Historical Material on Latvia's file / תיק – חומר היסטורי על לטביה

This collection of sources documents the Life of the Jewish community in Riga Over a long period, from the mid-19th century until after World War II. The documents include Study materials and reference books In French, German and Hebrew, alongside regulations and reports of Social organizations and aid institutions The workers in the city. Among the items can be found official correspondence of Community leadership From 1837, political cartoons and publications dealing with documentation The History of Biblical MedicineThe later sources shed light on The political aspects of the region, such as the Soviet occupation of Latvia and Jewish rescue and diplomacy activities. Together, the information presents a rich picture of Culture, education and community organization of Latvian Jewry in the face of the vicissitudes of history.

The history of the Jewish community in Riga and Latvia as a whole is documented in these sources as a story of impressive cultural and economic growth, alongside severe persecution throughout the centuries, culminating in the Red Terror and the Holocaust.

The beginnings of the community and its development (16th to 19th centuries)

The first documented Jewish presence in Riga appears as early as 1536, when a Jew named Jakop is mentioned in the accounts of a local merchant (H51-16f, H51-30f). Despite restrictions on permanent residence, Jews began to establish themselves in the Livland and Kurland regions (H51-4f). In 1710, with the surrender of Riga to Peter the Great's army, the safety of the Jews residing in the city was guaranteed (H51-18f, H51-19f).

During the 18th century, groups of "protected Jews" (Schutzjuden) began to form, enjoying special residence rights (H51-5f). The first community centered around a "Jewish hostel" founded by Benjamin Benkent in 1761, which also served as a house of prayer (H51-5f, H51-16f). Legal disputes between the privileged Jews and the new immigrants characterized the period, but the community continued to grow (H51-5f).

In 1837, the leaders of the Riga community (Hamburger, Scheinson, Nachman, and Berkowitz) turned to communities in Germany in search of a spiritual leader and modern educator, out of a desire to integrate into the spirit of "humanism" of the Russian government at the time (H51-1f, H51-2f). In 1840, Max Lilienthal was appointed director of the city's modern Jewish school (H51-4f, H51-16f). A significant religious landmark was the inauguration of the magnificent Choral Synagogue in 1871 (H51-11f, H51-16f).

The Golden Age of Riga Jewry (1918–1940)

During the period of Latvian independence, the Jews enjoyed extensive cultural and educational autonomy (H51-16f, H51-17f). The Jewish population in Riga grew, reaching a peak of about 43,672 in 1935 (H51-13f, H51-17f). Cultural life was rich and included musical societies such as "Carmel" (H51-6f), "Ezra" and "Torah and Derech Eretz" schools, and medical institutions such as the "Bikur Cholim" hospital under the direction of Yitzhak Yaffe (H51-17f, H51-23f).

Political life was vibrant and included representation in the Latvian parliament (the Saeima), where figures such as Mordechai Dubin of "Agudat Yisrael" and Rabbi Mordechai Nurok (H51-17f, H51-24f) stood out. However, starting in 1934, under the rule of Olmanis, Jewish autonomy was reduced and anti-Semitic propaganda began to intensify (H51-12f, H51-26f).

The Soviet Occupation, Terrorism, and the Holocaust

In June 1940, Latvia was occupied by the Soviet Union (H51-9f, H51-36f). On the night of June 13–14, 1941, the Soviets deported approximately 35,000 Latvian citizens to Siberia, a significant percentage of whom were Jews (H51-9f, H51-10f). The deportations were carried out with great cruelty, with families being separated at train stations (H51-10f).

With the Nazi occupation in July 1941, the systematic extermination of the community began. The renowned historian Shimon Dubnov was murdered in the Riga ghetto, his last words being: "Jews, write down everything" (H51-24f). The community leader Mordechai Dubin also perished under the Nazi/Soviet regime (H51-24f). Lists of names of tens of thousands of Jews murdered in Latvia and neighboring countries document the magnitude of the disaster (H51-30f).

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Key figures

Victims:

• Shimon Dubnov: A prominent Jewish historian, murdered in the Riga ghetto in 1941 (H51-24f).
• Mordechai Dovin: The leader of "Agudat Israel" in Latvia, worked to save Jews and perished during the war years (H51-17f, H51-24f).
• Menachem Mendel Zack: Rabbi of Riga, perished in the Holocaust (H51-16f).
• Vladimir Mintz: A renowned surgeon who performed the first heart surgery in Latvia worked at the "Bikur Holim" hospital (H51-17f, H51-23f).
• General Goppers: Founder of the Latvian Scout Movement, one of the victims of the Soviet "Red Terror" (H51-10f).
• General Prauls: Commander of the Latvian Home Guard, executed by the Soviets (H51-10f).
• Lt. Col. Lukins: The third of the President of Latvia, victims of the Soviet occupation (H51-10f).
• Hermann Jadlowaker and Michael Alexandrovich: Famous cantors and singers who worked in Riga (H51-17f).

