The Nineties substantially changed the life of Russian Jewry. Economic instability and the threat of Russian fascism increased Jewish emigration. Some Jews repatriated themselves to Israel and many moved to the United States and Western Europe; some went to Germany (with the help of a special program). On the other hand, changes in the economic structure and the absence of the Party's control of the appointments allowed many Jews to be promoted to distinguished posts. Jewish names are many among the biggest bankers and businessmen of Russia. There are Jews among top government officials, deputies and functionaries of political parties. The role of Jews (generally, assimilated ones) is still great in Russian science, literature and arts.
Since the beginning of Perestroyka, the authorities gradually abolished limitations and bans on the display of Jewish ethnic life. Groups of activists filed petitions to register Jewish organizations. As a rule, religious communities and cultural societies were allowed to operate. Very soon, such organizations began operating almost in every Soviet city. They attained the greatest success in the Baltic Republics. Already in 1988, in Estonia, they began publishing the Jewish newspaper Ha-shakhar. A year later, in Latvia, the journal "Vestnik Yevreyskoy Kultury" ("Jewish Culture Herald") began publishing. Jewish issues from the Baltic Republics were openly sold in other Soviet cities, too. Already in 1990, Jewish Sunday School in Riga was renamed the Dubnov Riga Jewish High School (after S.M. Dubnov).
Legalized Jewish organizations felt it necessary to co-ordinate their activity. In 1990-1991, the VAAD representative union of Jewish organizations headed by well-known ethnographer M. Chlenov carried out that function. Later, the immediate relations of various local Jewish organizations with Joint and Sokhnut became the more important. The liberal policy of the authorities to the Jews resulted, first of all, in mass repatriation. For 10 the years after 1988, the number of Jews in the Russian Federation decreased from 1,500,000 to 450,000. Though, the data of Sokhnut say that as many as three times as many Russian citizens have the right (in accordance with the Law of Repatriation) to settle in Israel.
Relations with Israel were legalized and expanded. In accordance with the special program NAALE ("we are repatriating ourselves"), Jewish teenagers began visiting Israel to study in Israel schools. In some cities, Israeli cultural centers were opened to co-ordinate regional programs. Joint completes Jewish libraries through those centers. Ulpans are organized attached to those centers. The centers organize evenings dedicated to Israel. The centers' experts consult future repatriates. Joint restored its activity in Russia and CIS countries. Its regional missions were opened to finance philanthropic, cultural, educational and scientific programs. Joint supports the activity of Jewish community centers and aids them in teaching community workers. To finance the programs of community life, Joint uses international charitable funds.
The Fund of the Jewish communities of Ukraine and Russia and the Fund to support Jewish education in the diaspora (the Pincus Foundation) actively participate in financing Jewish community programs. In the beginning years, Jewish organisations could count on the support of foreign sponsors only. When Jewish businessmen began to become numerous in Russia, some of them were ready to present money to revive Jewish ethnic life, the Russia's Jewish Congress (REK) was established. It called on communities to become self-financing. V. Gusinsky was elected the head of REK. Jewish organisations once established in Russia also began to return to Russia. In 1992, the World Union ORT resumed its activities. ORT followed a tradition developed already in Russian Empire and undertook teaching experts prestigious professions - first of all, those related to computer technologies.
The interest of Russian Jews in the traditions and the religion of their people substantially increased. The Khabbad Lubavich organization helped to revive Jewish religious life in Russia. The yeshivas, educational religious organizations and Jewish schools with intensive teaching of religion began operating. In all CIS countries, laws were enacted to return "cult knowledge" to religious communities, initiating a process of restitution of Jewish communal property (mainly, the buildings of the synagogues). In 1991, Rabbi Adin Steinsalz became the religious leader of the CIS Jews. He run the Institute of Judaism in the CIS and the "Lamed" association of Jewish traditional teachers. They organize regional seminars and publish manuals to study the tradition. However, the most noticeable action was the publishing of multi-volume Russian translations of the Babylon Talmud sponsored by Rabbi Steinsalz.
Primarily, Jewish communities united around Sunday Schools, educating not only children, but also their parents and grand-parents. The following development of community structures is related to the forming of the "Hesed" ("Charity") net of charitable enterprises. The next step in the development of Jewish life in the cities of Russia and the CIS was the establishment of the cities' community centers. The community centers were based on video-clubs, lecture-halls or musical groups. In the cities where Jewish community had long existed, Jewish holidays and cultural activities were carried out on a wide scale. Some communities in the CIS strengthened their immediate relations with Jewish communities in other countries of the Diaspora. Each large community undertook publishing its newspaper. "Yevreyskaya Gazeta" ("Jewish Newspaper") issued in Moscow became the central publication for all Russian Jews.
Restored Jewish education was developed in the most vivid and varied forms. Beside Sunday Schools there were established Jewish high schools, international schools etc. The teaching there followed various programs; they might be approximated to Israeli standard or have religious subjects. Attempts to restore "Tarbut" ("Culture") high schools took place. Jewish universities in St. Petersburg, Moscow and Kiev have been opened as well as Judaic departments in state higher education institutions. The Maymonid Academy in Moscow has received the status of a state educational institution. In CIS countries, branches of the Open Israeli Jewish University operate. The kindergartens - the link of Jewish education to the youngest - were restored last.
To comprehend the experience of restoring Jewish education, every year, scientific and methodological conferences are carried out and the "Yevreyskaya Shkola" ("Jewish School" - since 1998 "Novaya Yevreyskaya Shkola", "New Jewish School") pedagogical journal is published. The Jewish Universities became not just educational institutions but also research centers of Judaism. Their personnel and students research Jewish material culture and folklore in expeditions; they carry out archival research and make their own scientific archives. The results of that research are published in various collections and at scientific conferences and seminars. Some scientific unions of Judaism researchers and teachers have been established (Jewish Heritage and Sefer). The Jewish Encyclopaedia of the beginning of the 20th century was reissued. The libraries have received the Abridged Jewish Encyclopaedia published in Israel. At last, the publishing of a Six-Volume Russian Jewish Encyclopaedia has begun.