Olim – a Zionist youth organisation active in Latvia from 1934 to 1940.
In Latvia, this society emerged because a number of Zionist and community leaders continued to advocate for the resumption of at least some of the organisations that had been closed following the coup. Several factors contributed to the legalisation of Olim. First, the participation of respected and loyal Jewish figures, such as Rabbi M. Nurok, among its founders and later on its board. Second, the authorities recognised that the society could divert some Jewish youth away from radical organisations. Third, international attention played a role: the situation of Zionist organisations had become a matter of interest to foreign circles.
Olim’s official name was “Latvian Jewish Society for the Promotion of the Colonisation of Palestine ‘Celmlauži’ (‘Pioneers’)”, and it was registered on 4 December 1934. Under its umbrella, previously banned left-wing Zionist societies such as Borochov-Youth, Ha-Shomer Ha-Tzair, and later Gordonia, continued their activities. The society was permitted to rent premises and carry out its work under strict governmental supervision.
According to the statutes signed by the founders – M. Nurok, G. Wasserman, L. Ettingen, S. Salmanovich, Hovsh, J. Trone, M. Mushkat, B. Herzfeld, and Ya. Landau – representing various Zionist and non-Zionist organisations, Olim aimed to provide Jews of all ages with preparation for resettlement in Palestine, support their readiness for productive labour, offer comprehensive national and cultural education, and assist in relocation to Palestine. For this purpose, the import of propaganda and informational materials about life in Palestine was permitted. Olim was overseen by a Central Board (CB) headed by M. Mushkat (1936).
Men and women aged 25 and older could join the society. The number of active, full members (with voting rights) was limited by statute to 30 to “allow the government and the founders of the society to monitor its activities more closely.” The number of other participants – sympathisers (interesenti) – was not limited.
To establish branch offices of Olim in the provinces, representatives of the Central Board were sent to various towns: M. Dobrin (Dagda), Sh. Ginzburg (Kraslava), V. Falkenstein (Rēzekne), N.-P. Orlean (Ribeni), H.-A. Ferber (Tukums), and others.
Olim: Branches, Membership, and Activities
The number of Olim branches varied over the years. In June 1935, there were 9 branches in Latvia; by early June 1936, there were 20; in early October 1937, 17; and in June 1938 and September 1939, 12 branches each. Branches continued to be opened until mid-1940.
Regarding membership, in 1935 Riga had 250 members; by April 1936, Olim counted about 2,000 members; in 1938, all branches together had 28 full members and 1,505 sympathisers; and in 1939, 595 full members and 790 sympathisers. Most branches were composed primarily of youth from modest backgrounds, though some members came from wealthier circles.
Activities in the Branches
Olim’s work was primarily conducted within its branches.
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Ideological Training: Branches provided ideological education for members, including the study of Hebrew, Palestine studies, the history of Jewish colonisation, and more. Children and youth groups were organised within the branches to prepare future members for full membership. Members were familiarised with propaganda and informational materials about Palestine and attended lectures on cultural-Zionist topics.
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Cultural and Educational Activities: Branches hosted a wide range of cultural and educational events:
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Evenings, including sports evenings and “tea evenings.”
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Celebrations of Jewish national and religious holidays: New Year with a carnival, Hanukkah balls, Passover evenings (including a “Passover carnival”), Lag BaOmer, and more.
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Commemoration of anniversaries, such as Olim’s founding in Latvia and local branch anniversaries in Daugavpils, Tukums, and elsewhere.
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Concerts featuring performers such as M. Alexandrovich (in Liepāja and Daugavpils), L. Zahodnik, society amateur performers, and touring ensembles (for example, a Yemenite group from Palestine).
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A significant achievement of Olim was the establishment of an oratorio choir with 75 singers, performing concerts in Riga, Dzintari, Liepāja, Rēzekne, Daugavpils, and other branches. Led by Ya. Abramis, the choir’s repertoire included many spiritual works, performed at such a high level that the world-renowned Warsaw cantor M. Kusevitsky, performing Hebrew sacred music, collaborated with them in Dzintari and Liepāja. With the help of musicians from Riga, a similar choir was created in Daugavpils.
Theatre and Drama: Branches also engaged in theatrical productions. Many plays staged were by the classic Yiddish author Sholem Aleichem. Works by other authors were also performed, including the well-known Jewish humorist I. Tunkeler, Sholem Aleichem’s son-in-law I. Berkovich, the Palestinian author ?. Kletzel, and local journalist, writer, and playwright M. Razumny. Some plays were performed in ancient Hebrew (Ivrit).
