Socialist Zionists's file / תיק – סוציאליסטים ציונים

"`html

📜 The Rise of Zionism and the Leadership of Rabbi Lubotsky in Latvia

This collection of sources documents the activity of the United Socialist Zionist Party in Latvia during the 1920s and 1930s. The documents include an official membership card, administrative correspondence regarding the organization of lectures, and confirmations of membership in Zionist youth movements in Riga. A detailed written testimony reviews the development of Jewish public life in the community of Rezhitsa, focusing on ideological struggles between different movements and the growth of the pioneering movement. In addition, the letters reflect the close ties with the Land of Israel, including reports on the economic hardships of workers and financial activity with banks in Tel Aviv. These materials provide a window into the preservation of Jewish and Zionist identity in the diaspora in the face of political changes and governmental persecutions during that period.

This historical overview is based on an analysis of documents from the Archive of Latvian and Estonian Jewry in Israel (O20-1f, O20-2f). The documents focus mainly on political, social, and religious activity in the communities of the region, particularly in the city of Rezhitsa (Rēzekne), while reflecting the interconnections with other Jewish centers in Latvia, Russia, and the Land of Israel (O20-4f, O20-2f).

Political Organization and Youth Movements

During the 1930s the United Zionist-Socialist Party in Latvia (Latvijas Apvienotā Cionistu-Socialistiskā Partija – C.C. un C.S.) operated in the region (O20-1f, O20-3f). The party had a central committee located in Riga at 16 Pērses Street (O20-3f, O20-5f). Among the activists of the movement was Al Germanis (Germanis Al), who held membership card number 7 of the party in 1934 (O20-1f). Another member mentioned as belonging to the "Young Zion" organization in Riga during the years 1919–1921 is Nissan Gurevich (O20-3f).

In the city of Rezhitsa, activity of the C.S. (the Socialist Zionists) began around 1926 (O20-4f). Before that, branches of the movements Haver and HaTechiya existed in the city, which later united into the Zionist student movement (O20-4f). Additional youth movements that appeared later in the city included Hashomer Hatzair and Gordonia, established in 1923 (O20-4f). At the same time, the Revisionist movement was described as very strong in the city during the 1920s (O20-4f).

Community Leadership and Religious Life in Rezhitsa

The leadership of the community in Rezhitsa was characterized by internal political and religious struggles (O20-4f). Around 1920 democratic elections were held for the community leadership, in which the Zionists won a majority (O20-4f). In opposition stood the Bundists, the Folkists, and representatives of the synagogues (O20-4f). Tensions in the community occasionally escalated into acts of violence carried out by individuals called "emissaries", such as Sofke Kleper (O20-4f).

In the religious sphere, several rabbinical figures are mentioned:

• Rabbi Chaim Lubotsky (Lubotsk): His figure is described as a quiet, modest, short man who "hid among the vessels" (O20-4-7f, O20-4-9f). He was the only rabbi who remained with the community when it was led to execution in the first Aktion, and at that time behaved with great courage (O20-4-9f). Rabbi Lubotsky tended toward Zionism, and his son was a member of one of the Zionist youth leadership groups (O20-4-9f).
• Rabbi Dosovitz: served as the community rabbi and was described as a powerful speaker and a fascinating personality who brought wealthy benefactors to the city (O20-4f). He operated a small bank for his livelihood (O20-4f).

