Riga file (1) / תיק קהילה

✡️ The History of the Jews of Riga and the Meanings of Right and Left in the Bible

The sources presented deal withThe rich history of the Jewish community in Riga, Latvia, and focus on its religious, social, and demographic life throughout the generations. The documents include Passover Haggadot Chapters printed in the city in 1930 and 1934, which testify to extensive cultural and Torah activity at that time. In addition, the text provides Detailed historical overview On the development of the Jewish settlement, from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century, while presenting statistical data on population growth. The article describes the The legal struggles for housing rights, the establishment of educational and charitable institutions, and the impact of changing governments on daily life. It is also detailed Political and economic activity of the Jews in the city, including their role in local commerce and the growth of the Zionist and socialist movements. In summary, these sources constitute Comprehensive documentation of the Golden Age and the challenges of Riga Jewry until the outbreak of World War II.

The following is a comprehensive and detailed historical overview of the history of the Jewish community in Latvia, with an emphasis on the city of Riga, based solely on archival sources:

Beginning of settlement and expulsion in 1742

The first Jewish presence in the Riga area is officially documented in 1536, then a sale of goods was recorded to a person named Jacob (C115-31f). In the 16th and 17th centuries, Jews from Poland and Lithuania were allowed to stay in the city only for short periods for commercial purposes, and in 1638 A "Shelter for Jews" was established for them (Jewish hostel) outside the city walls (C115-31f, C115-3F). Despite restrictions from the local guilds, Jews continued to come to the city, and in 1725 They even received official permission to establish a cemetery (C115-31f, C115-1f). A significant turning point occurred in 1742, when the Empress Elizabeth Petrovna She ordered the expulsion of all Jews from Russia, including those in Riga (C115-14f). Despite appeals from the Riga City Council, which feared economic damage to trade with Poland and Lithuania, the Empress refused to rescind the decree, saying that she did not want to profit from the "enemies of Messiah" (C115-14f).

The period of Catherine II and the foundation of the community

With the rise of Catherine II to the throne, a new period of relative tolerance began. In 1764 The mayor arrived in Riga. Retishchev with a secret decree allowing a group of Jews (seven men, including rabbis and a butcher) to settle in the city for economic purposes (C115-14f). A key figure during this period was Levin Wolf, a merchant who had connections at the royal court in St. Petersburg and served as the living spirit behind the emerging community (C115-14f). In the same year, the status of "protected Jews" was granted (Jewish protectors) For the first three families: Levin Wolf, David Bamberger andMoses Aaron, we put together 36 souls (C115-14f). In 1765 Officially foundedSherva Kadisha in Riga, whose register constitutes a valuable source for the history of the community (C115-26f). In 1767 The first synagogue was established within the "Jewish Hostel" under the management of the Christian citizen. Johan Benjamin Benken, who received a monopoly on hosting Jews visiting the city (C115-14f, C115-1f).

Internal disputes and the establishment of religious institutions

Early community life was not without conflict. Mr. Peretz's conflict over the election of the synagogue collector between the "protected Jews" and the Jews who came from outside the city, when David Bamberger andAaron Hirsch They stood on both sides of the fence (C115-14f). The disputes included accusations of financial irregularities and even reached the courts of the city authorities (C115-14f). Religiously, the community was led over the years by prominent rabbis: Rabbi Ezekiel (appointed in 1811), the Rabbi Aaron Levi Levin (appointed in 1832) and the rabbi Menachem Mendel Zak, who was the last rabbi of the community before the Holocaust (C115-26f, C115-1f). In 1842 The community was officially recognized by the state, and regulations were established to regulate its internal life (C115-14f, C115-31f).

19th Century: Education, Welfare, and Economic Growth

In the 19th century, there was a significant increase in the Jewish population in Riga, from 736 people in 1811 to about 22,000 in 1897 (C115-31f, C115-3F). The development of education was central: in 1840 The first modern school was established under the direction of Dr. Max Lilienthal, and in the following years additional schools were established, such as the Girls' School Stoppel (C115-1f, C115-31f). The community established many charitable and welfare institutions, including the Visiting the sick, Association Justice's Night, and a soup kitchen for the needy (C115-31f, C115-38f). A unique company called housework (Hausfleiss) was founded in 1878 with the aim of helping poor Jews learn handicrafts and engage in home production in order to prevent begging (C115-6f). A prominent scientific figure was the professor of mechanics Martin Sheinface, who was the first Jew to serve as a professor at the Riga Polytechnic Institute (C115-7f, C115-32f).

