The official flag of the Jewish Autonomous Republic shows the colours of the rainbow in narrow, horizontal stripes in the middle of a white bunting. The colorfulness of the rainbow is possibly a hint for the ethnic diversity of the land. Mostly the jewish residents use the russian flag with a uplayed yellow david-star, indeed to verbalize their cultural identity and their loyalty to Russia.
The coat of arms of the Jewish Autonomous Region is a green escutcheon, each with a white deposed blue line above and below. In the middle an amur tiger in natural colors. The two blue lines stand for the rivers Bira and Bidshan, the green for the forests (taiga) and the meadows in the country.
The name Birobidzhan was created by the combination of the names of the here flowing rivers Bira and Bidzhan. Sometimes the name is in use even for the whole territory of the Jewish Autonomous Region. For instance: Jewish Autonom. Region of Birobidzhan, Jewish Autonom. Oblast of Birobidzhan, or only and simply Birobidzhan.
1689 · Treaty of Nertshinsk, Russia and China disclaim bilaterally for the purchase of the territory
1728 · Treaty of von Kjakhta, Russia and China disclaim bilaterally again for the purchase of the territory
1858 · the territory comes to Russia
1918 · soviet takeover
1928 · the territory gets declared as Jewish settlement area
1934 · foundation of the Jewish Autonomous Oblast (district), the quota of Jews in the total population is 45%
1939 · the quota of Jews in the total population is 16%
1947 · opening of the first synagogue in Birobidzhan
1948 · repressions of the state against the leaders of Jewish culture, anti-Semitic campaign against "cosmopolitans"
1970-1990 · emigration of most of the Jewish population to Israel and Germany
Spring 1991 · the Jewish Autonomous Oblast declares itself for a republic, not recognized
29th of November 1991 · new constitution, as Jewish Autonomous Oblast
31st of December in 1991 · the Soviet Union dissolves, the constitution of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (RSFSR, Russia), a former substate of the Soviet Union, remains in force for the time being
25th of December in 1993 · a new constitution for Russia (Russian Federation) comes into force, and the relationships with the members of the federation is re-regulated in this way
2013 · initial proposals to merge the Jewish Autonomous Oblast with adjoining regions
