The Pale of Settlement was a designated region in the western part of the Russian Empire where Jewish people were allowed to live. Established in the late 18th century, it included areas of present-day Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, and parts of Ukraine. The Pale was created as a response to the growing Jewish population and aimed to control their settlement and activities. Within the Pale, Jews faced various restrictions, including limitations on land ownership and occupation. Despite these challenges, the Pale became a center of Jewish culture and life, fostering communities and traditions that would influence Jewish identity in the modern era.