Guide to the David Trotsky (1904-1945) Collection 1907-1940 (bulk 1920-1938)   RG 235

Processed by Ezekiel Lifschutz. Additional processing by Rachel S. Harrison as part of the Leon Levy Archival Processing Initiative, made possible by the Leon Levy Foundation.

YIVO Institute for Jewish Research
15 West 16th Street
New York, NY 10011
Email: archives@yivo.cjh.org
URL: http://www.yivo.org

©2012 YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. All rights reserved.

Electronic finding aid was encoded in EAD 2002 by Rachel S. Harrison in January 2012. Description is in English.

Collection Overview

Title: Guide to the David Trotsky (1904-1945) Collection 1907-1940 (bulk 1920-1938)   RG 235

Predominant Dates:bulk 1920-1938

ID: RG 235 FA

Extent: 3.4 Linear Feet

Arrangement:

Ezekiel Lifschutz created the original Yiddish finding aid, which was later translated. Additional processing completed in January 2012.

The collection is arranged in one series by the name of the organization or by subject. Folder descriptions often reflect the transliterated spelling of the organizations as found on official letterhead, rather than conventional spellings. When organization names were not transliterated, YIVO standards were used. Many folders originally contained a number of oversized posters, which have been removed to flat file storage. These posters were kept together by original folder number, so that, for example, the theater posters that were originally in folder 31 are in an oversized folder numbered 31. During the microfilming process, the oversized posters were removed from the folders and microfilmed as a separate series at the end of the collection, in either two or four parts depending on the size of the poster.

Languages: French, Dutch;Flemish, Yiddish, Czech, German, Hungarian, Polish

Abstract

This collection contains materials collected by David Trotsky relating to the Jewish community of Belgium in the inter-war period. Materials include printed documents, posters, reports, meeting minutes, and newspaper clippings, mainly pertaining to the Jews of Brussels and Antwerp.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The collection consists of printed matter, such as newsletters, posters, programs, playbills, reports, notices, circulars, questionnaires, notes, by-laws, membership cards, flyers, invitations, election materials, and clippings. These relate to the political, social, cultural, economic and religious institutions of Belgian Jewry between the two World Wars, mainly in Brussels and Antwerp. It includes political materials on Zionist, Bundist and Communist organizations, Hashomer Hatsair, Keren Kayemet, Poale Tsion, Royte Hilf (Red Aid Society for Political Prisoners), and Gezerd (Association to Aid Jewish Colonization in the Soviet Union). Documents related to labor unions include the Union of Handbag Makers, Union of Women Cutters, unions for bankers, leather workers and diamond workers, Federation of Unions in Brussels, and the Merchants’ Association. Cultural and educational organizations are represented through Yiddish schools, copies of diplomas from the Peretz School in Brussels, Jewish sports clubs, performances from Jewish theaters, concerts, films, art exhibitions, and the Jewish People’s Club, the Gezelshaft-Kinder Fraynd (Society for Friends of Children), posters for a children’s camp, a children’s journal Grininke Beymelekhh (Green Trees), university circles, the Jewish Student Union, Jewish Press Club, and Jewish libraries. Religious and charitable institutions include the rabbinate, religious schools, synagogues, Khesed shel Emes (Burial Society), Hakhnosas Kalah (Aid Society for Poor Brides), Beys Lekhem (Charity for the Poor), G’milas Khasodim (Benevolent Society), women’s aid societies, Union of Polish Jews, Union of German-Jewish Refugees, Council of Jewish Organizations, Der Natsionaler Komitet fun Arbaytloze (National Unemployment Committee), Comite de Secours pour les Chomeurs Juifs (Relief Committee for Unemployed Jews), and landsmanshaftn. There are also materials on antisemitism, including leagues against antisemitism, boycotting the Nazi regime and extracts from antisemitic propaganda, pamphlets and invitations from missionary societies, business cards of commercial establishments, and newspaper clippings on the Jewish problem in Belgium. The documents are dated 1907-1940, the bulk of which are from 1920-1938.

