Ковальчук С. JEWISH EDUCATION IN LATVIA

(December 1919 – June 1940)

The construction of Latvian statehood took place in a complex political environment. Nevertheless, on the eve of 18 November 1918, the People’s Council declared the rights of national minorities. This reflected not only the democratic sentiments of politicians of that historical period, but also an awareness of the fact that the young state was multinational in composition and that, for economic and—most importantly—political stability, it required the support of the overwhelming majority of the population. Among the first decrees of the young Latvian state were legislative acts on the formation of the Latvian educational system and the organization of minority schools, promulgated on 8 and 10 December 1919. These laws proclaimed that financial resources and buildings allocated by the state and local governments were to be distributed proportionally among the so-called national departments (Belarusian, Jewish, German, Polish, Russian). In effect, Latvia adopted a law on cultural autonomy.

The departments were charged with the following responsibilities: opening schools (primary and secondary), vocational schools, creating and developing a network of kindergartens, caring for teaching staff, their material well-being, and professional development. These tasks were undertaken by the Jewish Department within the Ministry of Education. The head of the Jewish Department became the devoted educator J. Landau, who, like the heads of other minority departments, had the right to participate in Cabinet meetings and to hold an advisory vote on cultural issues concerning the ethnic minority he represented. The law also supported the establishment of private educational institutions. Thanks to this, it was possible to successfully restore the activities of private schools.

Advocates of Jewish education—J. Landau in Riga, R.-Z. Shtern-Trotskaya in Liepāja, and B. Ginzburg in Daugavpils—also made great efforts to revive their private schools, which had been founded long before the outbreak of the First World War. The activities of Russian, German, Latvian, and other private schools were also renewed, and Jewish children often studied there as well. For example, in the interethnic school with Russian as the language of instruction founded in Riga at the beginning of the 20th century by Olga Eduardovna Beater, the pupils were mainly Jewish girls.

Initially, only a small number of schools were assigned to the Jewish Department. Moreover, there was no stable tradition of a secular Jewish school, and parents preferred to send their children to Russian or German schools. However, within a few months of its existence, the Jewish Department managed to create cultural organizations in all towns and small settlements of Latvia which, at the department’s request, conducted the necessary registration of children of school age. By the end of spring 1920, the department had identified which local governments in Latvia were unable to implement the law on free and compulsory education without state assistance.

Another urgent problem was the shortage of teaching staff. Issues related to the development of curricula for Jewish schools and the publication of textbooks remained unresolved. It was necessary as quickly as possible to establish permanent teacher-training courses and to organize education for people who had already passed school age—that is, to create a network of evening schools. The school of V. Blum, which began operating as early as autumn 1919, effectively became the first evening school for adults. In Riga, the Jewish Department supported a public initiative at the beginning of 1920 to establish a people’s university, which was attended by about 700 people and which also, to some extent, addressed the problem of Jewish education.

The minutes of meetings of the Jewish Department from the first half of 1920 raised many issues that did not lose their relevance over the years. For example, a meeting of the Council for Jewish Education in Latvia under the Ministry of Education on 24 February 1920 recorded a complex problem faced not only by the Jewish Department, but also by the Russian and German departments. Many schools, in which up to 90% of the pupils were Jewish, were registered under other national departments. At the meeting, the question of the essence of a Jewish school was raised. The head of the department, J. Landau, then stated the following:

“The language of instruction cannot determine a school’s affiliation with one department or another. Due to historically established conditions, some Jews consider their native language to be Hebrew, others Yiddish, Russian, or German. Thus, Jews have four native family languages, and therefore it is not the language of instruction of the majority of pupils that determines a school’s affiliation with a particular department.”

(In addition, in the 1930s Latvian would become a fifth language for Latvian schoolchildren.)

Soon, the Jewish Department expressed a desire to take charge of schools with a predominantly Jewish pupil body, since children were falling outside the sphere of Jewish influence. The Jewish Department intended to demand that owners of Russian schools introduce the teaching of Hebrew language and culture into their curricula. However, the Russian Department of the Ministry of Education refused. This difficult situation was resolved only five years later.

According to the minutes of an emergency meeting of the Council of the Russian Department of the Ministry of Education dated 17 July 1925, the meeting was attended by F. N. Serkov, P. A. Koretsky, N. P. Krasnoperov, A. P. Mossakovsky, G. D. Mikhailov, G. Ritter, A. I. Danilov, and A. P. Sallak. The reason for the meeting were two documents: a letter from the Ministry of Education dated 10 July 1925, no. 3190, and a letter from the Jewish Department dated 17 July 1925, no. E/1589. These documents expressed concern that in many private schools in Riga with Russian as the language of instruction, pupils of Jewish nationality predominated. Therefore, a logical step would be to transfer them to the jurisdiction of the Jewish Department. In the proposed list of schools to be transferred to the Jewish Department, 16 schools were mentioned.

By that time, a considerable number of Jewish children were also studying in other prestigious Russian private secondary schools founded before the First World War—those of L. I. Tailova, O. N. Bochagova-Lishina, A. K. Korti, N. S. Vinzarais-Vershkanskaya—but these institutions remained under the jurisdiction of the Russian Department. When the vote was taken, opinions at the emergency meeting of the Russian Department were divided. The decision in favor of the Jewish Department was reached with great difficulty—the Russian Department had to “give up” ten private Riga schools: the B. I. Blum School, P. A. Dolgikh School, G. E. Bintz School, O. E. Beater School, E. Zaleman School, L. I. Poluektova School, A. I. Klever School, N. I. Bogoyavlenskaya School, the Teachers’ Society School, and the E. V. Likhtarovich School (see Appendix 1).

Another problem was highlighted in the first months of the Jewish Department’s activity. It concerned Latgale. Thus, the minutes of the Council meeting on 11 March 1920 emphasized the problems of education in Latgale, “which is poor both in people and in money, where the school system is in an extremely deplorable state.” It was decided to allocate funds for the opening of two schools in Latgale and two in Courland. Soon, secondary schools were established in various towns of the Latgale region, where previously, at best, only a cheder and an elementary school had existed. For example, in Rēzekne—a town which before 1914 had only a cheder and a two-class school—after 1920 three primary schools and a State Jewish Gymnasium were created.

