Kandava — town in the Tukums district (Latvian Republic). Known since 1231. From 1567 it was part of the Duchy of Courland; from 1795, part of the Russian Empire. In the 19th – early 20th century, it was a shtetl (Kandau) of Talsi County, Courland Province. From 1918 to 1940 it was part of the Latvian Republic, and from 1940 to 1991, of the Latvian SSR.
In 1861, 775 Jews lived in Kandava (51% of the population); in 1897 — 620 (34%); in 1920 — 44 (4%); in 1925 — 85 (6%); in 1935 — 68 Jews (4%).
Jews had been living in Kandava since the early 19th century. From 1841 to 1883, the rabbi was Meir Zimenson; from 1883 to 1892 — Mordkhe Lichtenstein; from 1892 to 1897 — Borukh-Mordkhe Israélson; from 1897 to 1912 — Mordkhe-Mendl Movshevich Zak. The town had a synagogue, a mikveh, and a Jewish cemetery. By 1913, Jews owned a pharmacy, both wholesale pharmaceutical warehouses, and nine shops (including all five textile shops).
In 1915, all Jews were expelled from Kandava, and most Jewish houses were destroyed. After the First World War, several dozen Jews returned. During the period of economic hardship, Jewish residents received aid from the Joint Distribution Committee. Despite the difficulties, the community maintained a synagogue and a shochet. In 1922, Kandava Jews collected 1,100 rubles in donations for the Jewish National Fund.
In the 1920s–30s, Jews of Kandava were mainly engaged in trade; they owned 10 out of 17 shops. During these years, the town also saw active Zionist activity.
On 1 July 1941, Kandava was occupied by German forces. Some of the Jews were sent to Tukums, where they were burned alive inside the local synagogue. The rest of Kandava’s Jews were shot at the cemetery.
In 1967, two former Latvian policemen were convicted for participating in the killings of Kandava’s Jews (one was sentenced to death, the other to 15 years in prison).