Historical Note

Biographical Note David (Dud'eh) Trotsky was born in Vilna on 23 October 1904 and died on 21 March 1945 in Camp Ebensee, a sub-camp of Mauthausen in Austria. He graduated from the Jewish Real-Gymnasium in Vilna and later became a teacher. In 1924 he immigrated to Belgium, where he was engaged in collecting documents and materials covering Jewish social life in Belgium through the beginning of World War II. He collected specifically for YIVO in Belgium from 1928 to 1939.

Subject/Index Terms

Allgemeyner Idisher arbayterbund in Lita, Poylen un Rusland, Antwerp (Belgium), Athletic clubs, Belgium, Brussels (Belgium), Clippings - Newspaper clippings, Communism, Documents - Administrative reports, Documents - Financial records, Fraternal organizations, Jewish communists, Jewish labor unions, Jewish religious schools, Jewish theater, Labor Zionism, Leaflets - Flyers, Playbills, Posters - Political posters, Publications - Newsletters, Trocki, Dode, 1904-1945, YIVO Archives, Zionism

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions: Permission to use the collection must be obtained from the YIVO Archivist.

Use Restrictions:

Permission to publish part or parts of the collection must be obtained from the YIVO Archives. For more information, contact:

YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011

email: archives@yivo.cjh.org

Acquisition Method: The collection was given to the YIVO Archives by David Trotsky’s widow, Paulina Trotsky, in 1948.

Separated Materials: Books from the Trotsky collection have been removed to the YIVO Library. Materials about YIVO in Belgium and photos of YIVO in Vilna have been removed to the History of YIVO collection, RG 1.

Original/Copies Note: The collection was microfilmed. The microfilm reproduction is on 4 reels of microfilm (MK 474.1-474.4).

Related Materials: The YIVO Library and Archives have other materials about Belgium, including some materials about the local YIVO office in Belgium. There are also several other collections that contain materials relating to Jewish political, social, cultural, economic and religious institutions in the interwar period.

Preferred Citation: Published citations should take the following form: Identification of item, date (if known); David Trotsky Collection; RG 235; folder number; YIVO Institute for Jewish Research.


Box and Folder Listing


Series 1: David Trotsky Collection
1907-1940
Folders: 63
Folder 1: Zionist Federation of Belgium
1923-1939

statutes

yearly reports

conference reports

announcements

posters

55 documents

Folder 2: Zionist Association of Brussels
1930-1940

notices about meetings

invitations

bulletins

declarations

resolutions

reports

advertisements

200 documents

Folder 3: Zionist Association of Brussels
1930-1939

statutes

announcements concerning lectures and entertainments

circulars

programs

216 documents

Folder 4: Various Zionist Groups
1919-1923

membership cards

questionnaires

addresses of Palestine offices in Europe

inquiries by the Workers' Bank in Palestine

report of the first party meeting of Tseirei Zion, Nov. 1921

158 documents (bound)

Folder 5: Various Zionist Organizations
1920-1939

declaration of the Popular Zionist Association "Kadima"

Hathiah

Haoved

People's Night School, Brussels

Commission for Zionist Refugees

Beis Am Tseirei Zion, Brussels

Folks-Hoyz

Haldi

Hehalouts

Mercaz Sioniste de Bruxelles

57 documents

Folder 6: Agoudath Sion (Brussels) / Agudath Zion (Antwerp)
1929-1937

appeal to the Jewish population

announcements about lectures and other entertainments

25 documents

Folder 7: Mizrachi
1934-1938

Nashei Mizrachi (women)

Histadruth Mizrachi

members' statements

circulars

announcements about guest lecturers

22 documents

Folder 8: Various Zionist Youth Organizations
1930-1939

Tseirei Haam (Popular Youth), Antwerp

Hanoar Hazioni (Zionist You)