The materials of the Council meeting of 26 April 1920 show that its participants—Dr. Ioffe, Vulf Polotsky, Evel Baranchik, Yakov Landau, Yakov Pernyak, and others—raised pressing questions about the essence of the Jewish school and about what it should become (religious or secular). They debated the possibilities and methods of replacing the historically established religious cheder with a secular school, but with the condition that Hebrew would occupy a dominant position. The question of the language of instruction was closely linked to the political battles between Zionists (who sought to revive Hebrew) and Bundists (who insisted on taking into account established cultural traditions and favored Yiddish). This issue remained acute for many years not only because of political disputes, but also largely because of parents’ reluctance to educate their children in Hebrew. According to data from the Jewish Department as of June 1930, there were 72 primary schools in Latvia, with Yiddish and Hebrew as the languages of instruction, while Russian and German were gradually losing their positions in the Jewish educational system (see Appendix 2).

At the beginning of 1921, with the assistance of the Jewish Department, the Jewish People’s Conservatory and a Pedagogical Institute were established, at which courses for the training of kindergarten teachers existed. Later, in 1926, also with the assistance of the Jewish Department and with the aim of creating a complete, comprehensive educational system—from kindergarten to gymnasium—an independent educational institution was opened in Riga: the Jewish Froebel Institute for the training of kindergarten teachers. In Latvia, many Jewish secondary schools of that period became educational complexes that included a kindergarten, preschool preparation, a primary school, and a gymnasium. Examples include the Riga Gymnasium and Primary School of engineer-technologist J. L. Landau, the Riga private secondary school *“Ezra,” the Private Jewish Gymnasium and Primary School of I. Rauchvarger, the Riga Jewish Private School “Torah ve-derekh erets” (“Tora ve-derech erec”), and many others outside the capital. Jewish intellectuals also assisted in 1921 in the establishment of Russian University Courses, which provided higher education in several specialties in Russian.

The democratic period of the existence of minority schools ended in July 1934 with the adoption of a new law “On Public Education,” published on 17 July 1934 in the Government Gazette. Soon changes followed in accordance with the new legislative act. Thus, many schools were reorganized: for example, in Daugavpils, out of 23 primary schools only 18 remained. The gymnasium program was extended from four to five years, and gymnasiums could operate in three tracks—real (scientific), classical, and humanities. Paragraph 173 of the new law tightened the state’s attitude toward private educational institutions. Latvian became the main language of instruction in vocational schools. Moreover, in the 1935/36 academic year, private educational institutions—for example, the gymnasium of I. Rauchvarger and the Public Gymnasium—also gave preference to Latvian as the language of instruction. Finally, according to the new law, the minority departments themselves within the Ministry of Education were closed, and positions of referents were introduced in the School Department, whose significance within the ministry system was quite modest.

However complex the turns of Latvia’s internal political situation were, the experience of creating a Jewish secular school proved successful—successful both in the quality of education and in the number of schools created, as well as in the dense layer of professional teachers and enthusiasts who faithfully served the good of their people and the idea of a future state.

The sources for historical research on Jewish schooling in Latvia in 1919–1940 include not only information on Latvian government policy regarding the educational system, but also the rich archival holdings of the Latvian State Historical Archives. First of all, this refers to Fund 1632, inventory 1—the fund of personal files of teachers, in which one can find the name of virtually any teacher of any nationality who worked in a school in the 1920s–1940s.

The second source of information on Jewish education consists of the files of the School Department, Secondary Schools Division: Fund 6647, inventory 1. Files 759–785 pertain to the Jewish Department.

A third source can be the archival collections of the schools themselves. Thus, the archives of certain Jewish Riga secondary schools have preserved for us the history of each school, correspondence with the School Department, school reports, and personal documents of pupils. Among Jewish secondary schools with rich archival collections are the Riga Private School of Isaac Rauchvarger, the Riga Jewish Public School, the Primary and Secondary School of the Jewish Society for the Development of Arts and Knowledge, and the Riga Jewish Private School “Torah ve-derekh erets.” The history of other schools can sometimes be reconstructed only from a few files.

The fourth source consists of documents from the fund of the Jewish Department of the Ministry of Education for 1920–1934: Fund 2125, inventory 4. In the summer of 1934, the department was closed. A total of 587 files have been preserved. They contain valuable information about the direct work of the Ministry of Education of Latvia: ministry directives, instructions, correspondence with individual schools, surveys of Jewish school activities, correspondence with Jewish societies that maintained them, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools (state and private), and evening Jewish schools. Curricula and school statutes have been preserved in these files. One can trace the history of a specific school and its continuity from educational institutions of tsarist Russia. The documents provide information on problems faced by schools and teachers related to citizenship, years of service, salaries and workloads, payments to health insurance funds and pension funds, and finally the issue of teachers’ educational qualifications (primary school teacher or secondary school teacher).

Based on the materials of this fund, one can trace how teaching staffs and school addresses changed, and how curricula were updated in accordance with general requirements of the Ministry of Education and specific requirements of the Jewish Department. The fund of the Jewish Department has preserved documents of Jewish municipal and private six-grade primary schools in Riga, Aizpute, Antonopole, Baltinava, Balvi, Bauska, Borovka, Dagda, Daugavpils, Dubulti, Gostini, Pļaniņas, Grīva, Jaunjelgava, Jēkabpils, Jelgava, Kārsava, Krāslava, Krustpils, Kuldīga, Liepāja, Līvāni, Ludza, Malta, Piedruja, Preiļi, Rēzekne, Riebiņi, Sabile, Saldus, Skaistkalne, Smiltene, Subate, Talsi, Tukums, Vaiņode, Valmiera, Varakļāni, Ventspils, Viesīte, Viļaka, Višķi.

