Piedruja file / תיק קהילה

📜 Piadroia: The History and Destruction of a Jewish Community

These sources describe the history of the Jewish community in the town. Piedroua (Pridruisk) in Latvia, from the 19th century until its destruction in the Holocaust. The texts review the Development of the settlement, community institutions such as synagogues and schools, and the economic structure based on trade in bricks and wood. The sources emphasize that despite Economic difficulties and political changes After World War I, the community maintained its Jewish character and extensive Zionist activity. With the Nazi occupation in June 1941, Elimination of the community When the Jews were taken to nearby forests, where they were brutally murdered by the Germans and local collaborators. This information serves as historical evidence of the daily life of the Jews in the area and documents the The tragic end of the Jewish settlement there.

Historical Overview: The Community of Piedruja

Geographical and historical background

The town Piedroia (also known as Friedruisk or Priedroisk) is located in the sub-district Daugavpils (formerly Dvinsk), in the region Latgale in Latvia (C90-1f). It lies on the right bank of the riverDaugava (Dvina), and originally served as a suburb of the city Droya (Druja) located on the other side of the river (C90-1f, C90-5f). After World War I, when Druja was annexed to Poland, Piedroja became a separate municipal authority and in the years 1920–1940 it was part of independent Latvia (C90-1f, C90-4f). The handwritten note on the sources indicates that the connection with Druja was by ferry, and that the nearest railway station was inBolbinova (now Indra), about 12 kilometers from the town (C90-3f, C90-5f).

Demographics and population

At the end of the 19th century, the Jewish population in the town numbered 561, which constituted about 66% of the total population (C90-1f). In 1906, their number had increased to 706, but when Latvia became an independent state in 1920, only about 50 Jewish families lived there (C90-1f, C90-3f). Statistics from 1930 indicate 203 Jews (about 53% of the population), and in 1935 their number had dropped to 145 out of a total population of 329 residents (C90-1f, C90-4f). Printed sources detail a long list of Jewish homeowners in the town in 1935, including Itzik Baskins, Murdoch Baskins, Laser in Skins, Ganuch Dorfmanis, Yankel Dorfmanis, Bertha Ettingen, Rosalia Gadons, Zelda Close and many more (C90-2f).

Economic and commercial life

The economic situation of the Jews of Piedroia was described as satisfactory, with most of them living on the main street of the town and each house having a small plot of land (C90-1f, C90-4f). The Jews were engaged in growing vegetables, fruit and poultry for their own consumption, and some even assisted Christian workers in agricultural work (C90-3f, C90-5f). The main source of income was Timber trading as well as petty commerce, and all the shops in the town were Jewish-owned (C90-1f, C90-3f). The businesses in the town included grocery and food stores run by individuals such as Yazfa Mukena andLaser Chars, as well as textile stores (manufacturing) under management Ita Magitsons And Sidkit in management Itas Smyrnas (C90-2f). In 1923, difficulties were imposed on the passage to Poland, which affected the merchants who used to trade with Druya ​​and caused some of them to emigrate to other cities (C90-1f).

Community institutions, education and religion

At the beginning of the 20th century, a synagogue, but it burned down in 1914 (C90-1f, C90-4f). In 1920, the Jews, with the help of theJoint, a small house of prayer, and school It had four classrooms where the language of instruction was Yiddish (C90-1f, C90-5f). The school principal was Michael Feiglson, who served in office until the late 1930s (C90-3f, C90-7f). The community employed religious officials such as slaughterer andsapAmong the professionals in the community were also a number of craftsmen and a Jewish doctor named Dr. Costel (C90-1f, C90-5f).

Political and public activity

In the 1880s, peasant riots against Jews and their property occurred (C90-1f). One source states that a large fire broke out in August 1881, and in 1882 riots began as a result of the incitement of a Christian priest (C90-3f). On the public level, in the elections to the 18th Zionist Congress held in 1933, 11 members of the community participated, and most of them voted for the "Working Land of Israel" list (C90-1f, C90-4f). The first Jewish representative on the town council was Chaim Cashelman (C90-3f).

Holocaust period

after Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact, the Red Army entered Latvia in June 1940 and Soviet rule was established (C90-1f, C90-9f). After the German invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, only a few Jews managed to escape deep into Russia (C90-1f, C90-4f). The German army occupied Piedroja at the end of June 1941, and shortly thereafter the town's Jews were taken to the forest between Daugavpils andKraslava (C90-1f, C90-5f). During the march, the Jews were stoned by passersby, and those who had difficulty walking were murdered on the spot (C90-1f, C90-9f). In the forest, the Jews were shot into pits that had been prepared in advance (C90-1f). The sources indicate that Jews hiding with farmers were discovered and also murdered (C90-1f, C90-9f). Among the murdered were the school principal Michael Feiglson, his brother Eliyahu, and the town doctor Dr. Costel, who was murdered by locals after the occupation, according to one account (C90-5f, C90-10).

Geographical concepts and terms

• Latgale: A historical region in eastern Latvia where the town (C90-1f) was located.
• The Joint: A Jewish-American aid organization that assisted the community in establishing educational and religious institutions after World War I (C90-1f, C90-8).
• Shochat and Mohal: Religious officials responsible for kosher slaughter and performing circumcision (C90-1f).
• Ribbentrop-Molotov: Non-aggression pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union that preceded the outbreak of World War II (C90-1f).
• Manufacturing: A store selling fabrics, cloths and textile products (C90-2f).

List of sources

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• C90-1f – A historical overview in Hebrew of the Peydrouya community, including demographics, economic life, and a description of the Holocaust period.
• C90-2f – Official statistical data from Latvia (1935) including lists of homeowners and businesses in Piedroija and Pogoļanė.
• C90-3f – Historical documentation in Hebrew including population tables, an overview of community institutions, and a bibliographical list.
• C90-4f – A historical overview in English of the town of Piedroya, its economic development, and a chronological description of the events of the Holocaust.

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