Narva's file / תיק – נארווה

These sources document the history of the Jewish community in Narva in Estonia, from its establishment in the 19th century until the late 20th century. The collection includes nominal lists of residents and donors, newspaper clippings in Hebrew, Russian, and Yiddish, and historical surveys of local religious, cultural, and economic life. The documents shed light on the activity of the Zionist movement, welfare and educational institutions, and the impact of the world wars on the fate of the community. A significant portion of the material focuses on the Holocaust period, including the destruction of the community under German occupation and the deportation of its leaders. Finally, the sources address attempts at the rebuilding of Jewish life in Narva after the fall of the Iron Curtain and the renewal of contact with the global community.

The Beginning of the Community and Its Development in the 19th Century

The community of Narva was founded in the mid-19th century by Cantonist soldiers who served in the army of Tsar Nicholas I (E8-3f, E8-4f). These were Jews who had been abducted in childhood for military service, and upon its completion they were permitted to settle outside the "Pale of Settlement" (E8-4f, E8-9f). The first communal institution was the Jewish cemetery, founded in the 1850s (E8-3f, E8-4f). In 1877 the Chevra Kadisha officially began operating (E8-4f, E8-9f).

The first synagogue was built in 1884 with special permission, but was closed by order of the authorities in 1890 and reopened only five years later (E8-3f, E8-4f). A prominent figure at that time was Rabbi Aharon Yitzhak Gurfinkel, who worked extensively for the welfare of the community (E8-11-3f, E8-13f).

Cultural Flourishing and the Stay of Marc Chagall

In the census of 1897, the community numbered 474 persons (E8-3f, E8-4f). During this period of growth, a world-renowned artistic figure arrived in the city: the painter Marc Chagall (Mark Chagall). The sources note that in 1909 Chagall lived in Narva, where he opened a studio and engaged in painting (E8-4f, E8-9f). His presence in the city is considered one of the high points of cultural life in the community during those years.

With the declaration of Estonian independence, the community enjoyed cultural autonomy (Cultural Autonomy) granted in 1925 (E8-4f, E8-11-9f). During this period, an "improved cheder" was established, and youth movements such as "Hatehiya", "Beitar", and "Hashomer Hatzair-Netzach" operated (E8-3f, E8-4f). The leadership of the community included S. Kriegman, head of the community committee, and Rabbi Mordechai Shvey (Rabbi Mordechai Shvey), the last rabbi of the community before its destruction (E8-3f, E8-4f).

The Holocaust Period and the Destruction

The disaster began with the Soviet occupation in 1940 and the nationalization of Jewish institutions (E8-4f). In June 1941, community leaders and affluent families were deported to Siberia (E8-4f, E8-11-9f). With the German invasion in the summer of 1941, most of the Jews fled to Russia. Those who remained were murdered by the Germans and collaborators from the "Omakaitse" (E8-3f, E8-4f). In the autumn of 1943, a concentration camp was established in the city, to which Jews from across Europe were brought, most of whom perished (E8-3f, E8-25f). With the liberation of the city in July 1944, it was completely destroyed and not a single Jew remained there (E8-4f, E8-26f).

Revival and the Reestablishment of the Community

After the war, Jews in liberal professions began returning to Narva only in the 1960s and 1970s (E8-4f). On October 12, 1988, the turning point came when an initiative group of ten people decided to establish the Club of Jewish Culture, which later became the organized community (E8-11-9f).

The key figures in the reestablishment were:

• Boris Tsitlis (Boris Tsitlis): a veteran activist, head of the local Red Cross Society for 50 years, and an outstanding athlete who won the title of Estonian running champion (E8-11-9f).
• Inna Zhitkovskaya (Inna Zhitkovskaya) and Leonid Pivovarov (Leonid Pivovarov): who led and guided the cultural events and communal ceremonies in the early years of the renewed community (E8-11-9f).

List of Sources

• E8-11-3f : Letter by Rabbi Gurfinkel and members of the Narva community (1893).
• E8-11-9f : Article on the revival of the community in 1988 and its key figures (Boris Tsitlis, Inna Zhitkovskaya, and Leonid Pivovarov).
• E8-13f : Historical survey of the Narva community between 1917 and 1940.
• E8-25f : Information on the Narva concentration camp during the Holocaust.
• E8-26f : Report on the condition of the city of Narva upon its liberation in 1944.
• E8-3f : Historical summary in Hebrew on community institutions, demography, and leadership.
• E8-4f : Survey in English including Marc Chagall's stay, the establishment of the community, and the Holocaust.
• E8-9f : Handwritten drafts detailing historical data, including mention of Chagall's studio.

E8-1f

E8-2f

E8-3f

E8-4f

E8-5af

E8-5f

E8-10f

E8-11-1f

E8-11-2f

E8-11-3f

E8-11-4f

E8-11-5f

E8-11-6f

E8-11-7f

E8-11-8f

E8-11-9f

E8-12f

E8-13f

E8-6f

E8-7f

E8-8f

E8-9f

** end of Narva files **

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