Documents of Jewish secondary schools in Riga, Aizpute, Daugavpils, Jelgava, Kārsava, Liepāja, Ludza, Rēzekne, and Ventspils have also been preserved, as well as a small number of documents on Jewish vocational schools in Riga, Daugavpils, and Liepāja. The same archival fund of the Jewish Department of the Ministry of Education has preserved correspondence with Jewish organizations (“Hamore,” *“Arbetergeym,” “Heloluc,” “Herclia,” and others), as well as correspondence with private individuals on extracurricular activities and on the organization of courses (language, general education, typing, bookkeeping, etc.) in Riga, Daugavpils, Aizpute, Liepāja, and Rēzekne.

A fifth source consists of documents from the funds of education departments attached to city administrations, since they contain personal files of teachers and materials of individual schools. For example, the Education Department of the Liepāja City Council is located in the Latvian State Historical Archive, Fund 6957. The rich factual material that has been preserved offers broad opportunities for future detailed historical research in the field of Jewish education in Latvia.

ПРИЛОЖЕНИЕ 2

Описи основных школ, дошкольных учреждений и детских садов. 1929/1930 учебный год. Архивный источник: ЛГИА, ф. 2125, опись 4, дело 45. Данные на июнь 1930 г.

В этом деле содержится также список детских садов Риги (ул. Лачплеша, 141; Курмановская, 4 и 12; ул. Гоголя 8/10; ул. Езусбазницас, 11; ул. Элизабетес, 23; ул. Барона, 44), Лиепаи ул. (Грауду, 49; ул. Витолиню, 35) Венспилса, Кулдиги, Даугавпилса (ул. Театра, 19; ул. Райня, 101), Краславы, Тукумса, Ливаны, Виесите, которые содержались еврейскими организациями, частными лицами, самоуправлениями. Языки обучения – идиш, немецкий, иврит.

1-я Рижская городская еврейская основная школа, ул. Гоголя 8/10, школу содержит Рижская городская управа, язык преподавания – идиш, 270 учеников, директор – Вульфсон Бети, 15 учителей: Флейшман Соломон, Гуревич Геня, Гуревич Лея, Иоффе Хая, Иоффе Хава, Мейерсон Тамара, Михельсон Мери, Нейшлос Нехама, Решин Эйдель, Дорум Добе, Вульфсон Лея, Вульфсон Лейб, Заволиньш Эльша, Шур Яков, Озолс Валдемар.

2-я Рижская городская еврейская основная школа, ул. Езусбазницас, 11, школу содержит Рижская городская управа, язык преподавания – идиш, 300 учеников, директор – Бася Берз, 17 учителей: Розенфельд Берта, Карпинс Стерна, Вейнберг Элка, Шнеурс Залман, Круминьш Элфриде, Шнеурс Мина, Лат Геся, Крупс Хая, Рисинс Минна, Ширман Ита, Карлин Роза, Хацкельсон Раиса, Зилберман Мася, Дорум Доба, Писецкий Юдель, Флейшман Залман, Маляцкий Самуил.

3-я Рижская городская еврейская основная школа, ул. Бривибас, 100, школу содержит Рижская городская управа, язык преподавания – идиш, 281 ученик, директор – Рихтер Неха, 16 учителей: Эдейкина Мери, Эвельсон Рахиль, Фабрикант Иосиф, Ицкович Анна, Яукелович Таубе, Канерс Песе, Кан Лейзер, Левин Цодик, Маляцкий Самуил, Мейерсон Юдифь, Найшлос Аркадий, Писецкий Юдель, Рапопорт Дора, Рибовская Раиса, Саулит Эльза, Зилберман Дора.

Appendix 1

National composition of students in Russian private secondary schools in the 1924/1925 academic year

Society of Teachers and Parents in Libava (Liepāja): Latvians – 11, Germans – 9, Russians – 36, Belarusians – 0, Jews – 11, Poles – 16, Lithuanians – 5, Estonians – 0, other nationalities – 0, total – 94, number of teachers – 17.

School of V.V. Sevko, Rezhitsa (Rēzekne): Latvians – 1, Germans – 0, Russians – 17, Belarusians – 6, Jews – 73, Poles – 0, Lithuanians – 0, Estonians – 0, other nationalities – 0, total – 97, teachers – 15.

School of Olimpiada Nikolaevna Bochagova-Lishina, Riga: Latvians – 22, Germans – 11, Russians – 91, Belarusians – 0, Jews – 87, Poles – 4, Lithuanians – 0, Estonians – 0, other nationalities – 8, total – 223, teachers – 25.

School of Lyudmila Ivanovna Tailova, Riga: Latvians – 29, Germans – 20, Russians – 44, Belarusians – 0, Jews – 131, Poles – 8, Lithuanians – 3, Estonians – 3, other nationalities – 5, total – 243, teachers – 25.

School of Emmelina and Eduard Zaleman, Riga, Brīvības St. 38: Latvians – 10, Germans – 20, Russians – 14, Belarusians – 0, Jews – 118, Poles – 4, Lithuanians – 0, Estonians – 0, other nationalities – 0, total – 166, teachers – 33.

School of Gustav Eduardovich Bints, Riga, Aspazijas St. 11: Latvians – 9, Germans – 5, Russians – 13, Belarusians – 0, Jews – 106, Poles – 3, Lithuanians – 1, Estonians – 0, other nationalities – 0, total – 137, teachers – 18.

School of the First Society of Teachers, Riga, Peldu St. 22: Latvians – 5, Germans – 3, Russians – 9, Belarusians – 0, Jews – 56, Poles – 2, Lithuanians – 0, Estonians – 1, other nationalities – 0, total – 77, teachers – 22.

School of Olga Eduardovna Beater, Riga, Brīvības St. 40: Latvians – 17, Germans – 18, Russians – 193, Belarusians – 0, Jews – 193, Poles – 2, Lithuanians – 0, Estonians – 2, other nationalities – 1, total – 263, teachers – 31.

School of Ludovika Poluektova, Riga, Brīvības St. 98: Latvians – 3, Germans – 5, Russians – 5, Belarusians – 0, Jews – 37, Poles – 2, Lithuanians – 1, Estonians – 2, other nationalities – 0, total – 55, teachers – 11.

School of Natalia Semenovna Vinzaraiz-Vershanskaya, Riga: Latvians – 15, Germans – 5, Russians – 29, Belarusians – 0, Jews – 96, Poles – 8, Lithuanians – 2, Estonians – 0, other nationalities – 1, total – 156, teachers – 23.

