New York City includes a sizeableBelarusian American population. TheNew York metropolitan area has one of the largest concentrations of Belarusians in the United States. Many Belarusians live inBrighton Beach and elsewhere inSouth Brooklyn, along with other ex-Soviet immigrants including Russians and Ukrainians. Around 55,000 people of Belarusian descent live in the New York City metropolitan area, with estimates ranging from 50,000 to 75,000.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, a large wave of immigrants from what is now Belarus came to the United States, with many settled in New York City. This wave of immigrants was predominantly Jewish, with a sizable minority being Christian and a small minority being Muslim. Commons reasons for Belarusian emigration included poor economic conditions, restrictions placed on the Belarusian language including the closure of Belarusian schools in Poland and the banning of Belarusian-language newspapers, lack of educational opportunities, high taxation, and antisemitic or anti-religious discrimination against BelarusianOrthodox Jews. Due to the shifting cultural and political geography of Eastern Europe, Jews from what is now Belarus may identify simply as Jewish, as Belarusian Jews, Litvaks (Lithuanian Jews), Russian Jews, Polish Jews, some combination of these identities, or some other form of ethnic/national identifying. Because Belarusian territory was once part of theRussian Empire and later afederal unit of the Soviet Union, Belarusian emigrants (both Jewish and non-Jewish) may or may not be registered as Belarusians on US Census documents.[1]
In the 1970s, Brighton Beach in Brooklyn became a leading destination for ex-Soviet emigrants to the United States. Many Belarusians settled here, along withRussians,Ukrainians,peoples of the Caucasus such asGeorgians, andCentral Asians (particularlyUzbeks). The neighborhood is predominantly middle-class, Jewish, and Russian-speaking.[2][3][4]
During the2020–2021 Belarusian protests, multiple protests were held in New York City in solidarity with theBelarusian democracy movement and withBelarusian women.[5][6]
Of the approximately 55,000 people of Belarusian descent living in the New York metropolitan area, 11,000 are non-Jewish and 44,000 areBelarusian Jews.Non-Jewish Belarusians tend to identify more closely withBelarusian culture, as many Belarusian Jews identify more with Jewish and/or Russian culture. Most Belarusian Jews are irreligious, while a minority arereligious. Most non-Jewish Belarusians are Christian and are largely affiliated with theRussian Orthodox Church (around 90% have some affiliation), with a minority of 10% beingRoman Catholics. Less than 2% areEvangelical Christians, so there are no Evangelical churches catering to Belarusians. The majority languages of Belarusians areBelarusian andRussian. Accurately estimating the population of people of Belarusian descent can be difficult, as some people whose ancestors come from Belarus may identify as Polish or Russian instead.[7] A small minority of Belarusians areLipka Tatars, aTurkic ethnic group from Belarus,Poland, andLithuania who practiceSunni Islam.[8]
Compared to some other Slavic and Eastern European groups such as Ukrainians, the Belarusian community in New York City and the United States is more scattered and less cohesive. Community engagement of young people is a concern with Belarusian community advocates. Belarusian church-goers tend to be older and Belarusian youths are less engaged in community institutions. Belarusians who are active in Belarusian circles arrange meetings at a building in downtown Brooklyn, as well as in various bars. However, plans exist to create a Belarusian community center, cafe, and boutique, but the high cost of rent has delayed implementation of the plan.[9]
Belarusian cuisine can be found at restaurants and groceries in New York City, including the Belarussian Xata restaurant inSheepshead Bay and the Belarus Supermarket in West Brighton.[10] Due to being landlocked, seafood is not a common staple of the Belarusian diet. Staples of Belarusian cuisine include beef, pork, mushrooms, grains, and potatoes. Belarusian cuisine varies according to religion; pork is a common dish for Belarusian Christians, but does not feature in the cuisine of Belarusian Jews who keepkosher or Belarusian Muslims who keephalal. ManyLipka Tatar Muslims drink alcohol, while still refraining from pork. Bagels,dranikai (latkes),babka,cabbage rolls,borscht, andkholodets (meat jelly) remain staples in many Belarusian-American homes.[11][1]
A small Belarusian-Jewishklezmer music scene exists in Brooklyn, incorporating elements of traditionalBelarusian andLitvak music.[12]
Each year a Belarusian festival is held at St. Cyrcil's church. The festival is part of the annualAtlantic Antic street festival.[13]
LGBT Belarusians are involved in RUSA LGBT, a community organization for Russian-speaking LGBT immigrants from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine,Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan, and other ex-Soviet states. The co-president of RUSA LGBT, Nina Long, is Belarusian. The organization was founded in 2008 and participates in the annualNYC Pride March.[14][15] In 2013, after a crackdown byBelarusian police, a small delegation of LGBT Belarusians and their supporters toured the United States, including a stop in New York City.[16]
TheBelarusan-American Association is headquartered in Brooklyn. It was formed in 2006 by a generation of political refugees who left Belarus afterAlexander Lukashenko became president of Belarus in 1994.[13]
In 1950, Belarusian immigrants foundedBiełarus, a Belarusian-language newspaper. It is the largest and oldest Belarusian publication outside of Belarus. The newspaper is published every two months by the Belarusan-American Association. Politically, the newspaper holds ananti-Lukashenko line.
