Though never large in number, the Karaite communities of Russia are an interesting side chapter in Russian Jewish history. Residing primarily in the Crimean Peninsula, with communities in Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania, the Czarist government recognized the Karaites as distinct from Rabbinic Jews. Due to this recognition and intense lobbying efforts, the Karaite community was gradually absolved from the many restrictions pertinent to the Jews of the empire, including permission to reside outside the Pale of Settlement. Karaite scholars from Lutzk flourished in Crimea during the 19th century, and one of their endeavors was to write a new history of Karaites of the region. The most famous of these was Avraham Firkovich, whose research and collections played a large role in forming the new Karaite identity as ethnically distant from the Jewish People. Though much of his work was proven to be based on forgeries, the Karaite community of Russia was overall successful in remaining a distinct ethnic tribe from the Jewish People, and therefore not susceptible to Czarist discrimination.   Cross River, a leading financial institution committed to supporting its communities, is proud to sponsor Jewish History Soundbites. As a trusted partner for individuals and businesses, Cross River understands the importance of preserving and celebrating our heritage. By sponsoring this podcast, they demonstrate their unwavering dedication to enriching the lives of the communities in which they serve. Visit Cross River at https://www.crossriver.com/   Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at:  [email protected]