School of P.A. Dolgikh, Riga, Dzirnavu St. 117: Latvians – 2, Germans – 1, Russians – 1, Belarusians – 0, Jews – 127, Poles – 0, Lithuanians – 0, Estonians – 0, other nationalities – 0, total – 131, teachers – 15.

School of Veniamin Blyum, Riga, Kurmanovskaya St. 9: Latvians – 12, Germans – 0, Russians – 7, Belarusians – 0, Jews – 14, Poles – 3, Lithuanians – 1, Estonians – 0, other nationalities – 0, total – 37, teachers – 9.

School of A.I. Klever, Riga, Guildes St. 4: Latvians – 6, Germans – 8, Russians – 2, Belarusians – 0, Jews – 93, Poles – 2, Lithuanians – 3, Estonians – 0, other nationalities – 0, total – 114, teachers – 16.

School of Natalia Ivanovna Bogoyavlenskaya, Riga, Matisa St. 11/13: Latvians – 3, Germans – 0, Russians – 5, Belarusians – 0, Jews – 30, Poles – 1, Lithuanians – 1, Estonians – 0, other nationalities – 0, total – 40, teachers – 12.

School of E.V. Likhtarovich, Riga, Gogol St. 8/10: Latvians – 3, Germans – 0, Russians – 1, Belarusians – 0, Jews – 86, Poles – 5, Lithuanians – 4, Estonians – 0, other nationalities – 0, total – 99, teachers – 21.

School of Alexander K. Korti, Riga: Latvians – 7, Germans – 10, Russians – 24, Belarusians – 1, Jews – 34, Poles – 8, Lithuanians – 5, Estonians – 3, other nationalities – 1, total – 93, teachers – unknown.

Archival source: Latvian State Historical Archives (LGIA), f. 2125, op. 1, d. 45. Minutes of the meetings of the Russian Department of the Ministry of Education of Latvia, 25.01.1924 – 02.09.1932.

Appendix 2

Inventories of primary schools, preschool institutions, and kindergartens, 1929/1930 academic year

Archival source: LGIA, f. 2125, op. 4, d. 45. Data as of June 1930.

The file also contains a list of kindergartens in Riga (Lāčplēša St. 141; Kurmanovskaya St. 4 and 12; Gogol St. 8/10; Jezusbaznicas St. 11; Elizabetes St. 23; Barona St. 44), Liepāja (Graudu St. 49; Vitolinu St. 35), Ventspils, Kuldīga, Daugavpils (Teātra St. 19; Raiņa St. 101), Krāslava, Tukums, Līvāni, Viesīte — maintained by Jewish organizations, private individuals, or municipal authorities. Languages of instruction: Yiddish, German, Hebrew.

  1. 1st Riga City Jewish Primary School, Gogol St. 8/10, Riga City Council, Yiddish, 270 students, director: Beti Wulfson, 15 teachers: Solomon Fleishman, Genya Gurevich, Leya Gurevich, Khaya Ioffe, Khava Ioffe, Tamara Meyerson, Mery Michelson, Nehama Neishlos, Eidel Reshin, Dobe Dorum, Leya Wulfson, Leib Wulfson, Elsha Zavolinsh, Yakov Shur, Valdemar Ozols.

2nd Riga City Jewish Primary School, Jezusbaznicas St. 11, Riga City Council, Yiddish, 300 students, director: Basya Berz, 17 teachers: Berta Rosenfeld, Sterna Karpins, Elka Weinberg, Zalman Shneurs, Elfriede Krumin, Mina Shneurs, Gesya Lat, Khaya Krups, Minna Risin, Ita Shirman, Rosa Karlin, Raisa Khatskelson, Masya Zilberman, Doba Dorum, Yudel Pisetsky, Zalman Fleishman, Samuil Malyatski.

3rd Riga City Jewish Primary School, Brīvības St. 100, Riga City Council, Yiddish, 281 students, director: Neha Richter, 16 teachers: Mery Edeykina, Rakhil Evelson, Iosif Fabrikant, Anna Itskovich, Taube Yaukelovich, Pese Kaners, Leyzer Kan, Tsodik Levin, Samuil Malyatski, Yudif Meyerson, Arkadiy Naishlos, Yudel Pisetsky, Dora Rapoport, Raisa Ribovskaya, Elza Saulit, Dora Zilberman.

4th Riga City Jewish Primary School, Jezusbaznicas St. 11, administered by the Riga City Council, language of instruction – Yiddish, 256 students, director – Mendel Mark, 16 teachers: David Hirschberg, Iosif Giligich, Taube Efroikim, Ester Reshina, Alte Shmit, Ella Hirschberg, Rakhil Risina, Ida Shirman, Samuil Malyatski, Raisa Khatskelson, Arkadiy Naishlos, Yudif Meyerson, Yudel Pisetsky, Dobe Khaimons, Vulf Risin, Shmuel Fridlender.

5th Riga City Jewish Primary School, Lāčplēša St. 141, administered by the Riga City Council, language of instruction – Hebrew, 198 students, director – Ziga Michelson, 13 teachers: Wulf Itigin (?), Eidla Bovshover, Leya Epstein, Rosa Lev, Rebeka Shereshevskaya, Gesya Lifshits, Meyer Pintsov, Iosif Taits, Maria Bag, Erahmil Belkin, Fishel Weisman, Yakov Mittel, Isaak Vaispaps. (In 1935 merged with the 11th Riga City Jewish Primary School.)

6th Riga City Jewish Primary School, Popova (Visvalžu) St. 4, administered by the Riga City Council, language of instruction – Hebrew, 412 students, director – Minna Gabay, 17 teachers: Erahmiel Belkin (?), Zelig Gabay, Khaim Gordin, Ida Kofyan, Vladimir Lebedich, Gesya Lifshits, Khaya Maiophis, Rakhil Mekus, Shmuel Mintz, Leya Sloboda, Shlema Sudarsky, Ioganna Shmeman, Mozus Shneers, Feige Weinstein, Dina Vaserman, Hirsh Vaserman, Riva Vinnik.