Latvian Independence (1918–1934) and Cultural Autonomy

During the period of Latvian independence, the Jews enjoyed broad cultural autonomy (C115-1f). The community was very politically active, with representatives in the Latvian Parliament (Saimaa) Like the Rabbi Mordechai Nurok, Max Lazarson andMordechai Dovin (C115-31f, C115-1f). The city had extensive educational networks in Hebrew and Yiddish, theaters, libraries, and sports associations such as Maccabi andThe power (C115-31f, C115-22f). Zionist youth movements, including The Young Guard, Betar andGordonia, flourished and prepared many young people for aliyah to the Land of Israel (C115-31f, C115-5f). The Jewish press was rich and included newspapers such as "Heint"And"Das Falk" (C115-31f). In 1935 Over 43,000 Jews lived in Riga, constituting about 11% of the city's population (C115-25f, C115-46f).

The Holocaust in Latvia

The German occupation in the summer 1941 led to the destruction of the community. Already in the first days of the occupation, pogroms were carried out, and the "Choral" synagogue on Gogol Street was burned down with its inhabitants (C115-31f, C115-48f). In October 1941, a Riga Ghetto About 30,000 Jews were crammed into it (C115-31f). The largest massacre occurred inRombola Forest In November and December 1941, about 25,000 Jews from the ghetto were murdered there (C115-31f, C115-42f). Among those murdered was the renowned historian Shimon Dubnov, who cried before his death: "Jews, write everything!" (C115-31f, C115-37f). The Latvian Righteous Among the Nations Janice Lipka He managed to save dozens of Jews by hiding them (C115-31f, C115-48f). By the time the city was liberated in 1944, only about 150 Jews remained alive in Riga (C115-31f, C115-42f).

The Soviet period and national awakening

After the war, the community was gradually rehabilitated, but under Soviet rule that restricted religious and cultural life (C115-31f). Despite the persecution, in 1957 A Jewish choir and drama club were established in Riga at the initiative of activists such as David Gerber, who worked to preserve Jewish culture and language (C115-45f). The choir was a huge success but was disbanded by the authorities in 1963 Because of its national character (C115-45f). In the 1970s, Riga became a center of Zionist and "refusal" activity, and many members of the community fought for their right to immigrate to Israel (C115-31f, C115-41f). With Latvia's renewed independence in 1991, Jews returned to an open community life, including the opening of the first Jewish school in the former Soviet Union in 1989 (C115-41f, C115-42f).

Historical terms and concepts

• Jewish protectors (Sponsored Jews): Jews who received an official letter of sponsorship from the authorities allowing them permanent residence and defined trading rights (C115-14f).
• Escort money (Transit/Escort Fee): A special tax required of every Jew who entered the city of Riga during periods when they were prohibited from residing there (C115-14f).
• Zaken Hayeda (Elder of the Congregation): Official title for a community representative elected by the authorities to oversee order among the Jews (C115-14f).
• Alberts Thaler (Albert's Reichstaller): A type of silver coin used in Riga for paying taxes and fees in the 18th century (C115-14f).
• Heather (room): A traditional religious educational institution for children, which was common in Riga until the educational reforms (C115-12f).
• Bikur Holim (Bikur Cholim): One of the oldest and most important associations in the community, which ran a hospital and welfare institutions (C115-38f).

