(2) Ludza file / תיק קהילה

⬜ Ludza: Its History, Rabbis, and the Destruction of the "Jerusalem of Latvia"

These sources document the The history and fate of Jewish communities In Eastern Europe, with an emphasis on the city Lucin (Lodze) in Latvia. The collection includes Historical documents and testimonies harsh reports on the atrocities of the Holocaust, including reports on Mass murder and Nazi actions in the area, alongside personal letters and handwritten diaries. In addition, the sources shed light on Rabbinical and community figures, such as Rabbi Yitzhak Yaakov Sofer, and describe their lives before and after the war in diasporas such as Australia. Some of the items deal withPreservation of religious heritage, including invitations to community events and family photographs commemorating a lost world. Overall, the information presents a tapestry of Personal and collective memory Which combines the destruction of the community with the resurrection of its survivors.

The historical sources and the development of the Jewish settlement

The city Lucin (Ludza), also known in sources Lodz or Lutzen, located in the region To Tagalia (Latgale) in northeastern Latvia (C64-1f, C64-4f). According to the tradition appearing in the sources, a Jewish community existed there as early as the 16th century, but in 1577 the Jews fled the city from the Tsar. Ivan the Terrible who threatened to drown them in the rivers (C64-1f, C64-3f). In 1722, 30 Jews were registered in the city, and at that time they did not yet have their own cemetery (C64-3f, C64-4f). One of the earliest testimonies to the existence of the community is the tombstone of Moshe Ben David, a tailor who was murdered as a "saint" in 1768 after a religious conflict with local peasants (C64-10f, C64-1f). In 1772, with the first partition of Poland, Lucin was annexed to Russia, and in that year there were 66 Jews there, constituting 15% of the population (C64-10f, C64-3f). During the 19th century, the Jewish community grew significantly: in 1815, the Jews numbered 1,176 (67% of the population), and in 1897 their number reached 2,803 (54.5%) (C64-10f, C64-3f). A handwritten note on a printed document indicates that in 1802 the Jews numbered 582 (C64-10f).

The Rabbinic Leadership and the Don-Yahia Dynasty

Lucin was nicknamed "Jerusalem of Latvia" Because it was an important Torah center and a seat for rabbis and sages (C64-11f, C64-4f). The community's first rabbi was Rabbi Zeev Wolf Altshuler, appointed in 1786 (C64-10f, C64-1f). After his death in 1806, he was appointed Rabbi David Zionist, who was the first in a three-generation rabbinical dynasty that bore that name (C64-10f, C64-4f). His son, Rabbi Naftali ZionistHe served as the community's rabbi for over fifty years and was known for his work in redeeming poor children who were kidnapped for service asCantonists In the Tsar's army (C64-2f, C64-11f). His grandson, Rabbi Aharon Zelig Zionist, served as rabbi between 1856–1876 and was the author of the book "Zionist Book" (C64-10f, C64-3f). Another prominent figure was Rabbi Eliezer Don-Yahia, who served as the city's rabbi for 51 years (1875–1926) and was an influential halachic authority and author of books "Drinking Stone" and **"Taste of Magedim"** (C64-11f, C64-4f). His son, Rabbi Ben-Zion Don-Yahia, continued his career in the rabbinate until he was murdered in the Holocaust (C64-11f, C64-4f). The sources also mention other spiritual figures such as Rabbi Yitzhak Isaac Halevi Donin andRabbi Yeshayahu Seligman (C64-13f, C64-14f).

• Rabbi Yehuda Leib Don-Yahia: The author of the book "The Firstborn of Judah", who was a rabbi in the communities of Shirment and Chernigov and is mentioned as part of the family lineage (C64-14f, C64-13f).
• Contact with the Zioni family: The sources indicate close family ties between the Don-Yahia dynasty and the rabbinic family. Zionist The local (C64-13f, C64-11f). Rabbi Eliezer Don-Yahia was the student and son-in-law of Rabbi Aharon Zelig Zionist, thus uniting the two main rabbinical dynasties of Lucin (C64-13f, C64-42f).
• Rabbi Shabtai Don-Yahia: The father of Rabbi Eliezer, who served as rabbi in Vilki and was an influential spiritual figure in his own right (C64-11f).

Community Life: Economy, Society, and Institutions

At the beginning of the 19th century, the community was economically well-off, but its situation deteriorated following the expulsion of Jews from the villages and restrictions on residence in the provincial towns (C64-10f). Most of the Jews of Lucin earned their living from trading in agricultural products, mainly wood, grain and flax, as well as from crafts (C64-10f, C64-3f). In 1893, 71 Jewish workshops were registered in the city, compared to 23 Christian ones, with about 40% of Jewish craftsmen being tailors (C64-10f, C64-3f). Many charitable and charitable institutions operated in the community, including "Secondary Society" Founded in 1788, "Charity Fund", "Visit to the sick", "Bringing in a Bride" and a nursing home (C64-10f, C64-4f). "Workers of Justice" Established in the mid-19th century to assist craftsmen (C64-10f, C64-3f). There were several synagogues in the city, the main one being "Quite a shame" Built in 1804, next to The old seminary and Hasidic synagogues (C64-4f, C64-3f). The sources describe manifestations of anti-Semitism in the 1880s, including blood libels and restrictions on the admission of Jewish students to general schools (C64-10f, C64-4f).