7th Riga City Jewish Primary School, Kurmanovskaya (E. Birznieka-Upisha) St. 9, administered by the Riga City Council, language of instruction – Yiddish, 206 students, director – Malka Breger, 10 teachers: Goda Balson, Doba Dorum, Rasha Galkovich, Zislya Levenberg, Arkadiy Naishlos, Dora Rapoport, Rakhil Shapiro, Rakhil Shneberg, Kenia Tal, Mikhlya Weiner.

Riga Vecpilsetas Primary School of the Jewish Central School Organization and Kindergarten, Liela Kaleja St. 56, language of instruction – Yiddish, 41 children in total (school + kindergarten), director – Vera (Dvoyra) Hofenberg, teacher – Elena Nevyazhskaya.

Riga Supplementary School of the Jewish Teachers’ Society “Gamore” and Kindergarten, Kr. Barona St. 23. From February 1, 1930, the school came under the Riga City Council. Language of instruction – Hebrew, 133 children in total (school + kindergarten), director – Samuil Gram, 11 teachers: Moisey Lat, Ekab Cemelis, Iosif Taits, Base Ioffe, Lea Rachmel (?), Dora Albin, Khava Rage, Frida Kaplan, Feige Pliner, Moisey Dembo, Ekab Mitelis.

Riga City Evening (Supplementary) School, Jezusbaznicas St. 11, administered by the Riga City Council, language of instruction – Yiddish, 163 students, director – Isaak Neishlos, 10 teachers: Isaak Charlash (Kharlash), Gershon Gliksman, Anna Grinberg, Sterna Karpins, Guta Rabinovich, Miliya Rosenfeld (?), Olga Raukhvarger, Naftoliy Shteiman, Zalman Veksler, Berta Wulfson.

Riga City Auxiliary School, Dzirnavu St. 126, apt. 17, administered by the Riga City Council, language of instruction – Yiddish, 40 students, director – Bronislava Rabinovich, 4 teachers: Nison Rosenthal, Vita Levina, Vita Rapoport, Berta Wulfson. Riga Primary School of the Jewish Society for the Development of Art and Knowledge, Lazaretes St. 3, administered by the Jewish Society for the Development of Art and Knowledge, language of instruction – Hebrew, 201 students, director – Shlomo Garfinkel. Riga Jewish Private Primary School “Tora ve-Derech Eretz” (“Tora vderech erec”), Kurmanovskaya (E. Birznieka-Upisha) St. 12, administered by the society “Ceirei Agudas Jisroel”, premises donated by B. Levitas for the needs of the school. Language of instruction – Hebrew, 319 students, director – Mordukh Khodakov, 27 teachers: Evel Baranchik, Frida Baranchik, Rakhil Blokh, Osher Blokh, Shaya Bonet, Ester Blumberg, Itskhok Tsiyun, Friedrich Letz, Arye Girnun, Bendet Kharash, Hirsh Emin, Meilakh Yeselson, Vilma Kalnin, Borukh Kazarnovsky, Khaim Klupt, Azriel Malkin, Leya Markushevich, Malka Meyerovich, Yanis Purinsh, Gita Rabiner, Gruna Rabiner, Solomon Skutelsky, Khaim Spivak, Shmuel Shapiro-Ioffe, Hirsh Vaserman, Simon Witenberg, Israel Veksler. 2nd Riga Jewish Private Primary School “Tora ve-Derech Eretz”, Lāčplēša St. 155, administered by the society “Ceirei Agudas Jisroel”, premises belong to M. Nanos. Language of instruction – Hebrew, 35 students, directors – Yakov Feiginov and Samuil Sofer. Riga Primary School of the Jewish Society “Cheder Msukon” “Tushiya”, Lāčplēša St. 141, administered by the Jewish society “Cheder Msukon”, language of instruction – Hebrew, 34 students, director – Abram Liberman, 6 teachers: Abram Abramis, Yakov Mittel, Mendel Shekhter, Solomon Sudarsky, Moisey Shubin, Tereza Tumarkina.

Riga Primary School of the Jewish Society “Cheder Msukon” “Tushiya”, Popova (Visvalžu) St. 4, administered by the society “Cheder Msukon”, building owned by the Riga Jewish community, language of instruction – Hebrew, 205 students, director – Abram Liberman, 19 teachers: Yakov Abramis, Bentsion Berzon, Abram Burin, Moisey Dembo, Borukh Kofyan, Yakov Mittel, Avsey Nemoytin, Eliy Peter, Mordukh Rapoport, Mendel Shekhter, Idel Sher, Shaya Sholomson, Moisey Shubin, Solomon Sudarsky, Mikhel Teleshyevsky, Tereza Tumarkina, Vulf Zagorsky, Anna Chasin. Riga Jewish Private Primary School and Kindergarten “Ezras”, Blaumane St. 26, language of instruction – German, 362 students, director – Alexander Levenshtam, 20 teachers: Beynes Bermanis, Olga Dimant, Khiena Drabkin, Helena Goldblat, Basya Khercmark, Rute Hirschberg, Khana Ysvtchik, Reize Israelitan, Amalia Kontse, Toni Kriger, Friedrich Letz, Zelma Levi, Meriya Levenshtein, Rosa Mark, Ariy Markus, Shlema Sudarsky, Iosif Taits, Iosif Varhafting, Andrey Vespremi, Meta Vildeman. Riga Supplementary School of the Latvian Jewish Teachers’ Society “Gamore”, Lāčplēša St. 141, administered by the Latvian Jewish Teachers’ Society “Gamore,” language of instruction – Hebrew, 28 students, director – Max Michelson, 10 teachers: Zalman Belinko, Yekhiel Belkin, Anna Chasin, Moishe Kan, Moishe Levin, Ziga Michelson, Yakov Matuzin (?), Hillel Port, Idel Sher, Hirsh Vaserman.

