(6) Riga file / תיק קהילה

🎖️ Latvian KGB summonses for awarding war decorations

These sources include Hebrew manuscript which reviews in detail the History of the city of Riga, with a deep focus In the history of the Jewish community The text traces the chronology of the city from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, and describes the Changes in government and their impact on the status of the Jews. The author details Development of community institutions, the establishment of synagogues, and social and religious regulations throughout the generations. In addition, the documents present Demographic data and statistics on the composition of the Jewish population in different time periods. This is a comprehensive historical documentation that combines Political Review With an analysis of Jewish spiritual and social life in Riga.

The Jewish community in Latvia developed over centuries under changing governments, from the Livonian Orders, through Polish, Swedish, and Russian rule, to Latvian independence in the 20th century (C166-3f, C166-1f). The history of the region's Jews has been divided into three main periods: Courland (Kurzeme), To Italy (Latgale) andLivonia (Livonia), with each region having different cultural and legal characteristics (C166-4f).

Early settlement and development of the regions

The first written evidence of the presence of Jews in the area appears in 1306 in an edict of the Livonian Order that prohibited the residence of Jews (C166-3f). It was not until the 16th century that real communities began to form; inPilten (Piltene) Jews received rights to purchase real estate and build houses in 1571, and in the 18th century they became permanent residents under the rule of the Duke Ernst Johann Biron (C166-4f). InTo Italy, which passed to Polish rule in 1562, Yiddish-speaking Jews settled and established self-governing institutions called crowd (C166-3f). InRigaIn , the capital of Livonia, Jewish merchants are first mentioned in 1536, but permanent settlement there was officially permitted only in the 19th century (C166-4f, C166-1f).

First Republic period (1918–1940)

With the declaration of Latvian independence in November 1918, Jews became equal citizens for the first time (C166-3f). During this period, the community enjoyed broad cultural and educational autonomy, and Jews served in government institutions, including Paul Mintz who served as state comptroller (C166-3f). The Jewish education system flourished, and the number of elementary schools increased from 21 in 1914 to 100 in 1933 (C166-14f, C166-3f). In 1933 he visited Riga David Ben-Gurion and encouraged Jews to immigrate to the Land of Israel (C166-3f). The Jewish economy was dominant, and in 1935 about 36% of private businesses were Jewish-owned (C166-3f, C166-4f).

Prominent figures and their work

• Mavrik Vulfson: Journalist and historian known as the "Robespierre of Latvia." He played a crucial historical role in the dissolution of the Soviet Union when he revealed the secret protocols of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, and claimed that Soviet rule in Latvia was not established by a socialist revolution but by force of the Red Army (C166-13-11f).
• Eliyagu Fromchenko: An industrialist born in Pskov who founded the chocolate factory in Riga in 1921 For fear (Laima). In 1933, with the rise of the Nazis in Germany, he immigrated to Israel and established the chocolate factory in Ramat Gan. elite (C166-8f).
• Mariya Zabezhinskaya: Born in Riga (1923) who served as a wireless operator and cipher expert inRed Army During World War II (C166-13-16f, C166-13-1f). In March 1945, she parachuted into Austrian territory at the head of a partisan group called "Internationale". After breaking her leg on the landing, she was hidden and rescued by a local woman named Maria Fasching At her home in the Lahnhattal district (C166-13-1f, C166-13-9f).

World War II and the Holocaust

The Soviet occupation in 1940 led to the nationalization of Jewish property and the deportation of some 5,000 Jews to Siberia (C166-3f). With the German invasion in June 1941, tens of thousands of Jews were murdered in mass killings, including the burning of the synagogue. Gogol Riga on July 4, 1941 (C166-3f). Established Riga Ghetto, whose elimination process began in November 1941 with a mass murder in the forest Rombola (C166-4f, C166-6f). According to various estimates in sources, between 63,000 and 73,000 Latvian Jews perished in the Holocaust (C166-3f, C166-4f).

The Contemporary Jewish Community

After Latvia regained its independence in 1991, Jewish institutions were rehabilitated (C166-3f). In 1989, the first Jewish school in the former Soviet Union was opened in Riga (C166-4f). Today, the community is very active socially and culturally, and most of its members (about 95%) live in Riga (C166-3f, C166-4f). The community's prominent spiritual leader is the Chief Rabbi Nathan Barkan (C166-3f).

