Anatomy of a pogrom

"Kishinev pogrom," a "dreadful moment" in Jewish Diaspora life, Steven J Zipperstein writes in his impressive, heart-wrenching new book

POGROM  

Kishinev and the Tilt of History

Steven J Zipperstein

Liveright Publishing

261 pages; $27.95

In Kishinev, a provincial city of the Russian Empire (now Chisinau, Moldova), on April 19-20, 1903, 49 Jews were murdered, several among them children; as many (or more) were serially raped; very many more were injured. Synagogues were desecrated, shops were looted, and homes were destroyed or damaged. The victims knew their assailants, many crying out their names while being beaten or raped. They were not protected by the civil authorities. In response to calls for help, one police officer told the Jews they were getting what they deserved;