Riga Jewish Private Primary School and Gymnasium of Engineer Y.L. Landau, Liela Peldu St. 22, language of instruction – Russian, 64 students, director – Mikhail Beggrov, 13 teachers: Yankel Abramis, Arved Bargais, Nikolai Bernatsky, Dina Falkova, Rakhil Fridman, Karlis Kiker, Dora Landau, Margarita Merten, Leonid Ostroukhov, Sholom Polotsky, Yankel Rudov, Peter Rungis, Alexander Shenkolovich.

Private Jewish School and Kindergarten of Sara Liberman in Riga, Rainis Boulevard 17, language of instruction – German, 89 children in school and kindergarten, director until January 1930 – S. Ginsburg, from January 1930 – G. Stusser, 9 teachers: Zislya Meyerovich, Leya Bashkina, D. Fridman, Wilhelmina Klein, Vera Berzin, Erna Meyer, Iosif Pisetsky, Yerakhmiel Lak, Agnes Grabazh.

Private Jewish Primary School of Emmelina and Eduard Zaleman in Riga, Brīvības St. 38, language of instruction – Russian, 102 students, director – Emmelina Zaleman, 12 teachers: Lentina Buchinskaya, Zhenya Brence, Katarina Dalvits, Andrey Dorin, Manya Yavyan, Emma Keichel, Eygen Kedrov, Anna Linde, Elvira Kotsin, Marga Ritenberg, Natalia Shultze, Yuliya Eilandt.

Private Jewish Primary School and Gymnasium of I. Raukhvarger in Riga, Marijas St. 57, languages of instruction – German and Russian, 120 students, director – Isaac Raukhvarger, 6 teachers: Eide Blumberg, Sharlotta Druys, Meri Kiplock, Libe Flak, Lize Pinkovich, Sheva Shumyacher.

City Jewish Primary School in Aizpute, Kuldīgas St. 18, administered by the city council and the school board, building owned by the society “Haskala”, language of instruction – Hebrew, 90 students, director – Vulf Graduss, 5 teachers: Abram Khaze, Israel Pin, Yakov Rostovsky, Irma Bluk, Zlata Zlayavciska.

Antonopol Jewish Primary School, Rezekne Parish, Malt County, Borovoya village, administered by the Rezekne Parish Council, language of instruction – Yiddish, 75 students, director – Hirsh Saltuper, 3 teachers: Olga Stalshars, Maria Saltuper, Sora Gilenson.

City Jewish Primary School in Baltinava, Tirgu St. 8, administered by the parish council, 33 students, director – Hanna Revdell, teachers not specified.

City Jewish Primary School in Balvi, Baznīcas Street, administered by the city council, language of instruction – Yiddish, 83 students, director – Basheva Davidova, 4 teachers: Jānis Evel, Chaim Portnoy, Chaya Salitan, Sora Druyan.

City Jewish Primary School in Bauska, Sudmaļu Street 30, administered by the city council, languages of instruction – Hebrew and Yiddish, 94 students, director – Helena Stul, 7 teachers: Milda Lauva, Sonya Lev, Sara Goldberg, Dora Felteiman, Aron Stul, Isaac Stul, Movsha Oklyansky.

City Jewish Primary School in Dagda, Alejas Street 5, administered by the Daugavpils District Council and the Dagda Parish Council, language of instruction – Yiddish, 131 students, director – Pesya Gelfaudrs-Tarogins, 4 teachers: Maryona Simanis, Mira Geshz, Benech Davidovich, one name illegible.

1st Daugavpils City Jewish School, Raiņa Street 101, administered by the city council, language of instruction – Yiddish, 297 students, director – Moisey Blyakh, 10 teachers: Chaya Blyakh, Mira Druy, Taube Kristel, Mina Lozdan, Hana Rabinovich, Roza Sviranskaya, Alma Sukharevskaya, Leon R. (?), Chaim Shvalbe, Mozus Shteiman.

2nd Daugavpils City Jewish School, Teātra Street 19, administered by the city council, language of instruction – Hebrew, 310 students, director – Israel Ginzburg, 13 teachers: Roza Fridman, Rebecca Gelman, Boris Koblents, Hana Neishlos, Kasriel Peizner, Hirsh Port, Aron Pokerman, Chaya Rasbam, Marta Remes, Shifra Shapiro, Liya Zalegalers (?), Moisey Shteiman, Jānis Sloka.

3rd Daugavpils City Jewish School, Valdemāra Street 17, administered by the city council, language of instruction – Russian, 362 students, director – Samuel Dobrin, 15 teachers: Yefrosiniya Brisova, Lyuba Dobrin, Margrieta Esse, Ida Kopp, Olga Peizner, Irma Brunovskaya, Paula Strelova, Frida Viskind, Lyuba Kopilova, Leonija Balodis, Fanni Bashkina, Katrina Braman, Eida Gilinskaya, Anna Grosberg, Moisey Shteiman.

4th Daugavpils City Jewish School, Saules Street 5, administered by the city council, languages of instruction – Yiddish and Russian, 261 students, director – Wilhelm Levenberg, 10 teachers: Moisey Bernstein, Anna Dubinskaya, Solomon Grubin, Isaac Elkishex, Dina Elkishex, Shlemma Katz, Brokha Rapoport, Anatoly Rublevsky, Helena Tutova, Antonia Peterson.

5th Daugavpils City Jewish School, Domes Street 51, administered by the city council, language of instruction – Hebrew, 222 students, director – Moisey Kayatsky, 8 teachers: Chaim Permond, Vulf Pleple, Jānis Sloka, Solomon Kort, I. Shteiman, Sheina Vinokur, Rakhil Lubotskaya, one name illegible (Viskind?).

Daugavpils Jewish Private Primary School “Torah ve-Derekh Eretz”, 3 January Street 27, administered by the society “Tseirei Agudas Yisroel”, language of instruction – Hebrew, 126 students, director – Hirsh Neishlos, 6 teachers: Ester Katz, Augusts Pusvatsietis, Chaya Pleple, Ida Shvarts-Simanens (remaining names illegible).

