(4) Liepaja file / תיק קהילה

📜 Agenda for the committee meeting, Historical Archives 1985

These sources document the The First World Conference of Libau Descendants, held in Tel Aviv in October 1985. The collection includes Official invitations, personal correspondence and anonymous lists of survivors and expatriates living in Israel and the Diaspora. The documents detail the Event program, which included a memorial ceremony at the Holon cemetery, lectures on security issues, and a historical photo exhibition. Along with the logistical details, the sources contain Personal testimonies and memories about life in Latvia before the war and the horrors of the Holocaust. This project is intended Renew human connections that have been cut off for decades and to preserve the heritage of the destroyed Jewish community. The conference provided participants with a unique opportunity To commemorate the victims And celebrate the continuity of generations in the face of loss.

The city Libau (also known asLiepaja In Latvian or Libava in Russian) was founded in the early 17th century under the rule of the Duchy of Courland and became one of the main ports of Tsarist Russia (C130-1). The city served as a major transit point for the export of grain and timber and the import of industrial products from the West (C130-1). The Jewish community in the city was an integral part of the economic and social fabric, and on the eve of World War II numbered about 9,000 people, which constituted about ten percent of the total population (C130-21, C130-60). The sources indicate that the community supported 12 Yiddish newspapers and four Hebrew newspapers (C130-21). One of the most prominent landmarks in the city was The Great Synagogue Built in Babylonian style with three domes (C130-57, C130-60).

Social life, culture and education

The Jewish community inLibau It was characterized by a deep devotion to education, with about 85 Jewish elementary schools operating in Latvia as a whole in 1930, with over 10,000 students (C130-21). Several prominent schools operated in Liepaja: the school Tailor (Chait) where the language of instruction was Latvian, the school Neufeld (Neufeld) where they taught in Yiddish, and the school of theBond Under the management of Abe Friedberg (C130-1). In addition, many middle-class parents were inclined towards German culture and sent their children to private German schools (C130-1). Social life included Jewish sailing clubs such as KIK, student fraternities like Avivia (Avivia) and Zionist youth movements such as Beitar andThe Young Guard (C130-1, C130-21). The sources also mention dance parties and social events called "Evening" (C130-1).

The rise of anti-Semitism and the political regime

In the early 1930s, a right-wing reactionary regime was established in Latvia under the leadership of Karlis Olmanis (C130-1). During this period, organizations such as theEissargi (Aizsargi), a militia that wore green uniforms and engaged in harassment of Jews (C130-1, C130-75). Educational reforms restricted the transfer between schools on ethnic grounds, and access to the state university in Riga was restricted for Jews through Numerus Clausus (C130-1). In 1934, violent demonstrations against Jews were described inLibau, which led some members of the community to emigrate to Palestine (C130-75).

Holocaust period

After the invasion of Nazi Germany on June 22, 1941, systematic massacres of the city's Jews began (C130-1, C130-81). On June 29, 1941, 33 Jewish workers were murdered in the park Rainis (C130-1). On July 24, 1941, 3,000 men were taken to the fishing port near the lighthouse and murdered there (C130-1). The largest massacre occurred in mid-December 1941 on the coast diligent (Shkeden), where about 3,000 more Jews were murdered, including women and children (C130-1, C130-46). In June 1942, a ghetto was established inLibau Only 816 Jews remained in it (C130-1). When the Red Army entered the city in 1945, only 40 Jews survived (C130-1, C130-75).

Commemoration and preservation of memory

After the war, the survivors scattered around the world, with a large concentration in Israel, the USA, South Africa and Australia (C130-1, C130-103, C130-107). In 1985, a "World Conference of Libau Descendants"At the initiative of figures such as Sam (Molia) Baron, Aharon Yariv (Harry Rabinowitz) andGeorge Goldberg (C130-1, C130-56). As part of the conference, a monument commemorating the city's Jews was unveiled in the cemetery inHolon October 16, 1985 (C130-1, C130-110). The archive contains documents indicating efforts to collect names and testimonies of those killed for the purpose of writing a book of remembrance (C130-61).

Information from manuscripts, notes, and footnotes

• On the invitation to the conference appears a handwritten note from Agnes Ernsdorf, expressing regret that you will not be able to attend the event (C130-17).
• In a handwritten document dated 25.8.85, she addressed Tova Holetzky toSam Baron and proposed adding additional names of survivors to the community lists (C130-49).
• A handwritten note dated 24.9.85 details sums of money in dollars ($80, $110) as part of preparations for the conference (C130-10).
• A handwritten summary of the committee meeting on November 3, 1988, dealing with the annual commemoration and contributions by committee members, including: A. Yariv who donated 100 shekels andS. Baron Who donated 50 shekels (C130-79).

