Metadata: Jewish National Society "Trumpeldor"
Collection
- Country:
- Latvia
- Holding institution:
- Latvian State Historical Archives
- Holding institution (official language):
- Latvijas Valsts vēstures arhīvs
- Postal address:
- Slokas iela 16, Rīga, LV-1048
- Phone number:
- +371 20 017 505
- Reference number:
- 2017
- Title:
- Jewish National Society "Trumpeldor"
- Title (official language):
- Ebreju nacionālā biedrība "Trumpeldor" (Rīga)
- Creator/accumulator:
- Jewish National Society "Trumpeldor"
- Date(s):
- 1924/1941
- Language:
- Latvian
- Russian
- German
- Hebrew
- Yiddish
- Extent:
- 94 files
- Type of material:
- Textual material
- Physical condition:
- good
- Scope and content:
-
The “Trumpeldor” society was founded in Riga on 27 December 1923. The first cell of the “Brit Trumpeldor” or “Betar” appeared under the influence of Zeev Jabotinsky, the ideologist of Revisionist Zionism. From Latvia, Betar spread around the world.
The collection contains documents from the Latvian branches of the Jewish national youth society “Trumpeldor". (This organisation is also widely known as "Betar"). It includes statutes, lists of departments, lists of members, donor lists, minutes of board and general meetings, minutes of the revision committee meetings, instructions to departments on the organisation of physical education and military training, celebration of Jewish holidays; newsletters about the activities of the society in Latvia and abroad, correspondence with Trumpeldor branches abroad, correspondence with the department of emigration and tourism and the Riga Prefecture for the issuing of foreign passports and permission to organise reports and evenings; newsletters and articles for the society’s magazine, ”Olun Gayam” newsletters, clippings from Jewish and foreign newspapers about activities of Jewish seamen, “Hagh Umoad Bebetar” magazines, “Masada” play, articles by Zeev Jabotinsky, information about the emigration of members of the organisation to Eretz Israel; employment records of society members who completed their internship at Latvian enterprises, cash book of agricultural farms, inventory list; cash book of the children's colony, documents of the liquidation commission, etc.
The fonds also includes some documents of the Latvian branches in Baltinava, Bauska, Dagda, Ventspils, Jelgava, Kuldiga, Liepaja, Ludza, Rezekne and Tukums. As stated in the charter of society, its goal was the restoration of the Jewish state in Eretz Israel. The society was engaged in educating Jewish youth in a nationally patriotic spirit, and engaged in the study of Hebrew and Jewish culture, the study of crafts, agriculture, sailing and also physical education. An important idea of the society was the instillation of patriotism in Jewish youth. 150 members of the society participated in a demonstration in support of President Ulmanis in Riga on 15 May 1935. Despite these and other acts that proved the loyalty of the Trumpeldor society to the regime of Ulmanis, the state strictly controlled its activities. For example, the “Trumpeldor” society received a certificate from the Ministry of Public Affairs on 20 January 1939 with permission celebrate its anniversary. At the gala evening, the songs “Beitar”, “Shir Eres” and “Miney Dan” were allowed, and Z Levenberg and R Chekhanovsky (whose home addresses are indicated in the document) were allowed to give speeches in the “Jewish language“.
- Archival history:
- No information
- Administrative/biographical history:
- By the beginning of 1931 there were 22,342 members of Betar, of which 1,170 members belonging to 24 branches were in Latvia. When Ulmanis came to power on 15 May 1934, almost all political parties and public organisations, including Jewish parties, were disbanded. However, Betar continued to exist in this authoritarian environment. Firstly, because Betar was engaged in the resettlement of Jews to Eretz Israel - this was combined with the state program for solving the Jewish question in Latvia. Secondly, Betar was in opposition to the communist movement, and the Latvian government placed its hopes on this youth organisation in the fight against the spread of communist ideas among Jewish youth. At the beginning of the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940, Betar’s activities were discontinued and many members of the society were arrested.
- Yerusha Network member:
- Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People
- Author of the description:
- Jana Makarova