Epstein Mendel
Born 23 December 1907 in Liepāja, into the family of a small merchant; father — Avram Ber; mother — Ketiya (née Rabinovich). In August 1914, moved with the family to Russia, to the town of Shklov. In 1915–18, studied at the people's school in Shklov. In September 1918, returned to Liepāja.
From 1919, studied at the Jewish primary school of the Liepāja parents' society “Tarbuth.” In 1921, began studying at the Liepāja State Jewish Secondary School, graduating in 1925. From 1926, studied law at the University of Latvia, graduating in 1932. During his studies, was a private tutor; in 1928–31, official at the “Keren Hayesod” society bureau. In 1932, worked at the office of sworn advocate E. Heiking. From 8 February 1933, assistant to sworn advocate E. Heiking in Liepāja. On 12 April 1935, removed from the list of assistants to sworn advocates. In 1933–35, also worked as a teacher of legal subjects and Jewish history at the Liepāja Jewish Private Gymnasium and in 1933–34 at the primary school attached to this gymnasium. From May 1935, teacher at the Jewish primary school in Valka, Estonia; in June–July 1937, temporary official at the “Keren Hayesod” society bureau in Riga. For 30 years worked in the Zionist organisation “Histadrut Hatsionit.” From 1938 to July 1940, clerical officer at the bureau of the Jerusalem University Promotion Society in Riga; from 1939 to July 1941, translator at the editorial board of the newspaper “Unzer Vort.” From 1938, also secretary at the office of sworn advocate A. Gutman.
Under the Soviet occupation, in the summer of 1940 attempted to regain the status of assistant sworn advocate. From January to June 1941, planner at the industrial combine of the Proletarian District of Riga. In the summer of 1941, evacuated to Russia. From July to September 1941, agricultural worker at the “Dubrovo” collective farm in the Palkino District, Yaroslavl Oblast. From September 1941 to July 1942, director of the legal consultation in Karavan, Jalal-Abad Oblast, Kirghizia. In July 1942, mobilised into the Red Army; served in the Latvian Rifle Reserve Regiment in Izhevsk; from July 1943, scribe in the 43rd Guards Latvian Rifle Regiment; from June — in the training battalion. In November 1945, demobilised with the rank of junior guards sergeant. Participated in fighting on the North-Western, 2nd Baltic and Leningrad Fronts. From 1945, advocate at the Rēzekne legal consultation; in January 1946, dismissed. From January 1948, advocate at the Kuldīga legal consultation; from February, at the Jelgava legal consultation. In February 1949, excluded from the Bar Association by order of the Ministry of Justice. Lived in Riga. Later emigrated to Israel and was an advocate and notary in Jerusalem. Died in the 1990s in Jerusalem.
Awards: medals “For Combat Merit,” “For Bravery” and “For Victory over Germany.”
Philister of the Jewish student corporation “Hakhaver.”
LA 175–176