Daugavpils file (6) / תיק קהילה

📰News and reports from past Israeli communities

The source collection presents a broad and complex picture ofLife of the Jewish community in Daugavpils (Dvinsk)and its surroundings throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. The documents reveal theEducational and religious challenges, which include struggles between Hasidim and opponents and reforms in the "Talmud Torah" institutions. Alongside this, there is a noticeableExtensive political and social activity, from elections to the State Duma to the activities of the Bund and the Zionist movement. Reports from the period of World War I and the Holocaust describe theThe tragic fate of Jewish refugees and doctorsUnder the Nazi occupation. Also, the sources deal withIn preserving historical memory, including the protection of cemeteries and the publication of books on the history of the community. In summary, the collection documents theCultural Vitality in the Face of Existential Criseswho visited the Jews of the region.

According to the sources found inHistorical Archives of the Association of Latvian and Estonian Immigrants in Israel, a detailed picture emerges of the life of the Jewish community, especially in the cityDevinsk(Daugavpils), as well as in other cities and towns in the region (C36-1f, C36-10f, C36-14f). The following is an in-depth review of the history of the community and its institutions as reflected in the documents:

Educational institutions

The Jewish education system inDevinskIt was diverse and included traditional institutions alongside professional and private institutions.Talmud TorahThe local school was described in 1879 (according to a handwritten note on the original) as being in a difficult situation, with the students suffering from hunger and lack of clothing, and the studies there consisted mainly of Bible and Talmud (C36-1f). On the other hand, vocational education developed in the city; in 1902 a two-year vocational school for girls was opened under the management ofB. W. Ginsburg, whose purpose was to provide basic education alongside sewing studies (C36-22f). In 1913, the activities of a vocational school for girls under the management ofMs. Ginsburg, which included two classes and 54 students (C36-23f).

Another educational institution that stirred controversy was the Commercial School ofA. Y. SakharovIn 1913, he rose inSimilar to the urbanThe issue of subsidies for this institution; Sakharov was accused of running the institution for personal profit while declaring deficits, and even threatened to close the institution if the municipal allowances were not increased (C36-10f, C36-11f). Another source states that in 1902 a meeting was held inSimilar to the urbanRegarding the imposition of a tax on commercial documents for the purpose of maintaining the institution (C36-22f). In the field of higher education, a committee of theEducation distributorsOrganize Jewish pedagogical courses inGrodno, intended for young people over 16 years of age (C36-20f).

Religious life and internal disputes

The community experienced intense internal tensions, especially betweenHasidimToOpponentsInDevinskA rivalry was described that led to the establishment of two separate Jewish hospitals in the same city – one for each faction (C36-2f, C36-29f). Another dispute concerned the appointment of shochatim; in 1879 (according to a handwritten note) a sharp conflict developed between the factions over the question of which group the new shochat belonged to (C36-1f). In addition, phenomena of wandering “righteous ones” were documented, who were sometimes described as charlatans exploiting the public’s trust (C36-1f).

Charitable, health and welfare institutions

The community has activated an extensive assistance system:

• Hospitals:On January 20 (the year is not specified in the printed text, but "1913" appears in handwriting at the top of the page) a new building for the Jewish Hospital was dedicated inDevinsk, which included 40 beds and replaced an old, dilapidated building (C36-12f).
• Social assistance:CompanyVisiting the sickprovided medical aid to the poor (C36-13f). Also, aDevinskInstitution ofSmall credit(Melko-torgovoe) intended to assist small merchants and artisans (C36-21f).
• culture:There was a library in the city."Ibraiya", which was an important cultural center but suffered from budgetary difficulties and even faced the threat of closure (C36-6f, C36-38f).

Political and public activity

Political life was vibrant and included various currents:

• The Zionist Movement:Worked to collect the **"shekel"** and organized events such as "Palestine Week" (C36-16f).
• The "Bund":He was very active among the Jewish proletariat. In 1907, an election campaign was recorded forSimilar to the government, in which the **"Progressives"** faced the **"Jewish Nationalists"** (C36-36f). Another source mentions a trial held inDevinskAgainst 26 members of the **"Bund"** in 1916 (C36-20f).
• Anti-Semitism and security incidents:Cases of blood libels have been documented (matter ofYushchinskyInKyiv(C36-41f) and pogroms, such as the one that occurred in the town ofZabichNear Sokol (C36-22f). BDevinskHarassment of Jewish residents by "hooligans" was documented (C36-13f).

The period of World War I and the Holocaust

On timeWorld War I, becameDevinskA major junction for Jewish refugees who were expelled or fled from the war zones in Lithuania and Poland (C36-14f). Between July 22 and August 13 (year not specified in the text, but the title is "1915"), 14 trains with refugees passed through the city, and about 15,000 people received food and medical assistance (C36-14f). In 1918, under German occupation, the freezing of public life and the closure of Jewish institutions are described (C36-16f).

The most tragic part of the community's history occurred inholocaustOn July 24, 1941, the Nazis deported the Jews ofDevinskTo the ghetto inGariba, in an old fortress (C36-32f). Between July and December 1941, the Nazis exterminated about 13,000 Jews in the forestPogolianka(C36-31f, C36-32f). Among the murdered were prominent doctors, such asDr. Boris Websey(brother of actor Shlomo Michaels), who was murdered along with his wife and daughter (C36-32f, C36-33f).