Official Ceremonies and Excursions: Olim regularly held formal events in honour of state holidays (e.g., 18 November, 15 May), usually attended by speakers from the Ministry of Foreign or Public Affairs and other state institutions. Attention was also paid to excursions, which familiarised members with Latvia. Special permission from the authorities was required for excursions. Trips were organised to Sigulda, the Mushkat farm, Babīte, and other locations. During excursions, activities included discussions, campfires, sports, and singing around the fire.
Youth Clubs: Olim branches also served as Jewish youth clubs, active in both summer and winter. During winter, members played board games, novus, and table tennis (ping-pong).
Olim: Agricultural and Vocational Training, Physical Preparation, and Emigration to Palestine
A key aspect of Olim’s work was agricultural and vocational training to prepare members for resettlement in Palestine. This training took place on rural farms, in agricultural schools of the OPE in Inčukalns, Liepāja, Jelgava, Spar, and Saldus, as well as on the Mushkat farm (also known as the M. Mushkat farm). According to some sources, 300–500 people underwent agricultural training through Olim. Contemporary press reports highlighted Olim’s active role in preparing skilled personnel for Palestine.
Physical Training and Summer Camps
The physical conditioning of future builders of Jewish Palestine was supported through Olim’s summer sports camps. A significant number of members participated in these camps: 150 in 1936, about 100 in 1937, 129 in 1938, and so on. Camps also hosted guests from Estonia and Lithuania. For example, members from the Daugavpils branch spent two weeks at a summer camp in Estonia. During camp activities, as in other parts of the organisation, Hebrew was studied, lectures on Palestine studies and contemporary life in Palestine were given, and physical education and sports were emphasised.
Emigration to Palestine
Regarding emigration to Palestine via Olim, reports indicate that 1,138 people left in 1930, 120 in 1935, and “many” in 1939. Graduates of the halutz (pioneer) movements from Latvia made significant contributions to the establishment of many kibbutzim. For instance, Kfar Blum was initially called the “Anglo-Baltic” kibbutz. Members of the Latvian Olim were among the founders of Kibbutz Gesher (Ashdod-Yaakov). At Kibbutz Shvayim, there is now a centre for the study of Latvian Jewry and a museum.
Funding and Community Support
Training members for life in Palestine and facilitating their emigration required financial resources. Olim members, in cooperation with other organisations engaged in hachshara (preparatory) work, often organised lotteries and fundraising drives to support these goals. Latvian Jews generally responded positively to appeals to support Olim and its activities.
Olim and Government Oversight
The political police were fully aware that Olim had been established to replace the dissolved left-wing organisations Ha-Shomer Ha-Tzair, Borochov-Youth, and Gordonia, and that members of these groups had joined the new society. As a result, Olim’s activities were under close scrutiny by authorities at various levels, primarily the political police.
In principle, any Olim event required special permission, and not all events were allowed. Scholars note that the authorities obstructed Olim’s work throughout the entire period of Kārlis Ulmanis’ rule. This took several forms:
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Accusations of Passivity: From the very beginning, the society was accused of various violations. A common charge was that Olim branches were “passive.” In reality, most branches had little basis for such criticism. After 1937, accusations of passivity declined significantly.
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Concern About Left-Wing Tendencies: Authorities were particularly concerned about the rise of leftist tendencies within Olim. This is unsurprising, as many members came from needy families. Officials observed that the Ventpils, Liepāja, and especially the Latgale branches (Balvi, Dagda, Daugavpils, Karsava, Rēzekne, and others) included numerous members from previously banned Jewish organisations and were conducting left-leaning political activities. Numerous documents show that authorities demanded the removal of several officials from the leadership of Olim in Riga and the provinces.
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Accusations of Collaboration with Underground Communist Organisations: The most serious accusation against Olim was that authorities perceived collaboration with underground organisations such as the Communist Party of Latvia (CPL), the Communist Youth League of Latvia (CSML), and the Socialist Workers’ Youth League (STML) on the basis of a united front. The Daugavpils, Karsava, and Rēzekne branches were specifically accused of this.
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Based on these observations, the Political Directorate concluded that Olim was essentially a “nursery” for Jewish socialists and communists, spreading socialist ideas not only among Jews, and recommended that the society be dissolved. However, Olim was not closed, largely due to Latvia’s foreign policy interests and international pressure, as noted earlier.
Post-Ulmanis Developments:
After the fall of Kārlis Ulmanis’ regime, Jewish communists and Komsomol members made significant efforts to recruit Olim members into the Komsomol. Youth meetings were held in most cities, where young people—including those from left-wing Zionist organisations—were invited to join the Komsomol. There is reason to believe that this invitation was not merely a tactical manoeuvre. Nevertheless, the majority of Olim members refused to cooperate with the Komsomol, and in July 1940, Olim’s activities were officially ceased.