History of the Jews in Mongolia

The history of the Jews in Mongolia dates to the 19th century, when Jewish merchants from Siberia established trade links with Mongolian communities. A small Jewish population developed in the early 20th century, primarily composed of Russian Jews fleeing the Russian Civil War. In June 1921, the community in Urga (now Ulaanbaatar) was massacred under the orders of White Russian warlord Roman von Ungern-Sternberg.

Today, Mongolia’s Jewish population is very small, numbering fewer than 100 individuals. There is no synagogue or communal infrastructure. A Jewish-interest group, Mongol-Jewish Cooperation, was formed in 2003 to promote awareness of Judaism and Israel among Mongolians.