Ghettos in Jewish history

Jewish ghettos were designated urban areas where Jewish communities were often forced to live, especially in medieval and early modern Europe. These neighborhoods were created through legal restrictions, social exclusion, and economic limitations, isolating Jewish populations from the broader society. Ghettos varied in size and conditions but generally involved overcrowding and poor living standards. They became more prominent during periods of persecution, such as during the Holocaust when Nazi Germany established ghettos across occupied Europe to segregate, persecute, and eventually deport Jews to concentration camps. Ghettos symbolize both historical segregation and the resilience of Jewish communities.