Beitar's file / תיק – בית"ר

Betar Movement in Latvia and Estonia

The sources document the activity of the Betar (Brit Yosef Trumpeldor) movement in Latvia and Estonia during the years between the two world wars. The collection includes historical surveys, conference protocols, organizational correspondence, membership lists, press materials, and documentation of leading activists. These documents make it possible to trace the organizational and ideological development of the movement, its pioneering and educational training activities, and the fate of its members during the Soviet and Nazi occupations (O5-1f, O5-17f, O5-18f, O5-22f, O5-25f, O5-64f).

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Central Figures

Ze'ev Jabotinsky: Founder of the movement and the ideological spirit that guided it. His visit to Riga in 1923 aroused great enthusiasm among Jewish youth and led to the establishment of the first Betar nuclei in the city. His last visit to Latvia took place in 1939 (O5-1f, O5-25f, O5-63f, O5-25-1f, O5-25-2f, O5-44f, O5-52f, O5-53-01f, O5-64-1f).

Aharon Proops: The first commissioner of Betar in Latvia and one of its founders. He was among the founders of the organization and worked to establish the movement’s organizational structure in the country (O5-1f, O5-20f, O5-25f).

Moshe Joelson: A leading activist in the movement who dealt with organizing ranks and training commanders. He contributed to the development of Betar’s organizational and disciplinary structure (O5-15f, O5-21f, O5-29f).

Binyamin Lubotzky: One of the leading activists in the movement, involved in the ideological discussions surrounding the question of "mobilization" for national service in the Land of Israel (O5-15f, O5-21f).

Dr. Yaakov Hoffman: Betar commissioner in Latvia and also a central figure in the student corporation "Hashmonai." After the Soviet occupation in 1940, he was arrested and exiled to Russia (O5-29f, O5-35f, O5-44f).

Mark Markov: Yiddish theater actor and one of the founders of Betar in Riga (O5-40f).

Shmuel Katz: A leading activist in the Revisionist movement who worked alongside Jabotinsky and was involved in Betar’s ideological activity (O5-54-3f).

Shlomo (Shaul) Stoligwo: A member of Betar in Riga from 1928. During World War II he served in the Red Army, and after the war he worked to preserve the movement’s heritage (O5-31f, O5-41f, O5-66-4f).

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Central Places

Riga: The center of Betar activity in Latvia and the seat of the main commission. In this city, the first branches were established and the movement’s institutions operated (O5-1f, O5-17f, O5-30f, O5-10f, O5-12f, O5-25-1f, O5-28f, O5-44f).

Stoķi Farm (Stoķi): An agricultural training farm established in 1925 to prepare Betar members for agricultural work and immigration to the Land of Israel (O5-21f, O5-25f).

"Rosh Pina" Farm: Another training farm where emphasis was placed on agricultural work and movement discipline (O5-14-2f, O5-18-1f, O5-25-2f).

Nīcgale: Another pioneering training site used by movement members in preparation for immigration (O5-48f, O5-62f).

Tartu (Dorpat): A center of activity of the student corporation "Hashmonai" in Estonia (O5-58f).

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Organizations and Institutions

Betar (Brit Yosef Trumpeldor): The youth movement of Revisionist Zionism, combining ideological education, physical training, and pioneering activity (O5-1f, O5-15f).

"Hashmonai" Corporation: A national-Zionist student association founded in Riga in 1923 and connected to the Revisionist movement. Its activity also expanded to Estonia (O5-10f, O5-25-1f, O5-57f, O5-58f, O5-59f).

Avivia: Another student organization active in Riga and connected to the city’s national-Zionist activity (O5-44f).

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Key Events

Establishment of the Movement in Latvia (1923–1924): Following Jabotinsky’s visit, the "Organization of Activist Zionist Youth" was founded in January 1924, serving as the basis for the establishment of Betar in Latvia (O5-25-1f).

"The Vow of 1925": A group of Betar members signed a commitment in 1925 to meet five years later near Tower of David in Jerusalem, an expression of their commitment to immigration and the Zionist idea (O5-6f, O5-25-3f, O5-29f).

Sukkot Campaign (1934): A large-scale fundraising operation for the Tel-Hai Fund, including the division of areas of activity and the organization of volunteers from among the movement’s members (O5-17-1f, O5-17-2f).

National Convention (1938): A central convention in which organizational and ideological questions of the movement were discussed, foremost among them the issue of "mobilization" for national service in the Land of Israel (O5-19-1f, O5-5-1f, O5-5-2f).

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Press and Publications

"Avodatenu": A movement newspaper published in Riga and used to disseminate the movement’s ideas and report on its activity (O5-15f, O5-16f).

"HaMedina" (Medina): A Revisionist weekly in which political articles and responses to the ideological debates of the period were published (O5-13f).

"Masu'ot": An ideological and educational journal of the movement (O5-39f, O5-45f).

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Central Values and Concepts

Hadar: A foundational concept in Jabotinsky’s doctrine expressing self-respect, discipline, and moral conduct (O5-1f, O5-15f).

Tagar: An idea expressing readiness to struggle for the rights of the Jewish people (O5-1f).

Mobilization: The principle according to which a Betar member devotes a period of life to national service in the Land of Israel (O5-15f, O5-19f, O5-29f, O5-19-1f, O5-5-1f).