Prominent personalities

• Rabbi Meir Simcha HaCohen:Known as the owner of the **"Happy Light", served as rabbi inDebinsk** for many years and died in 1926 (C36-26f).
• Rabbi Yosef Rozin:Known as"Rogchober", served as rabbi inDevinskand died in 1936 (C36-26f).
• M. A. Ginzburg:A generous and public activist who donated greatly to educational and welfare institutions inDevinsk(C36-11f).
• Dr. Boris Semyonovich Vabsi:A prominent dermatologist and sexologist inDevinsk, headed a foundation"Existing Fund"in the city and was murdered in the Holocaust (C36-32f).

Terms and explanations

• Talmud Torah:A traditional religious educational institution usually intended for poor children (C36-1f).
• Duma:City council or parliament in Imperial Russia (C36-10f, C36-36f).
• Progressives:A Jewish political movement that supported modernization and liberalism (C36-10f).
• Bond:Socialist Jewish Workers' Party (C36-36f).
• Korobochny Sbor:"Box tax", an internal tax imposed by the Jewish community on kosher meat for the purpose of financing its institutions (C36-23f).
• Education Distributors (OPE):Society for the Promotion of Education among Russian Jews (C36-20f).
• A righteous person (Zaddik):A spiritual leader in Hasidism (C36-1f).
• Griva Ghetto:The ghetto established inDevinskIn the fortress across the Daugava River (C36-32f).

List of sources

• C36-1f: A report from 1879 on the state of the "Talmud Torah" in Düneburg and internal disputes in the community.
• C36-2f: An 1880 report on community rivalry that led to the establishment of separate hospitals in Dynburg.
• C36-3f: A report from 1882 on the emigration of Jews from Dvinsk to America and attempts to immigrate to the Land of Israel.
• C36-4f: A review of the employment and immigration situation in Devinsk in 1882 and reports of fires in the district.
• C36-5f: Analysis of the Jewish parties and the struggles in the elections to the State Duma in Grodno and Dvinsk.
• C36-6f: Report on the condition of the "Ivria" library in Devinsk and the founding of the Jewish Literary Society in 1908.
• C36-7f: A review of the stagnation in cultural life in Devinsk and the activities of the vocational school in 1912.
• C36-8f: Preparations for elections in the Vitebsk region and national political activity among the Jews of Dvinsk in 1912.
• C36-9f: Reporting on the election results in Devinsk, local anti-Semitism and mention of a blood libel.
• C36-10f: Discussion in the City Duma of Sakharov's request for a subsidy for the commercial school in Devinsk.
• C36-11f: An exchange of letters about a concert in St. Petersburg and similar treatment of the needs of the Jews in Devinsk.
• C36-12f: Report on the inauguration of the new building of the Jewish hospital in Devinsk and a description of its facilities.
• C36-13f: A review of cases of hooliganism against Jews and the activities of the "Bikur Cholim" association in Devinsk.
• C36-14f: A detailed description of the aid to Jewish refugees in Devinsk in 1915 and news from Israel.
• C36-15f: Details of fundraising efforts in Dvinsk for Jewish war victims in Lithuania and Poland.
• C36-16f: Jewish life in Devinsk under German occupation in 1918 and a report on riots in Glukhov.
• C36-17f: Description of the Jewish population in Vilna in 1873 and news about the royal house in Minsk.
• C36-18f: Lists of the refugee registration bureau in Devinsk and searching for relatives through the Joint.
• C36-19f: Regulations for the admission of Jewish students to educational institutions and the evacuation of factories from Dvinsk during the war.
• C36-20f: Information on courses for Jewish teachers and a report on the trial of members of the "Bund" in Devinsk in 1916.
• C36-21f: Initiative to establish a small credit association in Devinsk to assist merchants and artisans in 1900.
• C36-22f: A Jewish yearbook that includes a report on the opening of a vocational school for girls and a pogrom in Bazevich.
• C36-23f: Details about the budget of the girls' school in Devinsk and a discussion of the reform of religious education in the community.
• C36-24f: Call for financial assistance to the Dvinsk Yiddish community and marking the tenth anniversary of the Hebrew school in the city.
• C36-25f: An appeal to the residents of Dvinsk in Yiddish for assistance to those in need in light of the difficult economic situation in 1921.
• C36-26f: News about the arrival of Rabbi Meir Simcha to Devinsk and reports of fires in the communities of the area.
• C36-27f: Report on the intention of the Soviet authorities to destroy the Jewish cemetery in Devinsk in 1980.
• C36-28f: A newspaper article about the celebration of the laying of the beams in the "House of Unity" in Daugavpils in 1934.
• C36-29f: A review of the revolutionary activities of young Jews in Daugavpils in 1928-1929.
• C36-30f: Memories in Yiddish about figures, culture, and key events in the life of the community in Daugavpils.
• C36-31f: An article from 1994 about the Jewish history of Daugavpils and the commemoration of the destroyed community.
• C36-32f: A description of the tragic fate of prominent Jewish doctors in Devinsk who were murdered during the Holocaust.

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C36-32f

**End of Sources Section**

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