Rezekne file (3) / תיק קהילה

Aid and Crisis in Berzanka: A Call for Help for Fire Victims

These sources review the Jewish history and life in the city of Rzeszow (Rēzkāne) in and around Latvia throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. The collection includes Biographical documentation of rabbis, statistical data on Their economic and professional situation of Jewish craftsmen, and information about Educational and cultural institutions Local. Among other things, the sources describe the Infrastructure development Like the railroad, alongside tragic events such as Crime and the destruction of the community In the Holocaust. Documents and personal testimonies shed light on The social fabric, the political parties and the influence of the different languages ​​on the Jews of the region. Photographs and maps attached to the sources illustrate the The geographical and architectural structure of the city and its surroundings at different periods. In conclusion, the materials provide A multidimensional view About a vibrant Jewish community that was an important crossroads in Latgalia.

Demographics and population

The city Režica (Rezekne), located in the district To Italy (Latgale), had between 10,000 and 14,000 inhabitants at the beginning of the 20th century, about half of whom were Jews (C114-1f, C114-15f). According to the census of 1897, there were 6,478 Jews living in the city, who constituted about 60% of the total population (C114-15f). Over the years, the number of inhabitants fluctuated; in 1920 the number of Jews decreased to 4,148 (41.5%), and in 1935 it stood at 3,342 (C114-15f). In the city Ravel (Rewel(now Tallinn) returnedEstonia, served as rabbi Avraham Bezalel Epstein, born in 1867, who was accepted into the rabbinate in 1906 (C114-10f).

Spiritual and Rabbinic Leadership

Community Režica It was blessed with prominent rabbinical figures, among them Rabbi Israel Leib Dosovitz, born in 1867, who studied at the yeshiva Mir and served as the city's rabbi from 1904 (C114-10f). Another central figure was the rabbi Chaim Lobachy, who served as the city's rabbi for 25 years and was known for his dedication to the community during the riots and occupations of 1916 and 1919 (C114-11-2f). The rabbi Jacob Mann, who was born in Brzeża in 1846, later immigrated to Jerusalem and was active in building its neighborhoods (C114-12f). The community had many religious institutions, including about 11 to 12 Synagogues which served as a center for traditional life (C114-1f, C114-4f).

Education, culture and language

The education system inRežica was diverse and included schools inHebrew AndYiddish, while an ideological struggle was taking place between the "Yiddishists" and the "Hebrists" (C114-1f, C114-3f). The city was Government Jewish Gymnasium (C114-23f), as well as institutions such as Cultural Center, library named after Y.L. Peretz And the club "Shalom Aleichem" (C114-1f, C114-4f). Personalities like Isidore Tagaytay, born in the city, contributed greatly to the fields of education and literature (C114-14f). In 1923 it was recorded that Jewish students inTo Italy They were sometimes forced to walk a distance of 6 kilometers from their home to school (C114-11-3f).

Economy, infrastructure and welfare

The Jews inRežica They dealt mainly withtrade Andcraft, and many of them were small craftsmen (C114-15f, C114-1f). The city became an important railway junction in 1901 with the opening of two railway stations: Režica I and-Režica II, which connected the city to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Warsaw and Berlin (C114-23-2f). In the field of welfare, a committee for assistance to the needy operated in the city, which provided flour and bread, and in 1922 a public kitchen was established, which served hundreds of meals a day (C114-11-5f). Funds were allocated from the "Korobochny believes" (Kosher Meat Tax) (C114-20f).

Political and social movements

Political life in the community was vibrant and included representation forScores On all their branches,Bond AndAgudat Israel (C114-1f, C114-3f). Many youth movements were active in the city, including The Young Guard, Beitar, Gordonia, Maccabi andThe pioneer (C114-4f, C114-1f). Hirsch Atkin, who was active in organizing Jewish schools inRiga, was also involved inPeople's Party (People's Party) (C114-11-7f). In 1934, with the change of government in Latvia, the activities of many political parties were terminated (C114-3f).

Historical events and the fate of the community

During World War I and the Russian Revolution, the community suffered from changes of government and occupations (C114-11-2f). During the period of Latvian independence (1918–1934), the Jews enjoyed an autonomous and prosperous community life (C114-15f). With the Nazi invasion in the summer of 1941, the Režica And most of its Jews were murdered; synagogues were set on fire and Jewish property was looted (C114-15f, C114-22f). Of the approximately 75,000 Jews who lived in Latvia before the war, only about 6,000 survived the Holocaust (C114-22f).

