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Jewish History

History of Jewish Rezekne by Esther Rechtschafner

1- Introduction

2-Historical Background of Jews in Rezekne

3-Jewish Life in Rezekne at the End of the Nineteenth Century

4-Jewish Life in Rezekne at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century

5-Rezekne and World War One

6-Rezekne After World War One

7-Rezekne and the Holocaust

8-Rezekne After World War Two

9-Conclusion

10-Appendix 1

11-Appendix 2

12-Bibliography and Footnotes

Secular History

Jewish Life in Rezekne at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century
by Esther Rechtschafner

From the beginning of the twentieth century, there were two Chief Rabbis. The Rabbi of the poor segment of the population was Rabbi Dushovich, known as "the Chadrinker", and the Rabbi of the wealthier was Rabbi Chaim Lubocki, known as the Kablinker. He was in this post from 1913 [67]. He was a Zionist, a member of the "Mizachi" organization, and an enlightened person. He wrote " Chaim's (Life's) Additions", a Torah composition[68]. He was a cousin of the previous Chief Rabbi- Rabbi Isaac Zioni. The former's honorable place was inherited by the Rabbi Aaron Judah Shulman and after him , the Rabbi Lieb Perl, who was known as "the Judge of Rezeke" [69], Rabbi Moshe Shakrota and Rabbi Yafin [70]. The "government authorized" [71] Rabbi was Rabbi Jacob Pollak[72].

Most of the workshops in the city were owned and run by Jews [73].There was a Jewish loan society , known as ‘The Organization for Loans and Savings", which was founded by Rabbi Dushovitz and was called ‘The Rebbe's Bank" by the people. In 1912, it had 197 members [74]. There were Jewish doctors, nurses, teachers and lawyers.There were a few Jewish clerks in the municipality. Four Jews, who were representatives in the city council in 1917. They managed to cancel the decree that General Assemblies were to take place on Friday nights and Sabbaths

Now most of the children began to study in the public elementary school for boys, in the government run school for boys, which had four grades and in the government run gymnasium. In the latter number of Jewish students was limited at five percent. Afterwards a public elementary school for girls was opened up [75]. A rich Jewish woman, who had previously left the city, funded this school [76].

The language of instruction in the Jewish elementary school was changed from Russian to Yiddish. A second school was opened and a quarrel developed between the Yiddishists and the Hebraists on the language of instruction there. The education minister decided in favor of Hebrew. The Latvian Ditatorate (1934-1940) decided to combine these two schools. Then there were corresponding classes with instruction in Yiddish or Hebrew. A government run Jewish high school, was founded in 1922. A Yeshiva called "The House of Joseph" was opened between 1921 and 1934. In the same period a Yeshiva was opened, which was called "Torah and Musar" (moral ethics). Students from other communities also attended. There was also a traditional school called "Torah and Derech Eretz"(politeness).

At the beginning of the century, the Zionist Organization "Chovevei-Zion" was replaced by "Kadimah" [77] and "Mizrachi" which opened up branches [78]. "Kadimah" then had 130 members. Hebrew lessons were given in its' meeting –hall. "Mizrachi" had forty members [79]. In the 1920's ‘Zeiray-Zion" (Young Zionists), was the strongest Zionist Organization, and in the 1930's "the Zionist Revision Organization was the strongest. The Zionist Organizations had a strong influence on the youth. The branch of "Hanoar Halomed" (Zionists Students) called itself " Hachaver" (The Friend), and in the 1920's started a branch of "Hachalutz" (The Pioneer). A branch of "Hatchiah" (Rejuvenation) was operated for a short period. The branch of "Bar-Cochba"(scouts), developed into "HaShomer Hazair". In the 1930's branches of "Betar", "Borochav Youth" and "Herzliah" were started. At this time dozens of the youth came to live in Israel. There were two sport organizations: "Hapoel" and "Hakoach". . Hebrew lessons were still given at the "Kadimah" Zionist Organization and there was an active chorus there.

Jewish cultural life centered around the Yiddishist ("Bund") "Shalom Aleichem Club" and the Zionist "Bialik Club" [80]. The "Bund" which had about 100 members, had a dramatic club which attracted many and put on plays in Yiddish which were open to all [81]. It housed a rich library".This was an Anti-Zionist organisation , but had the majority of members. The Yiddish poet Nachman Dimenstein who was one of the heads of the "folks' party" was born here and lived here. He published poetry in various Latvian publications. He and his family [82] perished in the Holocaust [83]. The first volume of his works was lost in the Holocaust[84].

The "Bund" and other youth were responsible for the defense of the community . The "well-to-do" members of the community financed this. There were revolutionary units, which were connected to the underground. Among these revolutionaries were Shafir, Pliner, and Chiat [85].

There was a social uprising in the year 1905, and members of the "Bund" (these Yiddishists) were among the leaders of the strike. In October of the same year there were anti Jewish uprisings in the city [86], and the Jewish youth organized themselves to protect the community. Six of them were killed [87].

Before World War One there were eleven synagogues in the city: the "Gumiatur", that was near the market place and considered the largest, and the oldest after the burning of the"White Study House", built in 1882, its lists were the,continuation of the first lists ("Mishnah study group"-1786) of the community, and its' rabbi was Rabbi Skruta; the " Zemdlediker" was next in size, was founded in 1876, by a group of businessmen, including Chaim Mantifal, Shraga Fibush Yaffa and Moshe Emnitov; the "Greener" Study Hall, that was previously known as the "New Study Hall"; the "Revitur Study Hall, which had a "Mishnah study group' list dating from 1848, and its' rabbi was Rabbi Lubocki; Hillels' Study Hall was the oldest, founded by Hillel Emnitov, in about 1840; the "Merchants'" synagogue which was founded in 1860, the "Planaver" Study Hall which was built in about 1875 from a contribution by Chaim Mantipal, and was the only prayer house in the new part of the city which was called "Plan"; the "Large Minyan of Chasidim", which was followed by four more minyanim of Chasidim: one of them belonged to Lubavitch, and was founded in 1865, by Shmuel Ribush; another one was founded by Uri Ribush; the third one was also founded by the millionaire Chaim Ribush, in about 1835, and was called "Chaim's Minyan" this burnt down and was rebuilt in 1919, by Jacob Kaminsky, and called "Kaminsky"s Minyan"[88].

The Jewish population was 11,000, just before the First World War, which was fifty percent of the total population [89].

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