Nazis and oppressive regime figures:

• Heinrich Himmler: The head of the SS, mentioned in the context of rescue lists and transit permits (H51-24f).
• Von Hindenburg: German Field Marshal General, signing government orders in the region in 1915 (H51-30f).
• Comrade Serov: The Deputy Commissar of Public Security in the Soviet Union, prepared the secret instructions for the mass deportation in 1941 (H51-10f).
• Ivan the Terrible: Russian Tsar, who drowned Jews in Polotsk in 1563 (H51-3f).

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Expansion of important sources

• H51-5f (Perezhitoye): A rich and extraordinary source that provides a detailed description of the establishment of the first Jewish community in Riga in the 18th century. It reveals the legal and social complexities of the "protected Jews" and the internal struggles over the leadership of the community and the management of the first charitable and prayer institutions.
• H51-10f (Ten Years of Foreign Occupation): A crucial statistical and historical source documenting the mass deportations carried out by the Soviets in June 1941. It details the numbers of deportees by profession, gender, and age, and provides vivid testimony to the brutality of the separation of families at train stations.
• H51-17f (Jewish Community in Riga 1918-1940): A comprehensive overview of the Jewish "Golden Age" in Riga. The source emphasizes the cultural autonomy, economic prosperity, and the crucial contribution of Jews to the scientific, medical, and artistic life in Latvia between the two world wars.

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List of sources

• H51-1f : Letter from the leaders of the Riga community (1837) requesting the appointment of a modern spiritual leader and educator from Germany.
• H51-2f : Business and spiritual correspondence (1837) regarding the situation of the Jewish community in Riga and its desire for cultural progress.
• H51-3f : A Russian historical review (1861) on the persecution of Jews in Russia and the Latvian region from the 16th century.
• H51-4f : The journal "Evreiskiya Zapiski" (1881) detailing the history of the Jews in Livland and Courland.
• H51-5f : The "Perezhitoye" collection (1910) includes in-depth research on the beginnings of the Jewish community in Riga in the 18th century.
• H51-6f : Activity report of the Jewish Association for Music, Drama and Literature "Carmel" in Riga for the year 1910.
• H51-7f : Report from the Jewish Public Assembly in Riga (1913-1914) regarding the construction of community institutions.
• H51-8f : The Latvian Encyclopedia (1953) presenting demographic data on the composition of the population in Riga between the years 1867-1943.
• H51-9f : A review of the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940 and the mass deportations of 1941.
• H51-10f : Detailed documentation of "ten years of foreign occupation" in Latvia, including deportation data and lists of victims.
• H51-11f : Riga Almanac (1873) which includes an article on the history of the city's central choral synagogue.
• H51-12f : A collection of book titles, textbooks, and anti-Semitic propaganda in Latvia over the years.
• H51-13f : Hebrew manuscript pages that include calendars and fertility calculations from ancient periods.
• H51-14f : Statistical studies on the Jewish population in Riga in 1811 and on Jewish education in 1925.
• H51-15f : Riga census data (1881) by religious affiliation.
• H51-16f : An entry from the Encyclopedia Judaica on the history of the Riga community from the Middle Ages to the Holocaust.
• H51-17f : A historical overview of Jewish life in the independent Latvian Republic (1918-1940).
• H51-18f : A dedication poem (1810) by the Jewish community to the Christian citizens of Riga on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Russian rule.
• H51-19f : Documents from 1710 regulating the status of the Jews at the time of Riga's surrender to the Tsar's army.
• H51-21f : Programs of Yiddish theater performances in Riga under Soviet rule (1940-1941).
• H51-22f : Correspondence from the Jewish Agricultural School in Riga (1930) regarding the training of students in Germany.
• H51-23f : Medical and administrative documents related to Dr. Mintz's clinic in Riga (1937-1940).
• H51-24f : Biographical notes on Rabbi Nurok and Mordechai Dubin, including testimony about the last days of Shimon Dubinov.
• H51-25f : Editorial statement of the journal "Evreiskiya Zapiski" (1881) on the difficulties of the Jewish press.
• H51-26f : Antisemitic Latvian press clippings from 1934 warning of Jewish takeover.
• H51-27f : Press report (1940) about the joining of the "Poalei Zion" group to a Jewish organization under Soviet sponsorship.
• H51-28f : A political cartoon (1940) showing the attitude towards religious institutions under the new workers' government.
• H51-29f : An article "Warning to Entrepreneurs" that demonstrates the economic changes during the occupation period.
• H51-30f : A collection of newspaper clippings and short documents including lists of victims and military orders.
• H51-31f : An architectural review of the development of the historical center of Riga in the Middle Ages.

– H51-1f

– H51-2f

– H51-3f

– H51-4f

– H51-5f

– H51-6f

– H51-7f

– H51-8f

– H51-9f

– H51-10f

– H51-11f

– H51-12f

– H51-13f

– H51-14f

– H51-15f

– H51-16f

– H51-17f

– H51-18f

– H51-19f

– H51-20f

– H51-21f

– H51-22f

– H51-23f

– H51-24f

– H51-25f

– H51-26f

– H51-27f

– H51-28f

– H51-29f

– H51-30f

– H51-31f

** end of Historical Material on Latvia files **

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