Silene file / תיק קהילה

These sources document the history of the Jewish community in the town. Silena (formerly known as Borovka) in Latvia, starting from the beginning of settlement in the place in the late 18th century. The documents combine Statistical data Officials on the composition of the population and the local economy with Personal testimonies which detail religious life, educational institutions, and the activities of Zionist youth movements. Special emphasis is placed on Demographic changes the town went through, including the deportation to Russia during World War I and the economic reconstruction that followed. A significant portion of the material is devoted to the tragedy of Holocaust period, from the Nazi occupation in 1941 to the complete destruction of the community. Finally, the sources commemorate the Remembering the victims Through a description of the discovery of mass graves near the local lake after the liberation of the area.

Historical background and the establishment of the settlement

The town Silena (Silene), known by its Russian name Borovka (Borovka), founded in 1790 (C80-1f, C80-4f). It is located in the sub-district Illuxta (Ilukste), rope Zamgale (Zemgale), which previously belonged to the region Courland (Kurland) in Latvia (C80-1f, C80-4f). The town is located about 20 kilometers from the city Daugavpils (Dovinsk) and near the Polish border (C80-6f, C80-7f). According to the testimony of Moshe Chail, a native of the place, written in handwriting, the town was founded on lands that belonged toPolish Counts From the family Flatter-Seeberg (C80-6f, C80-7f, C80-13f). The information in the sources regarding the date of the founding of the Jewish community in the place is unknown (C80-1f, C80-4f).

Demographics and community development

In the year 1897 Lived in Borovka 285 Jews, who constituted about 40% of the total population (C80-1f, C80-4f, C80-6f). On the eve of World War I, the Jews were already majority Among the town's residents (C80-1f, C80-4f). In 1915During the war, the authorities deported the local Jews to the Russian interior, and they arrived in the city Vitebsk and its surroundings (C80-1f, C80-4f, C80-6f). After the war, most of them returned to the town (C80-1f, C80-4f). In statistical data from 1925, the settlement is listed as 265 Jews, and in 1930 their number dropped to 230 (C80-3f, C80-6f). In 1935 We were in town. 189 Jews Out of a general population of 1,022 people (C80-1f, C80-3f, C80-4f).

Religious life and community leadership

The community had synagogue andbath house (C80-1f, C80-4f). In the community they served slaughterer and full-time inspector, and for a short time also served there multi (C80-1f, C80-4f). Printed information citing the book "The Jews in Courland" (1908) indicates that the town had several Midrash schools (C80-5f, C80-11f). Among the rabbis who served in Borovka are: Rabbi Moshe Chaim of Bitzkeve (who later moved to Mogilev), Rabbi Avraham Zalman, son of Rabbi Moshe HaCohen Zederin (who was elected in 1904 and moved to Schwarnburg), andRabbi Kalman Zvi Porat from Medvinsk who was there during the war (C80-5f, C80-11f). Moshe Chail's testimony indicates that most of the town's Jews were Hasidim (C80-6f, C80-12f).

Economy and trade

The main source of income for the Jews of Borovka was Timber trading (C80-1f, C80-4f, C80-6f). Many Jews lived in poverty in the early 1920s, and some engaged in crafts, sought employment in the villages, or moved to nearby cities such as Daugavpils (C80-3f, C80-6f). According to official lists from 1936, Jewish-owned businesses operated in the town, including: the textile store of Meir Fleishman, the pharmacy of Heine Hirschhorns, and the grocery store of Zelika Silberman (C80-2f, C80-3f, C80-5f). In 1935 there were 17 stores and businesses out of 25 owned by Jews (C80-1f, C80-3f, C80-4f). The manuscript noted that on the riverbank stood Flour mill It belonged to Polish counts, and Jews worked there (C80-6f, C80-12f).

Zionist education and activity

Upon the establishment of Latvian independence, a Jewish elementary school (C80-1f, C80-4f, C80-6f). In 1922, 36 of the town's 60 children attended the school, while the rest helped support the family; the school closed shortly thereafter (C80-1f, C80-4f, C80-6f). Zionist activity was concentrated among the youth, and included branches of Hashomer Hatzair-Netzach andThe pioneer (C80-1f, C80-3f, C80-4f). In the elections for the 18th Zionist Congress in 1933, 6 people from the town participated (C80-1f, C80-3f, C80-4f). Moshe Hayal describes in his testimony that representatives would come to the town to sell Shekels In preparation for the congresses (C80-6f, C80-12f).

Holocaust period

Local terms and concepts

• Vitebsk: A city in Belarus to which the town's Jews were deported during World War I.
• Hashomer Hatzair-Netzach: A pioneering Zionist youth movement that operated in the town ("Netzach" – Pioneer Scout Youth).
• Shekel (Zionist): An annual membership fee in the Zionist Organization that granted the right to vote in the Zionist Congress.
• slaughterer: A person authorized to slaughter animals kosher according to Jewish law.
• Ilukste District: The administrative unit to which the town in southern Latvia belonged.

List of sources

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