Historical terms and concepts

• Education (Haskala): A cultural movement that called for the integration of Jews into general society and the adoption of modern values ​​(C166-3f).
• Audience: The institution of self-government of Jewish communities in Eastern Europe until the 19th century (C166-4f).
• Bond: A Jewish socialist workers' party that was very active in Latvia in the early 20th century (C166-3f).
• Saeima: The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia, in which Jewish representatives served (C166-3f).
• Kagali: Local Jewish government officials in the Latgale region (C166-3f).

List of sources

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• C166-1f – Handwritten notes in Hebrew about the history of Riga and the beginning of Jewish settlement there.
• C166-2-3f – Newsletter of the Austrian Emigrants' Committee, which includes articles on the commemoration of Riga Jews in Bikarniki.
• C166-3f – A historical overview in English of Latvian Jewry from the Middle Ages to the modern period.
• C166-4f – A detailed article in English on the history of the Jews in the provinces of Courland, Latgale, and Livonia.
• C166-6f – An article in Yiddish describing life in the Riga ghetto and the events of the Holocaust in the area.
• C166-7f – An article in Russian about the history and architecture of the "Papav House" on Christiana Street in Aruna in Riga.
• C166-8f – An article in Russian about Eliyahu Fromchenko, founder of the "Laima" chocolate factory in Riga and "Elite" in Israel.
• C166-9f – Email correspondence in Russian about the story of the Jewish baby girl who was photographed as a model for the ideal Harry child.
• C166-10f – Photographs of a building in the Riga ghetto and an abandoned synagogue in Jurmala.
• C166-12f – Testimony in Russian about military activity, Yitzhak Sadeh and Operation Horev.
• C166-13-1f – Testimony printed in Russian by Maria Zverzhinskaya about her parachute jump in Austria and her rescue.
• C166-13-2f – Official request to the KGB for confirmation of military service record and testimony about rescue in Austria.
• C166-13-3f – Official letter from the KGB in Kiev regarding the awarding of a decoration to an Austrian citizen who saved partisans.
• C166-13-4f – Official request for confirmation of Maria Zverzhinskaya's service in the Red Army during the war.
• C166-13-5f – A moving letter of thanks from Maria Zverzhinskaya to Maria Fasching, who cared for her and hid her.
• C166-13-6f – A hand-written diary page of a wireless operator that includes records of transmission codes and dates.
• C166-13-7f – An archival document from Latvia detailing the history of Aharon Zbrzezinski's family.
• C166-13-8f – Detailed testimony in Russian about the training as a radio operator and details of the parachute operation in Germany and Austria.
• C166-13-9f – Handwritten testimony in Russian by Maria Zverzhinskaya about her injury and rescue in Austria.
• C166-13-10f – A personal letter in German dealing with a visit to Austria and daily life in Germany.
• C166-13-11f – An article in Russian about Bravik Wolfson and his role in exposing the protocols of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
• C166-13-15f – Handwritten military certificate in Russian regarding Maria Zvezdzinskaya's service in the Red Army.
• C166-13-16f – A Soviet belt notebook of Maria Zvezdzinskaya, including personal and military details.
• C166-13-17f – Official marriage certificate from Soviet Latvia for Sergei Kolesin and Maria Zvezdzinskaya.
• C166-13-18f – Official invitation to Maria Zverzhinskaya to present herself to receive a war decoration in 1986.
• C166-13-19f – Official invitation to Maria Zverzhinskaya to present herself to receive the Jubilee Medal in 1985.
• C166-13-20f – Official birth certificate from Soviet Latvia for Arkady Kolesin.
• C166-13-21f – An official copy of Maria Zverzhinskaya's birth certificate issued in Riga.
• C166-13-22f – Soviet passport of Maria Zverzhinskaya, which includes exit visas for Israel.
• C166-13-23f – Arkady Kolesin's Soviet passport, which includes an exit visa to Israel from 1991.
• C166-13-24f – Handwritten notes in Russian with dates and names related to Riga and the war period.
• C166-13-25f – Handwritten notes including lists of names and dates in Russian.
• C166-13-26f – A collection of handwritten dedications, family photographs and landscapes from the Nachtal region of Austria.
• C166-13-27f – Official certificate confirming the awarding of the "40th Anniversary of Victory" jubilee medal to Maria Zverzhinskaya.
• C166-13-28f – Official certificate confirming the awarding of the "50th Anniversary of Victory" jubilee medal to Maria Zverzhinskaya.
• C166-13-29f – Archive visitor registration page for Arkady Zbezhinsky (Kolsin) from 2020.
• C166-14f – List of Jewish schools in Riga in the years 1939-1940, including addresses and languages ​​of instruction.

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