The Pale of Settlement was a designated area in the western part of the Russian Empire where Jews were allowed to live. Established in the late 18th century, it included parts of present-day Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, and Ukraine. The Pale was created as a response to the growing Jewish population and aimed to control their settlement and economic activities. Within the Pale, Jews faced various restrictions, including limitations on land ownership and certain professions. 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.