Education, culture and political activity

Jewish education in Lucin has undergone significant changes: alongside theRooms Traditionalists, a private school for boys was established in 1865 and in 1887 an institution was established "Talmud Torah" where they also studied general subjects and Russian (C64-10f, C64-3f). In 1910 a private Hebrew school was opened, and in 1918 a Hebrew elementary school was established (C64-10f, C64-4f). In 1922 a Hebrew Gymnasium which later became a municipal institution (C64-4f, C64-9f). In the cultural field, the first bookstore was opened in 1883 by Goalkeeper life, and a public library was established in 1907 (C64-10f, C64-3f). Political activity was extensive and included theBond, which organized strikes in 1904, and intensive Zionist activity by movements such as "Lovers of Zion", "Youth of Zion", "Gordonia", "The Young Guard" and **"Beitar"** (C64-4f, C64-3f). Lucin was considered one of the strongholds of theRevisionists In Latvia, in the elections to the 18th Zionist Congress in 1933, the Tzahar list received 210 votes (C64-10f, C64-4f).

The Holocaust and Destruction Period

With the outbreak of World War II and the occupation of Latvia by the Soviets in 1940, Jewish businesses and institutions were nationalized (C64-1f, C64-3f). On June 14, 1941, several Jewish families were deported to Siberia (C64-4f, C64-3f). The German army occupied Lucin on July 3, 1941 (C64-1f, C64-3f). Robbery, murder, and abuse began immediately upon the occupation, and on July 20, a ghetto Where the Jews of the city and surrounding area were concentrated (C64-1f, C64-31f). On August 17, 1941, about 800 Jews were murdered in firing pits near Lake Chirma (C64-1f, C64-31f). Further mass murders took place on August 27 and October 27, 1941 (C64-1f, C64-31f). Some of the Jews were transferred to the ghetto Daugavpils (Dovinsk) (C64-4f, C64-3f). According to a 1944 report by a Soviet commission, the Germans and their assistants murdered over 1,200 Jews in and around Lucin (C64-31f). Only five Jews survived in the city thanks to the help of local residents (C64-1f, C64-4f).

After the war and memory

Lucin was liberated by the Red Army at the end of May 1944 (C64-1f, C64-4f). After the war, Jews began to return to the town from the east, and by the 1950s the community numbered about 100 (C64-1f, C64-4f). The community held prayers in a private house and used the Jewish cemetery, which was not destroyed (C64-4f, C64-3f). During the 1970s, most of the town's Jews immigrated to Israel (C64-1f, C64-4f). Documents from later years include lists of deceased in the cemetery (C64-22f, C64-47f) and invitations to memorials for Lucin saints held in Israel (C64-25f).

Terms and explanations

• Latgale: A region of land in northeastern Latvia where Lucin is located (C64-1f).
• Secondary school: A society for secondary education founded in Lucin in 1788 (C64-4f).
• Cantonists: Jewish children kidnapped for long-term service in the army of Tsar Nicholas I (C64-11f).
• The Bund: A socialist Jewish workers' party that was active in the city (C64-4f).
• narrator: A title for a religious preacher or preacher (C64-13f).
• Lats: The currency that was used in independent Latvia (C64-9f).