There is a Belarusian church, St. Cyril of Turov Cathedral, located at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Bond Street in the neighborhood ofBoerum Hill. The church is affiliated with theBelarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. The church functions as the hub of the Belarusian Christian community in New York City.[17] The Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (BAOC) is a small, independent church with roots in theBelarusian Orthodox Church that does not have official recognition from theEastern Orthodox Church, serving the interests of the Belarusian emigre community. The BAOC regards the Lukashenko government is an illegitimate regime. The church archbishop of the church has declared Alexander Lukashenko "anathema" for alleged abuses against "the pious Belarusian people". Archbishop Sviataslau (Lohin) of the BAOC has denounced Lukashenko as a "dictator, murderer, and torturer" and accused the Belarusian state of "genocide of Belarusians".[18]
Lipka Tatars from Belarus, Poland, and Lithuania established amosque in Brooklyn. Founded by the American Mohammedan Society, thePowers Street Mosque is the oldest surviving mosque in the United States. While membership in the mosque has declined, it is still an important Lipka Tatar community hub and is open for major holiday events includingiftar dinners andKurban Bayrami (Lithuanian forEid al-Adha).[8] Due toSoviet Union'sIron Curtain, the Lipka Tatar community of New York City was cut off from their compatriots in the Baltic and Central European countries for decades. However, since the fall of the Soviet Union some Lipka Tatars have been able to visit their homelands and reconnect with relatives. Many Lipka Tatar families affiliated with the Powers Street Mosque can trace their roots back to the Belarusian city ofIwye.[19]
TheMount Hebron Cemetery inFlushing, Queens, contains a large monument to deceased Jewish immigrants and their descendants from the city ofGrodno in western Belarus, maintained by the Grodner Aid Benevolent Association of Brooklyn. The monument reads, "In memoriam to our dear parents, brothers and sisters of the city of Grodno and environs who were brutally persecuted and slain by the Nazis during World War II."[20]
TheKarlin-Stolin Hasidic dynasty, which has communities in New York City, has its roots in the Belarusian cities ofKarlin andStolin.[21]
Between the 1880s and 1920s, many Jews from what is now Belarus settled in New York City, founding numerous synagogues. Synagogues founded by Jewish emigrants from Belarus include:Anshei Selib (Vselyub),Adath Jeshurun/Jeshuran Anshe(i) Kamenetz/Kamenitz (Kamenets),Chevrah Anshei Narowla (Narovlya),Beth Haknesseth Anshei Lubavitz v'Homler Lubavichi (Gomel),Gemilath Chasodim Anshei Motele (Motel),Anshei Mozir (Mozyr),Chevrah Oheb Sholom Anshei Gluboka (Glebokie),Beth Haknesseth Anshei Minsk (Minsk),Anshe Osmine Vanshe Trab (Oshmyany),Ahavath Achim Anshe Usda Ahavath Torah (Uzda),Chevrah Anshei Mir (Mir),Chevrah Rabenu Nachum Anshei Grodno (Grodno),Congregation Kahal Adath Yeshurun with Anshe Lubitz (Lyubcha),Chevrah Achei Grodno v'Anshei Staputkin (Grodno),Chevrah Dorshay Tov Anshei Pinsk (Pinsk),American Minsker Gemilath Chesed (Minsk),Cochav Jacob Anshei Kamenitz d'Lita (Kamenets), and many others.[22]
TheMir Yeshiva and theBeth Hatalmud Rabbinical College in Brooklyn were founded after theoriginal Mir Yeshiva inMir, Belarus. Other locations are inJerusalem and theWest Bank settlement ofModi'in Illit.[23]
