Jews in the Political Life of Georgia at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century

The paper aims to reconstruct the picture of participation of Jews in the political life of Georgia at the beginning of the 20^th century. Georgian periodicals as well as archival materials form the empirical basis for the study.

At the end of the 19^th century, the Georgian identity building narrative was formed, aimed at strengthening of the Georgian identity through highlighting differences from “others”. Exactly at that time, comprehension of the identity of Georgian Jewry was initiated by the Georgian intellectuals. At the beginning of the 20^th century, the idea of awaking of the Jewish consciousness was born among the portion of the Georgian Jews as well.

The Jews of Tbilisi and Kutaisi were economically best established and intellectually most advanced. From the end of the 19^th century, they actively participated in the political life. They appear among the deputies of Kutaisi Council. Although, as Georgia was not included in the Pale of Settlement, the Georgian Jews did not enjoy even those limited rights, which were granted to the Jews of the above-mentioned area; although, they were put under all restrictions applied to Jews in the Russian Empire.

In 1910s, Georgian Jews were reacting to the ongoing political processes, thinking of the future perspectives. They were involved in the political activities after the Russian revolutions of 1917, were among the signatories of the Act of Independence (26 May 1918). During the Democratic Republic of Georgia (1918-1921), they were members of the National Council of Georgia, Constituent Assembly and Constitutional Commission.