Birobidzhan (ru: Биробиджа́н, yi: ביראָבידזשאן) is the capital of the Jewish Autonomous Oblast in Russia; the name is sometimes also used to refer to the entire oblast. It lies on the rivers Bira and Bidzhan , close to the Chinese border and on the Trans-Siberian railway.
A documentary film, L'Chayim, Comrade Stalin! on Stalin's creation of the Jewish Autonomous Region and its settlement by thousands of Jews was released in 2003. In addition to history of the creation of the proposed Jewish homeland, the film features scenes of contemporary Birobidzhan and interviews with Jewish residents.
