Kadima – Musical Organization's file / תיק, קדימה – ארגון מוזיקלי

This document constitutes a comprehensive annual report of the "Carmel" Society, a Jewish organization for culture, music, and literature that operated in the city of Riga in 1910. The source reviews the rapid development of the society, which was founded to meet the spiritual and artistic needs of the local Jewish community. The text details the extensive activity of the music, drama, and literature committees, which included choir performances, Yiddish theater productions, and lectures by prominent intellectuals. The report also includes administrative data such as budgets, membership lists, and reports on ties with famous writers such as Shalom Asch and Y. L. Peretz. Through its review of the organization’s expenses and the establishment of the library, the document reflects the vitality of public life among the Jews of Riga at the beginning of the twentieth century. The series of lists at the end of the source commemorates the names of hundreds of members who took part in the preservation and cultivation of Jewish culture in the region.

On 23 January 1910, the founding assembly of the Jewish Society for Music, Drama, and Literature "Carmel" was held in the hall of the "Ivria" Society in the city of Riga (O44-1f). The assembly was attended by 93 people, and it was opened by Deputy Sworn Attorney Mr. Gitman-Gidin (O44-1f). Mr. S. Segal was elected chairman of the general assembly by a majority of votes, and Gitman-Gidin and Mr. Y. Zestanker were elected as secretaries (O44-1f). After the approval of the society’s regulations, 53 people registered as members, and elections were held for the executive committee and the audit committee (O44-1f). During 1910, an additional 342 members joined, so that by the end of the year the society numbered 395 members (O44-1f).

Organizational and Administrative Structure

The society’s executive committee included Dr. Hirschfeld, Gitman-Gidin, M. Guron, M. Yoffe, A. Kisin, Dr. Mil, M. Padzvitch, and the candidates Mrs. S. Kovaliakova, N. Tversky, and B. Idus (O44-1f). During the year, Gitman-Gidin resigned from the committee and was replaced by Idus and later by Tversky (O44-1f). The committee elected Dr. Mil as chairman, Padzvitch as vice chairman, Dr. Hirschfeld as treasurer, and M. Yoffe as deputy secretary (O44-1f). The committee held 35 regular meetings and 4 extraordinary meetings, dealing with the organization of committees, internal regulations, preparation of events, and examination of budgets (O44-1f). The audit committee included Y. Zestanker, S. Segal, and S. Epstein (O44-1f).

Cultural Activity: Music and Drama

The executive committee established a music-dramatic committee that was divided into two sections: choir and drama (O44-1f).

• The choir section: consisted of 41 members (21 women and 20 men) and operated under the direction of Mr. Mariaskin (O44-1f). The choir was composed of amateurs who set themselves the goal of learning and performing works by Jewish composers at family evenings and public events (O44-1f). On 3 July 1910, a grand evening of Jewish folk songs was organized in Dubbeln with the participation of the Jewish Folk Music Society from Saint Petersburg (O44-1f).
• The drama section: consisted of 36 members (16 women and 20 men) and was initially directed by S. Ratner and later by M. Vorkel (O44-1f). Its purpose was to arouse interest in Jewish theater and introduce the public to selected dramatic works (O44-1f). On 15 May 1910, the drama by Libin, "Broken Hearts" (Die Gebrochene Hertzer), was staged, and on 3 December 1910, the drama by Gordin, "The Slaughter" (Die Shchite), was staged, both in the "Ulei" Hall (O44-1f). In addition, 15 family evenings were held in the society’s building, including the reading of literary works (O44-1f).

Literary Activity and Lectures

The literary committee, headed by Dr. Hirschfeld, planned a series of lectures on Jewish history and literature, but the task was not fully completed due to a lack of suitable personnel (O44-1f). Nevertheless, 13 lectures were organized, including a lecture by the writer S. A. Rapoport (An-sky) on new trends in literature, a lecture by Y. L. Peretz on Hasidism, and lectures on Shalom Asch and Mendele Mokher Sforim (O44-1f). In the summer of 1910, two large literary evenings were held in Dubbeln with the participation of Y. L. Peretz (O44-1f). The society elected as honorary members the following figures: Mendele Mokher Sforim, Y. L. Peretz, Shalom Asch, An-sky, and Dr. Eliashiv (Baal-Machshoves) (O44-1f). The society expressed moral and material support for the first Jewish daily newspaper in Riga, "Die Yiddishe Stimme" (Die Yiddishe Stimme) (O44-1f).

Library and Reading

The library committee, headed by N. Tversky, dealt with preparations for opening a library and reading room (O44-1f). On 4 December 1910, approval was received from the Governor of Livland to open the library under the responsibility of Mr. Padzvitch (O44-1f). In the reading room, journals and newspapers were available such as: "Der Freund" (Der Freund), "Moment" (Moment), "HaTzfira", "Rech" (Rech), "Der Schtrahl" (Der Schtrahl), and "Jewish World" (Jewish World) (O44-1f).

Economic Aspects

The society’s budget was based on membership dues, income from evenings and events, and apartment rentals (O44-1f). The main expenses in 1910 included rent (591.33 rubles), event expenses (383.77 rubles), staff salaries, heating, and lighting (O44-1f). For the year 1911, a budget of 4,258 rubles was planned, including expenses for a library, a choir conductor, a director for the drama section, and the purchase of musical instruments (O44-1f).

List of Terms

• Ivria: The society in whose hall the founding assembly of "Carmel" was held (O44-1f).
• Baal-Machshoves: The literary pseudonym of Dr. Eliashiv, an honorary member of the society (O44-1f).
• Der Freund: A Yiddish newspaper to which congratulatory telegrams were sent from the society (O44-1f).
• HaTzfira: A Hebrew newspaper that was available for reading in the society’s reading room (O44-1f).
• Die Yiddishe Stimme: The first Jewish daily newspaper published in Riga (O44-1f).
• Broken Hearts (Die Gebrochene Hertzer): A drama by Libin staged by the drama section (O44-1f).
• The Slaughter (Die Shchite): A drama by Gordin staged in 1910 (O44-1f).
• Dubbeln: A resort town near Riga where the society’s summer events were held (O44-1f).

List of Sources

• O44-1f : Annual report of the Jewish Society for Music, Drama, and Literature "Carmel" in Riga for 1910. Includes an overview of the founding of the society, membership list, committee activities, and financial budget.

O44-1f

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