Unique terms and concepts

• Aizsargi (Guardians): A Latvian militia organization that became the new national elite under the Ulmanis regime and engaged in harassment of Jews (C130-1, C130-75).
• Kurhausprospekt (Kurhaus-Prospekt): A wide and magnificent avenue in Libao, along which many villas and community institutions were located (C130-1).
• Nansen Passports: International passports issued to stateless refugees, through which some Jews managed to emigrate from Latvia (C130-1).
• Numerus Clausus: A policy that limits the number of Jews who can be admitted to institutions of higher education (C130-1).
• Bund: A Jewish socialist party that operated in Eastern Europe and operated educational institutions in Lviv (C130-1).
• KIK: The Jewish Sailing Club in Libau, which was located on the shore of the lake and served as a center of social life (C130-1).
• Vecherrinkas (Vecherrinkas): Russian term for "little evenings" – social parties that included dancing and games (C130-1).

List of sources

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• C130-1f – A comprehensive article by Daniel G. Khafri describing the history of Libau and his experiences from the world conference
• C130-2f – Quotations and meeting summary from the Ramada Continental Hotel regarding conference hosting
• C130-3f – Summary letter from the Ramada Continental Hotel regarding the selection of menus and final prices for the event
• C130-4f – Letter from the Organization of Survivors of Latvian Jewry in the United States regarding the cross-referencing of lists of community members
• C130-5f – A printed Semitic list of Libau immigrants living in Israel, including addresses and telephone numbers
• C130-6f – List of names and addresses of Libau descendants living in the United States and Canada
• C130-7f – List of Libau descendants living in South Africa, Australia, the United Kingdom and Europe
• C130-8f – A detailed program of events in English for the first world conference held in October 1985
• C130-9f – A detailed program of events in Hebrew for the first world conference held in October 1985
• C130-10f – Information sheet for community members in Israel ahead of the 1985 World Conference of Libau Descendants
• C130-11f – Letter from Ahron Yariv announcing the publication of a booklet of names and the establishment of a monument in memory of the fallen
• C130-12f – Official invitation in English to participate in the first world conference of Libau expatriates in Tel Aviv
• C130-13f – Invitation in Hebrew to the meeting of ex-Libau residents, including a registration form and program details
• C130-14f – Response and registration form filled out by Julius Delson from Chicago for the World Conference
• C130-15f – Correspondence between Sam Baron and Agnes Ernsdorf regarding the reservation and accommodation arrangements in Tel Aviv
• C130-16f – Letter from Sam Baron to Nathan Spekind regarding the collection of names and addresses of survivors from the city
• C130-17f – Official conference paper page with handwritten notes and calculations of monetary amounts
• C130-18f – Letter from Alan Michelson to Max Wechtel, enclosing biographical information, photos, and cassette recordings
• C130-19f – Excerpts from a Machzor book about the work of Cantor Alan Michelson, his family roots, and his military service
• C130-20f – A handwritten letter from Toba Holetsky suggesting names of survivors of Libau to be added to the lists
• C130-21f – Text of a speech by Harry Hurwitz at a conference that includes demographic data on Jewish education and journalism
• C130-22f – Greetings from Raya Westerman-Mazin emphasizing the importance of preserving the community's heritage
• C130-23f – An article by Harry Arbai describing the initiative, dynamics, and organization of the Libau Exiles Conference
• C130-24f – An overview in English of the first world conference, the history of the community and the Great Synagogue
• C130-25f – A letter from the Committee to Commemorate the Jews of Libau and a questionnaire for writing a memorial book for the community
• C130-26f – Correspondence from George Garsoni regarding family history, donations, and families leaving for Lebau
• C130-27f – An official invitation in English detailing the program’s highlights and the individuals participating in the conference
• C130-28f – Detailed agenda for the conference organizing committee meeting dated September 28, 1985
• C130-29f – Minutes from the committee meeting dealing with the budget, the construction of the monument, and the conference arrangements
• C130-30f – Text of a speech in English by Jack Yacoubi at the unveiling ceremony of the monument at the Holon cemetery
• C130-31f – Printed version of the memorial speech by Jack Yacoubi at the ceremony at the Holon Cemetery
• C130-32f – Handwritten summary of the committee meeting (1988) on the subject of annual commemoration and member donations
• C130-33f – Invitation to a memorial service for the saints of Libau, including an illustration of the monument and the order of the ceremony
• C130-34f – Personal written testimony about the bombing of the city, the fate of the family members, and the return to Livno after the war.
• C130-35f – Text of a memorial speech (1987) describing the outbreak of the war, the site of the massacre at Shkaden, and the commemoration of the victims
• C130-36f – Excerpt from a speech by Professor George Schwab about his experiences as a boy and a "runner" in the Libau ghetto
• C130-37f – Handwritten lists, notes, and summaries including names and logistical details for the conference
• C130-38f – An article containing memories of Rita Bogdanova from a visit to her mother's house in Liepaja in 1992

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