City Jewish Primary School in Jaunjelgava, Strugu Street 2, administered by the city council and the state, languages of instruction – Hebrew and Yiddish, 94 students, director – Paul Aron, 4 teachers: Faivush Friedland, Pese Katz, Marta Kaldovskaya, Elye-Ber Tsal. City Jewish Primary School in Jēkabpils, Lielā Street 145, administered by the city council and the state, 108 students, director – Yosel-Lipa Taitz, 7 teachers: Meriya Saltup, Bunya Ass, Etta Maron-Peskin, Roza Kutnik, Leyzer Svaregors, Alexander Pakals, Herbert Rozevsky. City Jewish Primary School in Jelgava, Museum Square, administered by the city council, languages of instruction – Hebrew and German, 240 students, director – Benjamin Bovshover, 11 teachers: Hene Bovshover, Sroel Furman, Zinaida Byalaya, Taube Gerf, Herta Grishchuk, Arthur Günther, Tsilla Jakobson, K. Yudelovich, Alfred Oga, Yudel Pisecky, Helena Taitz.

City Jewish Primary School in Kārsava, Telegrafa Street 25, administered by the city council, language of instruction – Yiddish, 111 students, director – Gershon Pleple, 4 teachers: Johanna Kisere, Sara Gasul, Israel Katsokich, Isaac Zilov.

City Jewish Primary School in Krāslava, Ludviga Square 7, administered by the city council and the state, language of instruction – Yiddish, 227 students, director – Gita Gaselis, 7 teachers: Emma Budnatskaya, Anna Feigina, Zelda Obeler, Rafael Lisagor, Simon Gaselis, Anna Grant, Aziel Plaksin.

Primary School of the Latvian Jewish Teachers’ Society “Gamore” in Krāslava, Smilšu Street 14, administered by the society “Gamore,” language of instruction – Hebrew, 32 students, director – Sarra Tzemelis, teachers not listed.

City Jewish Primary School in Krustpils, Rīgas Street 170, administered by the city council, language of instruction – Yiddish, 161 students, director – Benus Greditor, 6 teachers: Nadezhda Bindman, Hana Franeh, Gita Kovnat, remaining names illegible.

City Jewish Primary School in Kuldīga, Smilšu Street 6, administered by the city council, the state, and the local Jewish community, language of instruction – German, 88 students, director – Peide Durbat (Drubut), 8 teachers: Mara Brade, K. Yudis, Zara Klein, Alisa Krauze, Maria Levin-Line, Debora Sekundo, Leits-Lev Sekundo, Shmuel Tulbovich. 1st City Jewish Primary School in Liepāja, Rožu Street 10, administered by the city council, language of instruction – Yiddish, 234 students, director – Abe Freidberg, 9 teachers: Dora Brener, Etel Dimant, Libe Kasrielevich, Yente Nekrich, Rashel Shteiman, Dobe Landman, Elyash Tirshtayn, Abel Kolper, Milda Anderson. 2nd City Jewish Primary School in Liepāja, Siena Tirgus Square 12 and Kungu Street 21, administered by the city council, languages of instruction – Hebrew and German, 284 students, director – Efraim Waldstein, 16 teachers: Lea Levitan, Ella Ioffe, Josef Sachs, Elias Davidovsky, Josef Tsaumers, Feige Kuchgals, Lea Etkin, Hirsh Rabinovich, Emma Esterman, Zara Grishkan, Josef Sagallovich, Abram Finkelstein, Basya Leibovich, Zelma Kessenfeld, Emilia Berzis.

City Jewish Primary School in Liepāja, Kurmajas Avenue 3 and J. Dika Street 8. The school is maintained by the school board and parents. Language of instruction – German. 140 students. Director – Elsa Berne.

16 teachers: Malka Friedlander, Elizabeta Gebhard, Ella Ioffe, Rosa Meyerson, Anna Manukhovich, Ada Natting, Sheina Neiman, Irma Posvol, Raisa Solovyova, Liza Schlesinger, Erna Weinreich, Hirsh Rabinovich, Anna Hermers, Karl Hartmann, Erna Tal.

Primary School of the Jewish Cultural Society in Liepāja, Kurmajas Avenue 32. The school is maintained by the Liepāja Jewish Cultural Society. Language of instruction – German. 137 students. Director – David Rishman.

11 teachers: Ella Ioffe, Gula Ioffe, Liba Leibovich, Rosa Meyerson, Hirsh Rabinovich, Adolf Natting, Alvina Ranke, Erich Runge, Josef Sachs, Matilda Seifert, Benjamin Neufeld.

Jewish Private Primary School “Torah ve-Derekh Eretz” in Liepāja, Helenas Street 17. The school is maintained by the society “Talmud Torah”; the building belongs to the society. Language of instruction – Hebrew. 124 students. Director – Hertz Tsofnas.

10 teachers: Kalman Levin, Rudolf Damberg, Anna Kaleya, Rosa Fleischman, Zelda Dembo, Hirsh Levit, Elya Traubs, Margarita Sprintsis, Chaya Serksner, Rubin Serksner.

City Jewish Primary School in Līvāni, Rīgas Street 154. The school is maintained by the city council. Languages of instruction – Hebrew and Yiddish. 151 students. Director – Shmuel Burovik.

6 teachers: Liba Lat, Anna Markushevich, Mordukh Kushlin, Marta Leitrant, Sora Maiminds (?), Rakhil Rafelson.

Jewish Private Primary School “Torah ve-Derekh Eretz” in Kārsava, Telegrafa Street 33. The school is maintained by the society “Tzeirei Agudas Yisroel” in Riga. Language of instruction – Hebrew. 32 students. Director – Yudel Sher.

2 teachers: Zalman-Avsey Papkov, Maria Kimele.

City Jewish Primary School in Ludza, Vokzales Street 10/14. The school is maintained by the city council and the state. Language of instruction – Yiddish. 259 students. Director – Samuel Hilkin.

8 teachers: David Gershtein, Mozus Ginzburg, Helena Lodzin, Marta Misulavina, Risya Golodech, Chaya Tzemel, Chaya Slaboda, Golda Althausen (?).

Jewish Primary School in Malta. The school is maintained by the city council and the state. Language of instruction – Yiddish. 26 students. Director – Reiza Shvets.

2 teachers: Liliya Shmidt, Sholom Shvartsman.

