(1) Daugavpils file / תיק קהילה

These sources constituteStatistical and documentary collectionA comprehensive 1904 study examining theThe economic and social situationof Russian Jews at the end of the 19th century. The text presents detailed demographic data onPopulation of Vitebsk Oblast, while comparing the number of Jews to Christians in cities and villages. A significant part is devoted to analyzing the activities ofCharitable and charitable institutions, including soup kitchens, hospitals, and interest-free loan funds. The sources also review theThe Jewish education system, with an emphasis on attempts to modernize the "room" and the transition to advanced teaching methods. In conclusion, the documents reveal theThe depth of the economic distressAgainst the extensive community relief network established to support those in need.

According to the attached sources, the documented history of the Jewish community in the area, and especially in the cityDaugavpils(previously calledDingenburgorDevinsk), spans centuries, from the 17th century to the present day. It is important to note that the sources focus almost entirely on the history of Judaism.LatviaAnd the cityDaugavpils, where the term "Estonia" appears only once in a modern context (C31-9f). Below is the detailed overview based on the archival findings:

Early settlement and early landmarks

The earliest evidence in sources of Jewish settlement in the areaDingenburgAppears in a document from1693, describing a contract for the sale of rights to collect customs duties (C31-4f). According to this document, the king approved a contract withItzka Zalmanovich StolowitzkiandShmerl Zalmanovich Shereshevsky, who were defined as "royal inspectors general", and they were obliged to place a scribe and a guard at each customs station, including atDingenburg,Vilnius,PolotskandVitebsk(C31-4f).

Demographics and statistics

Community development inDingenburg(Daugbpils) is reflected in the following data from the printed text body of the statistics files:

• Year 1772:In the city lived67 Jewish menand69 Jewish women(C31-1f).
• Year 1815:The number of Jews in the city increased to1,559 people(761 men and 798 women) (C31-1f).
• 1897 Census:Archival documents cite information about certain families in the city, such as the family ofWolf Ozdin, who owned a carting business (Cabman), and the familyBenjamin Ozdin, who worked as a tailor (Tailor) (C31-11f).
• Early 20th century:In 1922, the total population was estimated atDaugavpilsIn35,000 people, compared to 29,003 in 1920 (C31-3f).

Community, welfare and economic institutions

The Jewish community operated an extensive network of mutual aid institutions:

• Charitable institutions:The sources describe the "Jewish charitable institutions" that were engaged in distributing heating materials (wood and coal) to the poor, especially during the winter months (C31-1f). In 1898, they turned to1,996 familiesInDaugavpilsFor a request to receive "Ma'ot Hittin" for Passover (C31-1f).
• Health institutions:In the city he workedJewish hospital, which was supported, among other things, by funds from the "Korovka Tax" (C31-1f).
• Economy and sharing:In 1927, the annual general meeting of theDaugavpils Third Savings and Credit Union", which discussed the budget and granting credits to members (C31-2f). At the national level, inLatvia"Act"Jewish Credit Cooperative Association", which united 34 cooperatives with approximately 10,300 members (C31-7f).
• Fundraising:There is a printed list of donors to "Labor Fund" (Keren HaAvoda) inDaugavpilsFrom May 1927, which includes dozens of names and donation amounts (C31-6f). In addition, there is a handwritten page that includes a list of names and amounts under the heading "The Pioneering Circles" (C31-5f).

Education and culture

• Educational institutions:The sources indicate the establishment ofmeetingInDevinsk(Daugavpils) in 1931, an event celebrated with a very impressive ceremony attended by local public figures (C31-8f).
• The Latvian education system:State laws mandated education from ages 7 to 16 (C31-3f).DaugavpilsA vocational school for mechanics operated at 1/3 Peterpils Street (C31-3f).
• Renovated room:The sources state that in "repaired rooms" inDevinskThe average cost of education per student was17.5 rubles(C31-1f).

The period of World War II and Soviet rule

• Anti-fascist underground:During the German occupation inDaugavpils(1941–1944), operated in an underground area called "Red help" (Krasnaya Pomosh) (C31-10f). According to the testimony of a person who was imprisoned inButyrka PrisonIn 1956, the organization was not communist but social democratic, and its members were intellectuals (C31-10f).
• Personalities and activities:The sources mention an NKVD officer namedClose(orMatveyev(according to the source the name is not accurate), who was appointed in 1944 and declared the "Red Aid" organization to be anti-Soviet (C31-10f). It tells of a young woman who served as a Soviet intelligence agent within the German army headquarters inDaugavpils, and according to the source it may be (perhaps) who was Russian or Latvian (C31-10f).

Modern documentation and preservation

In a roots tour conducted in 2008, the remains of the community were documented inDaugavpils:

• Jewish Cemetery:Ancient tombstones were found there, including the tombstone of a man namedEnoch(C31-9f).
• Synagogue:There is a synagogue in the city.Kaddish", which also includes a small museum on the history of the city's Jews (C31-9f).
• Community House:The building is located on Lāčplēša Street, and at one time served a community of about 15,000 Jews (C31-9f).

List of sources