Sport Organizations's file / תיק – אגודות ספורט

🚩 Hapoel Emblem: The Heritage of Hebrew Sport

These sources document the Jewish sports movement in Latvia and Eastern Europe, with a strong focus on the activities of the "Maccabi" organization during the first half of the twentieth century. The collection includes certificates of excellence and diplomas awarded to athletes for achievements in running and jumping, alongside archival photographs showing football teams, delegations to the Maccabiah Games, and festive parades. Historical written documents describe the establishment of Jewish clubs in cities such as Riga and Ventspils, and detail the challenges they faced under different regimes. In addition, newspaper excerpts present results of athletics competitions and reports on football matches between local sports associations. These materials preserve the cultural and physical heritage of the Jewish community in the region before the Holocaust. Later letters testify to the effort to collect and document these items for museums and historical archives in Israel.

The Jewish sports movement in Latvia was a central arena of social, national, and political activity, with the "Hapoel" organization holding a unique and significant place among the working class and pioneering youth (O12-1f, O12-23f).

The Organization of "Hapoel" in Latvia

The "Hapoel" organization (Strādnieks) was established in Latvia around 1930 as a workers’ association for physical culture and was ideologically identified with the labor movement and ties to the Land of Israel (O12-1f, O12-23f, O12-29f).

• Structure and Activity: The organization had a formal structure that included the issuance of red membership booklets (O12-23f), distinctive symbols (O12-24f), and clear regulations (O12-26f). Within the "Hakoah" Riga club there even operated a "Hapoel Committee" (executive committee) that managed technical and professional aspects (O12-21f).
• Training and Coaching: The organization introduced systematic physical training methods, especially for student sections, including exercises designed to develop strength, endurance, and self-discipline (O12-27f, O12-28f).
• International Connections: Key figures such as Baruch Bagg, representative of the central "Hapoel" committee in the Land of Israel, worked to strengthen ties between athletes in Latvia and the movement in the country (O12-29f).

Other Sports Organizations

Alongside "Hapoel", other dominant organizations were active:

• Maccabi (Maccabi): The oldest organization in Latvia, founded in Riga in 1908 and renewed in 1918 (O12-1f, O12-11f, O12-12f). The Riga branch was the largest in the country, numbering about 1,400 members on the eve of World War II (O12-1f, O12-11f, O12-33f).
• Hakoah (Hakoah): Founded in Riga in 1924 following a split in the leadership of "Maccabi" (O12-11f, O12-12f, O12-21f). The club was particularly notable for its achievements in football (O12-11f, O12-21f).
• Local Clubs: Also prominent were the "Disk" club in Daugavpils (Dvinsk) and Maccabi branches in Liepāja and Ventspils (O12-1f, O12-4f, O12-14f, O12-16f).

Outstanding Sporting Achievements

Athletes of the movements participated in national and international competitions:

1. Athletics: Fania Jakobson set a Latvian record in the women's 100-meter race (12.8 seconds) (O12-11f, O12-19f). Avram Peldhon excelled in the 100- and 200-meter races (O12-11f, O12-18f, O12-19f).
2. The Maccabiah Games: Delegations from Latvia participated in the first Maccabiah (1932) and the second Maccabiah (1935) in the Land of Israel (O12-11f, O12-17f). In the second Maccabiah, M. Finberg won first place in table tennis (O12-11f, O12-12f).

Destruction of the Community and the Sports Movement

The activities of all Jewish sports organizations ceased abruptly with the Soviet occupation in 1940 (O12-11f, O12-12f). Subsequently, under the Nazi occupation that began in 1941, the Jewish community in Latvia was destroyed (O12-11f). Tens of thousands of Jews, including athletes and leaders of many movements, were murdered in the massacre at Rumbula and in other places (O12-11f).