List of sources

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• C115-1f – A comprehensive historical overview of the Riga community from the Middle Ages to the national awakening in the 1980s
• C115-2f – A guide to Jewish institutions, businesses and professionals in Riga and Latvia in the 1930s
• C115-3F – A detailed historical overview of the development of the Jewish settlement in Riga, its institutions and demographic data
• C115-4f – Historical information page in English about Riga, including a list of welfare, educational and cultural institutions
• C115-5f – An illustrated overview of the Zionist youth movements and national activity in Latvia between the wars
• C115-6f – Report in the newspaper "Ruski Yavray" (1880) on the establishment of the "Housework" association to assist the poor in Riga
• C115-7f
• C115-8f – An article in the newspaper "Russky Yavray" (1881) criticizing the restrictions on the entry of Jews into the Polytechnic Institute
• C115-9f – Cover of the historical-literary journal "Jewish Notes" published in Riga in 1881
• C115-10f – Cover of the book "Living Language", an illustrated textbook for learning the Hebrew alphabet (1897)
• C115-11f – Anton Buchholz's book on the history of Riga Jews from the beginning of settlement until 1842
• C115-12f – A handbook on Jewish education in Russia and a list of educational institutions and enterprises in Riga (1901)
• C115-13f – Activity report of the Riga branch of the Education Distributors Society for the year 1903
• C115-14f – A detailed historical study of the life of the first Jewish community in Riga in the 18th century
• C115-15f – Cover and introduction to the sermon book "The Building of My Heart" by Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Eliyahu Lichtenstein
• C115-16f – Annual report of the Jewish Association for Music, Drama and Literature "Carmel" in Riga (1910)
• C115-17f
• C115-18f – Information on cultural and educational life in the Riga and Mitau communities in the magazine of the Society for the Dissemination of Education (1912)
• C115-19f – Details of the activities of the cultural committees, the library and public lectures in the Riga community
• C115-20f – Statistical table of Jewish educational institutions in Russia by district (1912)
• C115-21f – Biographies of rabbis and writers who worked in Riga from the book "A Generation of Rabbis and Writers"
• C115-22f – A Yiddish booklet from the "Youth Aid" association in Riga that reviews the activities of the institution in the 1930s
• C115-23f – Yiddish spelling rules and a list of terms published in Riga at the initiative of the Orthography Committee (1928)
• C115-24f – Title page for the Passover Haggadah with translation and commentary "Masheli Alpes" published in Riga (1930)
• C115-25f
• C115-26f – An article by A. Karlin, "Records of the Riga Congregation," which deals with the beginnings of the community and the Hevra Kadisha
• C115-27f – A. Karlin’s continued research on community regulations, early rabbis, and everyday life in Riga
• C115-28f
• C115-29f – Report on the reorganization of the education and relief committees in the Riga community (1903)
• C115-30f – Data tables on the education of Jews in general and Jewish educational institutions in Russia (1886-1911)
• C115-31f – A comprehensive encyclopedic entry on the city of Riga, including demography, politics, the Holocaust, and community reconstruction
• C115-32f – A historical and legal review of the status of Riga Jews under Polish, Swedish and Russian rule
• C115-33f
• C115-34f – Illustrated page showing historical buildings in Old Riga with explanations in Yiddish
• C115-35f – An article in Russian about restrictions on the admission of Jewish students to the Riga Polytechnic Institute (1910)
• C115-36f – A biography in Yiddish of the writer and activist Aharon Yodelson, who worked in Riga
• C115-37f – A review of the book "Your Own Color in a Rainbow," which deals with the contribution of Jews to Latvian culture
• C115-38f – An article in the Latvian press about the history of the "Bikur Holim" association in Riga and its medical activities
• C115-39f – An English review of Riga Jewry, including a bibliography and the struggle of the "rejecters" in the 1970s
• C115-40f
• C115-41f – An article from Hadassah magazine (1993) reviewing the sites of Jewish heritage and history in Riga
• C115-42f – A historical summary in English about Riga Jewry, data on the murder of Jews in the Holocaust, and the activities of Janice Lipka
• C115-43f
• C115-45f – An article by David Gerber on the Jewish choir and theater in Riga during the Soviet period (1957-1963)
• C115-46f – Manual recording of a statistical table detailing the growth of the Jewish population in Riga (1728-1935)
• C115-48f – An article from the "Daat" website that reviews the history of the Riga community from the Middle Ages to its destruction in the Holocaust

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