Those familiar with the surrealistic output of the eccentric 20th century painter Salvador Dali (1904-1989) — known perhaps most widely for his depictions of limp watches — would find it surprising that the great Spanish artist actually produced a series of paintings on the theme of the historical connection of the Jewish people to the land of Israel. How did this come about?

Evgenia Kempinski is a Russian Jew born and raised in St. Petersburg. Her family was originally from the Pale of Settlement – Poland, Ukraine and Belorussia – and endured the suppression of Judaism in the Soviet Union then the rebirth of Jewish culture and religious life in today’s St. Petersburg. She has been an official St. Petersburg tour guide for over 15 years and is the founder and owner of St.Petersburg Jewish Tours – a company offering Jewish travelers a unique experience of showcasing the best of Russia from a Jewish point of view. She currently lives in Haifa, Israel, still keeping close connections with St. Petersburg and its Jewish community.