Central Figures

Jewish victims and leaders:

• Baruch Bagg: A central activist in the "Hapoel" organization and representative of the movement from the Land of Israel (O12-29f).
• Dr. Max (Max) Berman: One of the prominent leaders of "Maccabi" Riga (O12-10f, O12-13f, O12-1f).
• Dr. Berkovitz: The first chairman of the "Maccabi" Riga club (O12-11f, O12-12f, O12-9f).
• Dr. Sheinfeld: One of the founders of the "Maccabi" movement in Latvia (O12-11f, O12-12f, O12-9f).
• Fania Jakobson and Avram Peldhon: Outstanding athletes who represented Latvian Jewry (O12-11f, O12-19f).
• M. Finberg: Champion of the second Maccabiah (O12-11f).
• 38,000 victims of the genocide in Rumbula: The destruction of the Jews in Rumbula also brought about the destruction of almost the entire human infrastructure of the Jewish sports world in Latvia (O12-11f, O12-35f).

(Note: the sources describe the horrors of the Nazi occupation and the destruction of the community, but do not mention specific names of Nazi perpetrators).

Expansion on Important Sources

• O12-23f: Provides rare physical documentation of the activities of "Hapoel" in Latvia, including a photograph of an official membership booklet and the definition of the organization as a workers’ association for physical culture.
• O12-28f: A document detailing the training and physical education methods of "Hapoel", testifying to the level of professionalism and the ideology that formed the foundation of the movement.
• O12-11f: A broad historical overview by the director of the Sports Museum in Latvia, forming the basis for data about the clubs, outstanding athletes, and the tragic end of the movement during the Holocaust.

List of Sources

• O12-1fe: A historical review article on the Jewish sports movement in Latvia by Yosef Shleinger.
• O12-2fe: Continuation of the review of the Jewish sports movement in Latvia and the development of the Maccabi and Hakoah clubs.
• O12-3fe: Press excerpts about Jewish football players and the Maccabiah in the Land of Israel.
• O12-4fe: Documents and correspondence relating to the "Disk" sports club in Daugavpils.
• O12-5fe: Information about the "Disk" sports club and the Maccabi Latvia motorcycle group.
• O12-6fe: Translation of a report about a football match between Hakoah and Maccabi in 1934.
• O12-7fe: Yiddish and Latvian press excerpts on the achievements of Maccabi Latvia athletes.
• O12-8fe: A letter in Yiddish concerning sports activity.
• O12-9fe: A commemorative booklet marking 15 years of Maccabi Riga including photographs and lists of activists.
• O12-10fe: A handwritten note mentioning Dr. Max Berman and his activities.
• O12-11fe: A comprehensive overview by the director of the Sports Museum in Latvia about Jewish athletes and their achievements.
• O12-12-1fe: Opening page of a speech on the history of the Maccabi club in Latvia.
• O12-12fe: A detailed speech about the history and ideology of the Maccabi movement in Latvia.
• O12-13fe: Certificate of appreciation awarded to Max Berman at the 10th Maccabiah.
• O12-14fe: Diplomas from the Maccabi Liepāja club from the 1930s.
• O12-17fe: Documents and photographs of the Latvian delegation to the second Maccabiah.
• O12-18fe: Official letter of Maccabi Riga noting the achievements of runner Avram Peldhon.
• O12-19fe: Official announcement of athletics results of Peldhon and Jakobson.
• O12-20fe: Article about the history of Maccabi in neighboring Estonia.
• O12-21fe: Bulletin of sports associations mentioning the Hapoel committee within the Hakoah club.
• O12-23fe: Membership booklet of the workers’ association for physical culture "Hapoel" in Latvia.
• O12-24fe: Embroidered emblem of the "Hapoel" organization.
• O12-26fe: Regulations and statutes of the "Hapoel" organization in Latvia.
• O12-27fe: Circular and results of a cycle of sports competitions of the "Hapoel" organization.
• O12-28fe: Guidelines for physical training methods for members of the "Hapoel" organization.
• O12-29fe: Letter of appointment for Baruch Bagg as representative of the central "Hapoel" committee.
• O12-30fe: Photographs from Jewish sports parades in Latvia.
• O12-31fe: Press excerpts about sports celebrations and athletes’ achievements.

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