Terms and concepts from the sources

• Korobochny believes (Коробочный сбор): An internal communal tax imposed on kosher meat and used to finance community institutions, such as hospitals and soup kitchens (C114-20f).
• Gymnasium (Gimnazija): A high school for general education; a government Jewish gymnasium operated in Brezice (C114-23f).
• To Italy (Latgale): A region in eastern Latvia where the city of Rīga was located (C114-15f).
• Talmud Torah: Traditional religious educational institution for children (C114-14f).

List of sources

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• C114-1f – Transcript of an interview with Avraham Itay about life in the Rzeczyce community, the social structure, the languages ​​spoken, and the cultural life of the city.
• C114-2f – Continued transcription of the interview with Avraham Itay, which deals with ideological struggles in the education system and the activities of political movements.
• C114-3f – Transcript of an interview with Avraham (Boma) Liak about the beginnings of the Zionist movements and the activities of the Jewish youth movements in Brzeg.
• C114-4f – Memoirs and articles under the title "Israeli Travels" describing the lifestyle, education, and youth movements in the community.
• C114-5f – Official documents of the Jewish Government Gymnasium in Brzyce and a photograph of the school building.
• C114-6f – A group photograph of students from 1930 with handwritten identification of some of the participants.
• C114-7f – Map and encyclopedic entry from the "Small Encyclopedia of Latvia" on the administrative and economic structure of the Rīga County.
• C114-8f – Official work permits issued to Jewish artists and actors who worked in the city of Rzeszow in 1930.
• C114-9f – Official letter from the Central Committee of the United Zionist-Socialist Party in Latvia (1933) addressed to the Břežice branch.
• C114-10f – The book "Oheli Shem" which includes biographies and contact information of rabbis, including the rabbis of the communities of Bravel and Brezice.
• C114-11-1f – Yiddish newspaper clippings from the newspaper "Heint" dealing with the 25th anniversary of the rabbinical tenure of Rabbi Chaim Lobachy in Brzezice.
• C114-11-2f – An illustrated article about the work and dedication of Rabbi Chaim Lubachy for the Jews of Rzeczyce during the riots and occupations.
• C114-11-3f – A report in Yiddish from 1923 on the state of Jewish education and the difficulties of Jewish students in the Latgale region and the city of Rzeczyce.
• C114-11-4f – Press reports from 1920 about the activities of Jewish political parties and movements in the community, including the Bund and the Halutz.
• C114-11-5f – An article about the efforts of the Relief Committee in Rzeszow to assist fire victims and the shortage of basic food products in the city in 1922.
• C114-11-6f – A newspaper article dealing with Jewish cultural and artistic life, a mention of the "Habima" theater and figures from the world of the stage.
• C114-11-7f – Biography of Hirsch Atkin, a prominent educator and public activist in the organization of Jewish schools in Latvia and in the People's Party.
• C114-12f – A detailed biography of Rabbi Yaakov Mann, born in Rzeczyce, who immigrated to Jerusalem and was a central activist in the construction of its neighborhoods.
• C114-13f – A page from the book History of Latvian Jewry, which includes biographies of doctors, writers, and public figures from the city of Rīga.
• C114-14f – Entries in the English encyclopedia about the city of Rzeszow and surrounding communities, including demographic, historical, and economic data.
• C114-15f – A research file on the economic situation of Jews in Russia (1904) that includes statistical data on craftsmen and laborers.
• C114-16f – A reference book on Jewish education (1901) detailing the list of educational institutions, teachers, and Torah talmuds in the Vitebsk region.
• C114-17f – Issues of the newspaper "Hashavau Yahude" (1916) reporting on the situation of Jewish refugees and community relief activities in Brzeg.
• C114-18f – A geographical lexicon with historical information about towns and cities, including Rzeszow, including population data and religious institutions.
• C114-19f – A journalistic report from 1873 about a murder and police investigation that took place in the Rzeszow district.
• C114-20f – A medical-infrastructural overview of the city of Rize, including details of medical teams, hospitals, pharmacies, and welfare institutions.
• C114-21f – Title page of the book "Torat Moshe" with handwritten notes and biographical sketches of rabbinical figures and families from the community.
• C114-22f – An article from a South African Jewish newspaper (2003) reviewing the history of Latvian and Rzeszów Jewry with an emphasis on the Holocaust period.
• C114-23-2f – An illustrated historical article about the development of the railway network in Brzeg at the beginning of the 20th century and its impact on transportation and trade.
• C114-23f – A comprehensive list of students of the Jewish Government Gymnasium in Brzeg (1921–1940), including dates of birth and parents' occupations.

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