you approach it from the right direction. At the entrance stood a woman smoking a cigarette and when we asked her "muzey?" she opened the door which led to a somewhat dilapidated courtyard at the end of which appeared a decently sized sign signaling the museum entrance. We were greeted by a younger man who spoke very little English. There is a sign at the entrance asking for a suggested donation of 100 hryvnias (about $4 US). Soon an older bushy bearded man appeared who explained to us that the museum is situated in what used to be a communal apartment for four families (!). The museum is organized by an association called Migdal set up after the fall of the Soviet Union and dedicated to the rehabilitation of Jewish life in Odessa. He pointed to an old fashioned victrola which he proceeded to crank up and which played the song "Dadya (uncle) Ela" sung by the renowned Soviet jazz singer Leonid Utesov. The song in fact is a Russian translation and takeoff of the traditional Yiddish song "Rebbe Elimelech" whose true identify was masked to fool the authorities who would have disapproved of a song about a rabbi. Utesov was born Laizer Weissbein (please correct if I'm mistaken) and was very famous in his time. There is a statue in the City Park in his honor and a museum in the apartment where he lived. A tape of the song was posted by a different contributor. I tried to upload my video which includes the victrola cranking along with the explanation but they were too long by...

Brief but worthwhile little museum in former communal flat. The walls are covered in personal belongings, ephemera, and many other objects connected with Odessa's longstanding Jewish community. It lacks any kind of written narrative linking the many objects but the gentleman guide offers a kind of...

Nice museum with very helpful and knowledgeable staff. Hard to find, but worth the search. Sad that this us all that's left from a community that used to be 45% of Odessa's population. Entrance is free, but please go and donate, or this place...