Jewish Primary School in Piedruja. The school is maintained by Daugavpils County and the Piedruja Rural Council. Language of instruction – Yiddish. 24 students. Director – Mikelis Feigelson.

City Jewish Primary School in Pļaviņas, Fabrikas Street. The school is maintained by the city council. Language of instruction – Hebrew. 96 students. Director – David Sandler.

4 teachers: Elias Stolper, Mikhlya Shmuklere, Emma Druvnese, Levis Katz.

City Jewish Primary School in Preiļi, Liepu Street 15. The school is maintained by the city council. Language of instruction – Yiddish. 114 students. Director – Leiba Zeligman.

4 teachers: Simon Kilov, Elvira Akimova, Rebecca Fruman, Tsilya Gurvich.

1st City Jewish Primary School in Rēzekne, Atbrīvošanas Alley 27. The school is maintained by the city council. Language of instruction – Yiddish. 170 students. Director – Azrael Yozets.

8 teachers: Felitsiya Erts, Fruma Gurvich, Khoya Levina, Emma Gordin-Pliner, Yesel Pliner, Ida Shmorgonskaya, Khoya Zalmanovna Levina.

2nd City Jewish Primary School in Rēzekne, Kalpaka Street 41. The school is maintained by the city council. Languages of instruction – Hebrew and Yiddish. 267 students. Director – Roza Grinberg.

10 teachers: Miryam Borts, Rakhil Rabinovich, Dina Kagan, Olga Berzin, Michael Manteifel, Hana Bsel, Hana Weisman, Vulf Weisman, Lea Gildin (?), Yosel Pliner.

3rd City Jewish Primary School in Rēzekne, Latgales Prospect 33. The school is maintained by the city council. Language of instruction – Yiddish. 156 students. Director – Chaya Trifskina.

7 teachers: Hirsh Melamed, Feiga Basel, Rasha Weiner, Hana Melamed, Anton Skutan, Liviya Malnieks, Bertold Ozol.

Jewish Primary School in Riebiņi, Viļānu Street (?). The school is maintained by the county school board. Language of instruction – Yiddish. 49 students. Director – Cecilia Fridman.

3 teachers: Aron Weisman, Masha Kagan, Amanda Berķis.

City Jewish Primary School in Sabile, Ventspils Street 14. The school is maintained by the city council. Language of instruction – Yiddish. 46 students. Director – Nison Tobias.

3 teachers: Rebeka Glazer, Hasel Dimanstein, Fricis Revald.

City Jewish Primary School in Saldus, Upesmuiža Street 1. The school is maintained by the city council, the state, and parents. Language of instruction – Hebrew. 44 students. Director – Itsik Finkelstein.

3 teachers: Shevel Boskovich, Ete Meyerson, Anna Vilks.

Jewish Primary School in Skaistkalne. The school is maintained by the Bauska County School Board. Language of instruction – Yiddish. 25 students. Director – Frida Gilinskis.

6 teachers: Mendel Levitan, Janis Dumiņš, Andrejs Daboliņš, Augusts Daboliņš, Alida Traumane, Zelma Štokman.

City Jewish Primary School in Smiltene, Raiņa Street 16. The school is maintained by the city council. Language of instruction – Yiddish. 29 students. Director – Rebecca Stein.

3 teachers: Lauma Kalniņa, Nohum Dlin, Berta Goldlat.

City Jewish Primary School in Subate, Jelgavas Street 46. The school is maintained by the city council. Language of instruction – Yiddish. 71 students. Director – Nakhman Lifshits.

3 teachers: Tsilya Shvalbe, Emilia Straume, name illegible.

City Jewish Primary School in Talsi, Kalnu Street 7. The school is maintained by the city council and the school board. Language of instruction – Hebrew. 59 students. Director – Leib Kleiman.

4 teachers: Arturs Zīle, Sheina Katz, Feige Alexander, one name illegible.

City Jewish Primary School in Tukums, Lielā Street 39. The school is maintained by the city council. 94 students. Director – Fania Kramer.

6 teachers: Konstance Zeltiņa, Sh. Jakobson, Mirka Stol, Taube Gordon, Emma Kriševiča, one name illegible.

Primary School of the Latvian Jewish Teachers’ Society “Gamore” in Tukums, Lielā Uguns Street 8. The school is maintained by the Latvian Jewish Teachers’ Society “Gamore” and parents. Language of instruction – Hebrew. 35 students. Director – Basya Zherdina.

2 teachers: Solomon Rabinovich, Ester Gosul.

City Jewish Primary School in Varakļāni, Viļānu Street 18. The school is maintained by the city council. Language of instruction – Yiddish. 257 students. Director – Leib Ioffe.

8 teachers: Sora Gabay, Minna Fridman, Anton Naburg, Riva Shapiro, Ida Ioffe, Lea Lifshits, H. Slutsky, Chaya Isarovich.

7th City Jewish Primary School in Ventspils, Užavas Street 8. The school is maintained by the city council and the Jewish community. Language of instruction – Jewish (?). 156 students. Director – N. Hershberg.

8 teachers: Rebecca Tulbovich, Sholom Tulbovich, M. Jakobson, Katrina Vitol, Chaim Lichtenstein, others illegible.

City Jewish Primary School in Viļaka, Tautas Street. The school is maintained by the state. Language of instruction – Yiddish. 80 students. Director – Basya Waldstein.

4 teachers: Emilia Grikis, Mikelis Tutov, Pera Galanskaya, Hana Super.

City Jewish Primary School in Viļēni, maintained by the city council. 63 students. Director – Zelik Kagan.

3 teachers: Sheina Kagan, Sara Berkovich, one name illegible.

City Jewish Primary School in Višķi, Peterpils Street 48. Language of instruction – Yiddish. 96 students. Director – Aron Pitel.

2 teachers: Tsivya Davidovich, Hana Ershova.

City Jewish Primary School in Zilupe, 2 Marijas Street.

The school is maintained by the Ludza County School Board.

Language of instruction – Hebrew in the preparatory class, then Yiddish.

76 students.

Director – Hirsh Neishlos.

3 teachers: Elias Malkin, Hava Antikol, Riva Glazman.