Burstein Rudolf (1910–1941)

Rudolf Burstein was born on 24 April 1910 in Riga into the family of a merchant; his father’s name was Yehuda, and his mother’s name was Esther (née Zeindenberg). He began his education in 1918 at the Riga City Gymnasium and, in 1919, continued at the Riga City 9th German Primary School. From 1924 to 1928, he attended the Riga State German Secondary School. After graduating, he pursued legal studies at the University of Latvia, completing his degree in 1932, and subsequently studied history.

On 3 May 1933, Burstein became an assistant to sworn attorney H. Libesman at the Riga District Court. Between 1932 and 1934, he was active in the Zionist Socialist Party and the Zionist Socialist student society “Ashachar,” serving as its chairman from 1929 to 1934. From 1934 to 1935, he fulfilled his mandatory military service in the Latvian Army, serving in the 6th Riga Infantry Regiment. After his discharge, he resumed his legal practice. Between 1933 and 1938, he worked as legal counsel for the 6th Riga Mutual Credit Society. In 1938, he began practicing law in Saldus and, on 1 May 1940, became a sworn attorney there.

During the Soviet occupation, starting in May 1941, Burstein served as a senior clerk at Riga City 18th School. Following the German occupation, he was confined to the Riga Ghetto. He was killed there in 1941. Burstein was unmarried.