Metadata: Society of Riga Choral Synagogue Members “Lechem Aniyim”
Collection
- Country:
- Latvia
- Holding institution:
- Latvian State Historical Archives
- Holding institution (official language):
- Latvijas Valsts vēstures arhīvs
- Postal address:
- 16 Slokas Street, Rīga, 1048
- Phone number:
- +371 20 017 505
- Reference number:
- 5667
- Title:
- Society of Riga Choral Synagogue Members “Lechem Aniyim”
- Title (official language):
- Rīgas sinagogas kora draudzes locekļu biedrība "Lechem Amijim" (Rīga)
- Creator/accumulator:
- Society of Riga Choral Synagogue Members “Lechem Aniyim”
- Date(s):
- 1939/1941
- Language:
- Latvian
- Extent:
- 8 files
- Type of material:
- Textual material
- Physical condition:
- good
- Scope and content:
-
The collection contains documents of the Society of Riga Choral Synagogue Members “Lechem Aniyim” (Bread for the Poor), including its charter, lists of members of the board and the audit commission, salary statements for employees; minutes of board meetings; lists of members of the society; membership cards; lists of persons who have received material assistance from the society; and a cash book. For example, the membership card of the society "Lehem Aniyim" No. 10 for 1939 was issued in the name of Yeshua Blumenfeld, who lived in Riga at 10/12 Kaleju Street. His monthly fee as a member of Lechem Aniyim was 2 lats. Membership card No. 57 for 1939 was issued in the name of Moses Manerer, who lived at 10 Marijas Street in Riga. His monthly fee as a member of the society was 0.50 lats.
The charter of the society states that the goal of Lechem Aniyim is to help poor Jews with money, food and provide other assistance. To achieve this goal, the society opened canteens for the poor, organised night shelters and firewood warehouses for giving firewood to the poor, and provided money and food to the needy. The activity report dated 17 May 1939 states that the society gave out bread and money to the needy every month. On holidays, the society also distributed other products. Teacher Kasriel Weinroch was invited to work in the society as a clerk. In 1939 the society donated money and food to the needy for a total of 1,432.30 lats. Of this sum 428.48 lats came from membership fees, donations were 546.70 lats and money from the synagogue collection 595.78 lats.
On 2 February 1940, the society sent a request to the Riga prefecture for permission to hold the next meeting of the society members on 14 February 1940 at 6/8 Peitavas Street. At the meeting the following was planned: elections of the presidium, the head of the society, the board and the audit commission; review of the activities of the board, report of the audit commission, and adoption of the 1940 budget. The permission of the Riga prefecture was granted. At this meeting, as reported in the document, Iosif Levitas, born on 28 November 1876 in Zhagarė, resident in Riga at 28/30 Marstalyu Street, apartment 3, was elected chairman of the board. Further, the document lists the remaining members of the board, candidates for board members, clerk, members of the audit committee. The year and place of birth are indicated, as well as the home address of each of the 14 listed.
- Archival history:
- After World War II materials from the interwar period, along with earlier materials, were part of the Central State Archive of the Latvian SSR. In 1962 it was decided to reorganise the archive and it was renamed the Central State Historical Archives of the Latvian SSR. The materials predating the period of Soviet rule were deposited in this archive, predecessor of the current State Historical Archive.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- The Society of Riga Choral Synagogue Members “Lechem Aniyim” was a Jewish charitable organisation that helped the poor. About 10% of Latvian Jews lived in extreme poverty. The Leсhem Aniyim Society helped poor Jews in Riga and the Riga district. The synagogue "Peitav Shul", from which this charitable society operated, was and is now located at 6/8 Peitavas Street in Riga. The synagogue building was built in early 1905. "Peitav Shul" became one of the four choral synagogues in Riga and the second largest and most beautiful after the Great Choral Synagogue on Gogol Street, "Gogol Shul”. ("Gogol Shul" was burned down on 4 July 1941 by the Nazis and their local collaborators). In the field of liturgy, “Peitav Shul” successfully competed with the Great Choral Synagogue. On holidays it was filled with worshippers, not only Jews but also non-Jewish connoisseurs of liturgical music. The synagogue choir was led by the famous cantor Abram Abramis who was popular among all. The “Peitav Shul” is the only synagogue in Riga that survived the Holocaust and was not burned down by the Nazis. Since the building was located in the Old City, there was a danger that the fire would spread to neighbouring houses. It is currently a functioning synagogue, restored thanks to the help of various organisations and individuals.
- Access points: locations:
- Riga
- Subject terms:
- Aid and relief
- Aid and relief--Philanthropy and charity
- Yerusha Network member:
- Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People
- Author of the description:
- Jana Makarova