The Meshchane and the Maskilim

Odessa in the 19th century was a city completely without industry, and survived off of imports and exports that came through the port.  This system relied on having a large number of middle-men, or petty bourgeoisie, known as the Meshchane-- one of the first things resembling a middle class to show up in Imperial Russia.  They existed all around Europe, but in Odessa, a grain and trade boomtown, they were especially prevalent-- however if there was flooding or a drought, they would have to resort to becoming day laborers until the grain trade got back on its feet.  In 1858, the Meshchane comprised nearly 70% of the population of Odessa.

In order to qualify as an unofficial member of the Meshchane and claim it as an estate, one had to make a certain amount of money.  It was no low amount, and it should be a testament (negative or positive or just plain hilarious) that over half of the city's 607 prostitutes in 1892 made enough money to report that they were members of the Meshchane estate as well.

It was this social class, filled with middlemen, crooks, prostitutes and every kind of person that could make a hefty fortune in Odessa, that created one half of the city's reputation.  The thieves of Odessa becoming Meshchane by their trade of stealing seems to be one of the first examples of economic upward mobility in the Empire.  Crime was not on the down-low, but publicized and sensationalized heavily all across the empire.  From St. Petersburg to Sakhalin people read the latest newspapers for stories of Odessa swindlers and prostitutes that blackmailed nobles for their entire fortunes after posing as noblewomen and then stealing everything of value in their estates.

The other half of Odessa's reputation comes from the Maskilim, the westernized Jews that flocked there and brought their culture with it.  They were attracted by the never-before-seen opportunity: Jews faced less economic restrictions in Odessa, or at least the areas where they were allowed to work were areas that people got rich in.  Jews could live anywhere in the city, as long as they had the money.  Those a part of the Meshchane who didn't have the money to live near the nobles of the city resided in Moldavanka, first named for its large numbers of Moldovan and Romanian settlers, now and in the 19th century known for its Jewish population.

The Maskilim were Jews that had realized that the world was not going to change in an instant, and to escape as much prejudice as they could, they had to abandon the dark robes and hats and the shtetl villages.  Maskilim Jews dressed, spoke, and acted like any other European, sent their children to normal schools, and practiced their religion subtly.  That is not to say that they had completely abandoned their culture, but merely transformed it today into what we know as Yiddish culture.

Odessa was a particularly important place for Maskilim Jews, because of the opportunity, and because of the relatively low prejudice.  When the plague struck some few decades before, the Administrator Richelieu ordered that the Jews were not to blame, in contrast to other plague outbreaks across europe, where Jewish people were sometimes first to be killed, even before sick animals.  The Maskilim Jews brought their food, humor, and way of life to Odessa, and it has never left.  Even after the Second World War, there was always a vague undertone of Yiddish speech and humor that has defined the city to this day.

Below is a sample of music that combines all of the elements of this entry.  It is from a genre of music called "gulag chansons", Russian prison songs.  It combines the lighthearted and humorous criminal culture with the tune akin to Jewish Klezmer music.  Criminals, Jews, Prostitutes, Nobles, all mixed together in the city, and even today, it's not known as just Odessa by its inhabitants, but "Odessa Mama", a perfect place in the perfect location to give birth to a perfectly complex yet cohesive culture.

"I Remember Mother Odessa- Russian Criminal Song  

(lyrics generously translated by my best friend, a Russian student :) 7:40 was the time that a certain train came to Odessa, and the train was known simply as "7:40")

I remember Mother Odessa,

I remember that refined lady,

I remember what was happening there.

I remember all the charlatains,

that climbed into my pockets.

I remember, because Mother Odessa gave birth to me.

There was dancing, dancing,

in sleeping Moldavanka,

it did not tremble when invaded [by people, large population].

And it wasn't afraid only of,

of those with naked bellies

Push and shove, push and shove,

well, you aren't on the Kiev tram.

Push and shove, push and shove,

well, you aren't on the Kiev tram.

You ask: where from,

7:40 -- isn't that a miracle?

I'll tell you how much and for what.

Then, in Odessa there was,

not comprehending, in the crowd.

Only one in Privoz [large food market in Odessa] was prevented.

7:40 all Odessa,

news awaits with interest,

7:40 will be broadcast to you!

In Odessa everyone should know everything.

Odessa will not act in vain!

Push and shove, push and shove,

well, you aren't on the Kiev tram.

Push and shove, push and shove,

well, you aren't on the Kiev tram.

7:40 all Odessa,

news awaits with interest,

7:40 will be broadcast to you!

In Odessa everyone should know everything.

Odessa will not act in vain!

Finally, a song in Yiddish, that I just came across and thought I should add to this. Here is a much better example of Klezmer tunes and Yiddish Odessa. Lyrics are from the Video description.  

"Odessa Mama" 

Aaron Lebedeff

Whoever has not been
In the beautiful city of Odessa
Has not seen the world
And knows nothing of progress
Who cares for Vienna of Paris,
They're puddles, jokes, no comparison
Only in Odessa is
A Paradise, I say.

There in a restaurant
They serve you beer
And with it a bite
Of fresh skrumbli
Bashmala and balik
And with them a shashlik
With a good glass of wine -
What could be better?

Oh, Mother Odessa,
You're forever dear to me.
Oh, Mother Odessa,
How I long for thee!
Oh, Mother Odessa,
Who can forget you?
Oh, Mother Odessa,
I see you no more.
Oh, Mother Odessa,
I long for you and vow:

Your avenues, promenades
Are light, beautiful.
The cafes, the boulevards,
One can never forget.
The carriages, the gypsies,
The tumult, ta-ra-ram,
The hotels, the young ladies
Still are on my mind.

Oh, Mother Odessa,
You're forever dear to me.
Oh, Mother Odessa,
How I long for thee!
Oh, Mother Odessa,
Who can forget you?
Oh, Mother Odessa,
I long for you and vow:

Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay,
One cannot forget.
Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay,
How I should like to see you again!
Hop tidl dam ti stidl didl dam ti.....

Oh, Odess-Odessa Mother,
You are the most beautiful panorama;
Everyone treasured you dearly.
The cabarets, restaurants,
You will still remember today
Who knows what has become of you?
Odessa, Odessa, I long for you!

King, Charles. Odessa: Genius And Death In A City Of Dreams. New York: W.W. 

     Norton & Company, Inc., 2011. N. pag. Amazon Kindle. Web. 4 Apr. 2012.