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End of the Movement’s Activity in Latvia

In June 1940, with the entry of the Soviet army into Latvia, the movement’s activity was halted. Many leaders were arrested or exiled, and some Betar members were forced to hide their affiliation. After the war, many graduates of the movement worked to preserve its heritage in Israel and in Jewish communities around the world (O5-31f, O5-41f, O5-66-4f).

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List of Documents

The list of documents is long.

Clicking on the document number will open only the requested document.

At the bottom of the document is a link to return to the list of documents.

• O5-6fe: Document, "The Story of the Vow", commitment of Betar members from 1925 to meet in Jerusalem.
• O5-7-2f: Records of internal election results and appointments in the Betar branch (1926).
• O5-8f: Resolutions of the Fourth Conference of Betar in Latvia (1929) on the Jewish state.
• O5-9f: Personal file and rehabilitation documents of Yosef Gerber, a Betar member arrested by the Soviets.
• O5-10f: Greeting letter to the student association "Avivia" on the occasion of its fifth anniversary (1932).
• O5-11f: Report on the imprisonment of Dr. Hoffman and refugees from Poland.
• O5-12f: Handwritten note on the circumstances of Betar’s establishment in Riga in 1923.
• O5-13f: Survey of the newspaper "HaMedina" and the polemic with Arlosoroff.
• O5-14-1f: Protocol of discussions (in Yiddish) on training and culture in the movement.
• O5-14-2f: Continuation of discussions on military discipline ("soldat") at the training farm.
• O5-14f: Internal documents on ranks and training in Betar Latvia.
• O5-15f: Circulars and ideological guidelines from "Avodatenu."
• O5-16f: Articles on self-defense and the movement’s development.
• O5-17-1f: Detailed daily order for the "Sukkot Campaign 1934" in Riga.
• O5-17-2f: Implementation instructions and appointments for the Sukkot 1934 fundraising campaign.
• O5-17f: Protocols and resolutions of conventions in Latvia.
• O5-18f: Surveys of the state of the movement in Latvia and Estonia in Latvia and Estonia.
• O5-18-03f: List of historical documents from the early days of Betar in Latvia (1925-1926).
• O5-18-1f: Article in the journal "El-Al" on training life at "Rosh Pina" farm.
• O5-19f: Documents detailing the principles of mobilization and immigration.
• O5-19-1f: Details of the resolutions of the 1938 national convention regarding the platform ahead of the world convention.
• O5-20f: Historical study on the development of ranks and training in Betar.
• O5-21f: Album of photographs and documents of Betar activists in Latvia.
• O5-22f: Official correspondence of the Betar commission in Latvia.
• O5-24f: Front page of the newspaper "HaHazon" (1930), published by Betar headquarters in Latvia.
• O5-25f: Chronology of key events in the history of Betar Latvia.
• O5-25-1f: Chronological historical survey of Betar in Latvia from 1923 to 1926.
• O5-25-2f: Continuation of the historical survey from 1927 to 1935, including the establishment of training institutions.
• O5-25-3f: Continuation of the historical survey from 1938 until the dissolution of the movement in 1940 under Soviet rule.
• O5-25-4f: Data on training points and commanders’ schools in Latvia (1936-1937).
• O5-28f: Principles and structure of the Betar movement in Latvia.
• O5-29f: Booklet on the life of Betar companies in the Land of Israel and the connection to Latvia.
• O5-30f: Documentation of the commission and the center of Betar activity in Riga.
• O5-31f: Letter by Shlomo Stoligwo about his military service.
• O5-33-1f: Letter from Yaakov Guri to Menachem Begin (1974) regarding a commission of inquiry into the events of 1940 in Latvia.
• O5-33-2f: Testimony on the conduct of senior movement officials during the Soviet occupation and its consequences.
• O5-35f: Appeal to Menachem Begin regarding Betar leaders in Latvia.
• O5-37f: Cover of the booklet "Plugot Library" about the lives of Betar members in the Land of Israel.
• O5-39f: Jubilee issue of "Masu'ot" appealing to Betar members.
• O5-40f: Notice about the death of Mark Markov, one of the founders of Betar Riga.
• O5-41f: Membership card of Shlomo Stoligwo in Betar Riga.
• O5-44f: Historical survey of the "Hashmonai" corporation and Jabotinsky’s visit.
• O5-45f: Cover of the journal "Masu'ot."
• O5-47-1f: Statistical data on Betar members in Latvia in 1931.
• O5-48f: Report in "Rassvet" on Betar camps in Latvia.
• O5-52f: Article on Ze'ev Jabotinsky’s visit to Riga.
• O5-53-01f: Article on Jabotinsky’s last visit to Riga in 1939.
• O5-54-3f: Article on Shmuel Katz and his activity in the movement.
• O5-57f: Letter from the Revisionist Union leadership to the "Hashmonai" corporation.
• O5-58f: Invitation to the tenth anniversary celebrations of "Hashmonai" in Tartu.
• O5-59f: Official letter on the letterhead of the "Hashmonai" corporation.
• O5-62f: Departure form for training at "Nīcgale" for Yitzhak Gurevich.
• O5-63f: Short biography of Ze'ev Jabotinsky in the movement context.
• O5-64f: Event table and annual activity summary of Betar in Latvia.
• O5-64-1f: Chronology of events in Betar Latvia during the 1930s.
• O5-64-2f: Documentation of the cessation of Betar activity under the Soviet occupation in 1940.
• O5-66-4f: Detailed biographical page of Shlomo Stoligwo from "The Book of Betar Generations."

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