Valka file / תיק קהילה

📜 Chronicles of the Volga Jewish Community in Estonia

These sources document the History and Demographics of the Jewish communities in the cities Valka Viļaka in Latvia over the years. The documents include Statistical data Detailed information on the composition of the population, lists of Business owners and traders Jews, and an overview of local religious, educational, and cultural institutions. Some of the texts focus on the geopolitical changes that have occurred in the region, such as Division of the city and Leka between Latvia and Estonia after World War I. In addition, the sources describe the Community life In the period between the wars and the tragic fate that befell the Jewish residents during The Holocaust Under the Nazi occupation. Overall, the materials are satisfactory A broad historical perspective On the growth, economic activity, and destruction of these communities.

History of the Jewish communities in Valga-Valka and Vilaka

Development of the Valga/Walk community

The city Walga, located on the border Latvia andEstonia, was founded in the mid-14th century and was granted city status around 1584 (C121-4f). The beginnings of the Jewish community in the place date back to 1859, when three soldiers serving in the Tsarist army settled there. Nicholas I (C121-1f). In 1869 the rabbi was appointed Liechtenstein (Lichtenstein) as the first community rabbi, and in 1871 a house of prayer was established in his home. Joseph Shea (C121-1f). The community grew, and in 1897 it numbered 380, which constituted about 0.35% of the total population (C121-4f). In 1914 the number of Jews in the city reached a peak of 784 (C121-3f).

The division of the city and its impact on the community

Following the War of Independence Estonia andLatviaIn 1920, the city was divided between the two countries: the larger part became the Estonian city. Walga, and the smaller part became the Latvian city Valka (Valka) (C121-1f, C121-4f). In the Latvian part, 97 Jews remained without spiritual leadership or community institutions, and the authorities allowed them to use the community services on the Estonian side, including the school (C121-4f). In 1926, Jewish autonomy was recognized inEstonia, and the community inWalga It was run by a local committee of seven members (C121-1f). In 1928, 15 families established themselves in the Latvian part (Valka) independent community and built a new synagogue from donations (C121-3f, C121-4f).

Cultural, social and economic life

Between the two world wars, extensive Zionist activity took place in the city, including organizations such as Maccabi, The Pioneer Branch, The Young Guard andBeitar (C121-1f, C121-2f). Alongside them, movements with ties to Yiddish and socialism also operated, such as a branch of theBond and the cultural organization Libet (Or) (C121-1f, C121-2f). In the economic sphere, the local Jews were engaged in trade, crafts and liberal professions, and in 1935 the community included families who received welfare through Women's Association (C121-1f). The printed text indicates that most Jews made their living from trade (C121-1f).

The Jewish community in Viļaka

The settlement Willaka, located in the district Youngaltgala (Jaunlatgale), documented as an ancient settlement from the 13th century (C121-2f). According to the 1935 census, 465 Jews lived in the settlement, constituting 29.39% of the total population (C121-2f). The Jewish community inWillaka was very dominant in local commercial life; the sources detail a long list of Jewish business owners, including Shoma Schneiders (skins), How many diamonds? (shoes), Yossels Yocha (iron), Israel Schneiders (hairdresser) andNohoms Shoemakers (wool products) (C121-2f). The settlement also had a bathhouse owned by the Jewish community of Willaka In the village Cliché (Kleišu) (C121-2f).

Holocaust period

With signature Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact In August 1939 and the entry of theRed Army toLatvia In the summer of 1940, Jewish public activity was gradually stopped and community institutions were dismantled (C121-1f, C121-4f). After the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, the city became Valka A transit station for retreating Soviet forces (C121-4f). On July 8, 1941, the city was occupied by the Germans (C121-4f). Jews who did not manage to escape with the Soviet forces were murdered by the Germans and local collaborators – Estonians and Lithuanians (originally in C121-1f) or Germans and Latvians (originally in C121-4f). The murders continued until the end of 1941 (C121-4f).Walga The remaining Jews in the city were murdered during the summer and autumn of 1941 by the Germans and Estonian collaborators (C121-3f). The city was liberated by theRed Army At the end of 1944 (C121-4f).

List of terms

The following are terms that appear in sources that are not common in modern Hebrew or are local terms:

• Nicholas I: Emperor of Russia (1825–1855), during whose reign Jews were conscripted into the army for long periods of service.
• The Bund: A Jewish socialist party that focused on Yiddish culture and workers' rights.
• Pirtis: A Latvian term meaning bathhouse or sauna.
• Pagasts: A small administrative unit in Latvia, equivalent to a regional council or rural community.
• Jaunlatgale: The historical name of the Latvian province where the city of Vilāka was located.

List of sources

To view the document, click on its number.

• C121-1f – A historical overview of the history of the Jewish community of Valka (Valga), its institutions, cultural and community life, and its fate during the Holocaust.
• C121-2f – Statistical data and a historical overview of the settlement of Vilaka, including demographics and a detailed list of Jewish-owned professionals and shops.
• C121-3f – Demographic data of the Jews of Valka, a description of the division of the city in 1920, the life of the independent community between the wars, the Holocaust period, and a list of research sources.
• C121-4f – A historical report in English from the "Beit Hatfutsot" Museum that reviews the history of the city of Valka, its geographical distribution, the community's institutions, and the events of the Holocaust.

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