• Early Zionist activity: Liaq began his path in Zionist youth movements at a young age. In 1917, while in Moscow, he was a member of the youth organization "HaTechiya" (O20-4-1f). In September 1919 he participated in an illegal conference of high school students in Moscow initiated by students from the city of Kazan (O20-4-1f). He traveled to this conference from Rezhitsa and on his return brought Zionist documents and literature that served the local movement (O20-4-1f).
• Activity in Rezhitsa: He was a member of the local "HaTechiya" organization already at the age of 13–14 (O20-4-1f). After returning from the Moscow conference at the end of 1919, he worked with his friends to spread Zionist and socialist ideas among the Jewish youth of the city (O20-4-1f).
• Studies and career: Liaq left Rezhitsa to study in Germany and returned to the city only during vacation periods (O20-4-5f). He completed his studies around the years 1928–1929 (O20-4-5f). In a postcard from 1933 there appears a reference to "Dr. Lak" (Dr. Lak), most likely a variation of his name, in connection with discussions with candidates for teaching university courses (O20-2f).
• Political activity in the C.S. Party: In 1926 he began organizing branches of the Socialist Zionist Party (C.S.) in Riga (O20-4-5f). He operated under the leadership of Meirovitz (O20-4-5f).
• Cultural and ideological outlook: Liaq testifies about himself that he went through a period of "semi-Yiddishism" and even engaged in research of the Yiddish language (O20-4-5f). He candidly describes that in his youth, due to his Yiddishist upbringing, he experienced a period of "hatred of Zion" (meaning opposition to the Hebrew language), which he later described in his testimony as a "wound in the soul" (O20-4-5f).
• Historical documentation: In 1976 Liaq delivered detailed testimony to Mordechai Neishtat for the archive, in which he accurately reconstructed the social, political, and religious structure of the Jews of Rezhitsa (O20-4-1f).
• Note regarding the type of information: The information about his participation in the Moscow conference and the transitions between movements appears in the printed testimony (O20-4-1f). The information linking him to the title "Doctor" appears in handwriting on a postcard in Russian (O20-2f).

Education and Culture

In Rezhitsa there operated a club called the "Hazamir Society" founded by M. Katsao (O20-4f). The city also had two political-cultural clubs: the Bialik club of the Zionists and the Sholem Aleichem club of the "Yiddishists" (O20-4f).

In the field of education, during the early 1920s most schools in Rezhitsa taught in Russian (O20-4-7f). There was also a school that taught in Yiddish, where a Zionist teacher (referred to in the source as "the teacher Ma-Yefit") worked and suffered harassment because of his views and was eventually dismissed from his position (O20-4-7f). In addition, a gymnasium founded around 1911 operated in the city, where the teacher Y. Gurevich taught (O20-4-7f). A training center (including a carpentry workshop) was also established in the city for Jewish youth who wished to learn productive professions (O20-4-5f).

External Connections and National Activity

The community maintained connections with centers of Zionist activity beyond its borders:

• Moscow: In September 1919 an illegal Zionist student conference took place in Moscow, attended by representatives from the region (O20-4f). Liaq participated in this conference (the speaker in the oral source), and Chirikov is mentioned as chairman of the Jewish National Fund in Moscow (O20-4f).
• Land of Israel: There is evidence of financial support for institutions in the Land of Israel, such as a promissory note from 1936 for the order of the Workers' Party of the Land of Israel (Mapai) for one pound (O20-8f). A letter from 1933 mentions an expected visit by David Ben-Gurion in connection with the Zionist Congress (O20-5f).
• External assistance: The Joint organization assisted the community after the First World War, mainly through support for banks and welfare institutions (O20-4f).

List of Sources

• O20-1fe : Membership card no. 7 of the United Zionist-Socialist Party in Latvia for Al Germanis, 1934.
• O20-2fe : Postcard in Russian sent to Z. Hanutin in Rezhitsa by M. Levits, February 1933.
• O20-3fe : Official letter of the Zionist-Socialist Party in Latvia confirming the membership of Nissan Gurevich, 1934.
• O20-4fe : Transcript of detailed testimony by Liaq about the history of the community in Rezhitsa, Moscow and Zionist activity, May 1976.
• O20-5fe : Letter from the central committee of the Zionist-Socialist Party in Latvia regarding Ben-Gurion and the congress, May 1933.
• O20-6fe : Official letter of the Zionist-Socialist Party in Latvia addressed to H. Rivoash, July 1931.
• O20-7fe : Printed letter in Yiddish (Sivan 5693) with handwritten notes regarding the Histadrut and the Land of Israel.
• O20-8fe : Promissory note / check for one pound payable to the Workers' Party of the Land of Israel, September 1936.

O20-1fe

O20-2fe

O20-3fe

O20-4fe

O20-4-1fe

O20-4-3fe

O20-4-5fe

O20-4-7fe

O20-4-9fe

O20-5fe

O20-6fe

O20-7fe

O20-8fe

** end of Socialist Zionists files **

**Press to go back to Organizations Table**

"`