List of sources

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• C64-1f – A comprehensive historical overview of Lucin from the Middle Ages, through the development of the community to the Holocaust and Aliyah period
• C64-2f – Official statistical publication of the Latvian government (1936) including data on the city of Lodza (Lucin)
• C64-3f – A comprehensive, printed overview of the history of Lucin, demography, rabbinate, and community life until the Holocaust
• C64-4f – A brief historical overview in English of Lucin, its rabbis and institutions (from the Beit Hatfutsot Archives)
• C64-5f – The entry for the city of Lučin (LUDZA) from the Latvian Encyclopedia
• C64-6f – The city of LUTZIN entry from the Jewish Encyclopedia
• C64-7f – A printed review in English on history, rabbinate, and the Holocaust in the Lucin community
• C64-8f – Handwritten notes in Russian on the administrative and communal history of Lucin under Russian rule
• C64-9f – A printed overview in Russian about the city of Lucin, including demographic data and information about educational institutions
• C64-10f – Historical overview of the Lucin community, demographic data, rabbinic dynasties and economic life
• C64-11f – History of the rabbis of Lucin (the Don-Yahia family), community institutions, education, and the destruction of the community in the Holocaust
• C64-12f – Title pages and introductions to halachic books by the rabbis of Lucin (Ta'am Maggid and Likute Maggid)
• C64-13f – Megillat Yochasin – Genealogical details of the rabbinical families in Lucin (Zioni, Don-Yahia, and more)
• C64-14f – Title page and introduction to the book "Bekori Yehuda" by Rabbi Yehuda Leib Don-Yahia of Lucin
• C64-15f – Statistical data on charity registers, workshops and Jewish professionals in Lucin (1893-1904)
• C64-16f – Entries from the Yiddish Literary Lexicon dealing with personalities born in Lucin
• C64-17f – Title pages and text from the "Minnix Yearbook" (1912) that include references to Lucin
• C64-18f – A printed section that includes biographical information about rabbis from Lucin (Moshe Leib Kliwaner and Yehuda Leib Don-Yahia)
• C64-19f – Approbations and biographical overview of Rabbi Ben-Zion Don-Yahia of Lucin
• c64-20F – Memoirs in Yiddish (biography of Meir Levin) including a description of community life and education in Lucin
• C64-21f – Lists of donors and signatories to rabbinical books divided by region of residence (USA, South Africa and Latvia)
• C64-22f – List of deceased in the Jewish cemetery in Lucin as sent to a genealogical website (2003)
• C64-24f – Posters in Yiddish and Latvian for a festive "Hanukkah Eve" event in Lucin in 1931
• C64-25f – Documents from the Committee of Latvian Emigrants in Israel, including an invitation to a memorial and a questionnaire to document the history of the community
• C64-26f – List of Jewish refugees from Latvia and Estonia who arrived at Kibbutz Afikim (1987)
• C64-27-12-1f – A newspaper page from 1878 that includes reports on community life and institutions in Lucin
• C64-27-2f – An excerpt from the newspaper "HaMelitz" (1879) dealing with community affairs and the building of institutions in Lucin
• C64-27-3F – An article from the newspaper "HaMelitz" (1885) reporting on the blood libel in Leucin and the course of the trial
• C64-27-4f – An excerpt from the newspaper "HaMelitz" (1887) dealing with the "Talmud Torah" institution and education in the city
• C64-27-5f – An article from the newspaper "HaMelitz" (1892) dealing with local anti-Semitism and community events
• C64-27-6f – A page from the "HaMelitz" newspaper that includes news from Lucin and nearby towns
• C64-27-7f – Excerpt from an article in the newspaper "HaMelitz" (1894) on the subject of community leadership and the rabbinate
• C64-27-8f – A Yiddish newspaper page that includes community news and lists of donors in Lucin
• C64-27-12-9f – A Yiddish newspaper clipping reporting on the 150th anniversary celebrations of the "Mishnayot Society" in Lucin (1938)
• C64-27-10f – An article from the newspaper "HaMelitz" dealing with the figure and work of the rabbi of the city of Lucin
• C64-27-11f – Newspaper clipping titled "Eretz Israel Completed in Latvia" describing the spiritual life and Zionism in Lucin
• C64-27-12f – Article from an Australian Jewish newspaper (1981) about Rabbi Yitzhak Yaakov Sofer, born in Lucin
• C64-28f – A page from a Jewish calendar (1938) indicating dates and details of rabbis from Lucin
• C64-29f – Printed invitation to the 150th anniversary celebration of the "Mishnayot Society" in Lucin (1938)
• C64-30f – Invitation to a festive event in Lucin (1925) on the occasion of the opening of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem
• C64-31f – Soviet Commission Report (1944) on Nazi Crimes and the Murder of the Jews of Lucin and the Surrounding Area
• C64-32f – Handwritten notes in Hebrew summarizing the history of Lucin and the events of the Holocaust
• C64-33-1f – Handwritten pages that include lists of names and notes regarding the Lucin community during the Holocaust.
• C64-33-2f – A collection of handwritten pages that include lists of names of those murdered, refugees, and survivors from Lucin
• C64-34f – A handwritten page in Hebrew that includes a summary of historical events and testimonies about the destruction of Lucin
• C64-35f – Handwritten notes in fluent Yiddish or Hebrew about individuals and families from Lucin
• C64-36f – Official document from the municipality of Lucin (1927) including names of residents and administrative approvals
• C64-37f – A handwritten letter or testimony in Yiddish dealing with family history and the fate of the city's Jews
• C64-38f – Printed text in Hebrew detailing the rabbinical chain in Lucin and Zionist activity
• C64-39f – Handwritten pages in Hebrew that include drafts or notes on community matters
• C64-40f – Handwritten pages in Yiddish/Hebrew that include a diary or memoirs from the years 1917-1918
• C64-41f – Handwritten letter in Russian (1946) containing family information and references to the city of Lucin
• C64-42f – Handwritten notes and records related to genealogical research of the Lucin rabbinic families
• C64-43f – Document from the Zionist organization in Razkaneh (1918) confirming membership of a resident of Lucin
• C64-44f – A group photo of community members at a social or official event
• C64-45f – A handwritten bibliographical list of sources and documents related to the history of Lucin
• C64-46f – A plain, blank page that appears as part of the series of documents in the archive
• C64-47f – Printed list in English of names and deceased from the Jewish cemetery in Lucin
• C64-48f – Official documents of the Republic of Latvia (1922) on citizenship and medical certificates
• C64-49f – Alternative emails and research summaries (2014) on the census of Jewish families in Lucin (1897)
• C64-50f – Handwritten letters in Russian describing the horrors of the Holocaust and survival in Lucin

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