Federation de Jeunesse Sioniste de Belgique (Federation of Zionist Youth)

circulars

tickets, programs of entertainments

38 documents

Folder 9: Poale Zion
1920-1926

Zeire Zion (Zionist Youth)

invitations

announcements

21 documents

Folder 10: Jewish Socialist Party
1933-1939

Poale Zion-Zeire Zion

Central Committee circulars

lecture calendars

appeals

invitations

145 documents

Folder 11: Zionist-Revisionist Organizations
1933-1939

Judenstaat Partij/Parti de l'Etat Juif (Jewish State Party) inquiries

Awukah

Menorah

manifesto of the Zionist-Revisionist group

Brith Trumpeldor (Beitar)

80 documents

Folder 12: Zionist Election Materials
1931-1939

elections to the Zionist Congress

lists of various Zionist groupings

propaganda materials

81 documents

Folder 13: WIZO (Association of Jewish Women)
1933-1939

materials of the activity of the organization

17 documents

Folder 14: DROR (Jewish Socialist Youth)
1934-1937

appeal to parents

appeal to Jewish youth

Hebrew and Yiddish songs

work for youth

32 documents

Folder 15: Hachomer Hatzair (Brussels) / Haschomer Hatsair (Antwerp)
1936-1938

Keren Hashomer (fund)

entertainment programs

academies

art events

19 documents

Folder 16: Left Poale Zion
1924-1938

Zerubavel's letter to Unzer Haim (headquarters), Antwerp

circulars

communication by Ikhud

Zerubavel's lectures in Antwerp

entertainment programs

appeals

Borokhov Academy

L. Melakh commemoration

To the pillory (reply to the Communist attack)

55 documents

Folder 17A: Keren Kayemeth, Keren Hayesod
1926-1940

inquiries

questionnaires

appeal by the Chief Rabbinate in Palestine

report for the year 5698 (1938)

posters

propaganda materials

collection lists

bazaar exhibitions

shekel commissions

report by the Keren Hayesod of Belgium for the year 1939

260 documents

Folder 17B: Keren Kayemeth, Keren Hayesod
1926-1940
same as above
Folder 18: Bundist Organizations
1923-1938

inquiries by the Bund youth Tsukunft (The Future)

Vladimir Medem Fund

Medem Club

May 1st appeals

announcements about lectures (readings)

appeal to Jewish workers

provisional statement concerning the Arbeter Ring (Workmen's Circle)

advertisements about shows, entertainments

104 documents

Folder 19: Various Communist Organizations
1925-1939

appeal by the Association of Jewish Workers

cultural associations in Belgium

appeal by the Pacifist Committee

appeal against hooliganism by the Bund leaders (1930)

announcement about Red High Holidays

collection sheet for relief action

appeal for the support of striking workers

18 documents

Folder 20: Red Relief
1934-1938

United Jewish Relief Committee

sponsors

Relief for Spanish fighters

collection lists for Polish political prisoners (1934)

communiques

appeals against Polish terror

64 documents

Folder 21: Gezerd, Prokor
1925-1938

materials from both organizations for the support of Jewish colonization in the Soviet Union

materials about entertainments

announcements regarding meetings

circulars

108 documents

Folder 22: Vocational Workers' Unions
1928-1939

Jewish Pantmakers' Union

Bakery Workers' Cooperative

Arbeter Heim (Workers' Home) Cooperative

Central Office for the Leather and Fur Industry

Jewish Hand-Bag Section

Diamond workers

Federation of Brussels Employers' Associations

40 documents

Folder 23: Various Occupational Associations of Manufacturers and Artisans
1934-1939

appeals

hand-bag makers

statutes

ladies' tailors

Jewish Master Tailors' Union, Antwerp

Jewish Small Industry Association

70 documents

Folder 24: Traders
1929-1937

Jewish "Marchands" (traders) Association, Brussels

explanatory meeting concerning the law about dealers, 1935

questionnaire form

invitations to meetings, entertainments

inquiry to all Jewish dealers

programs

circulars

72 documents

Folder 25: Unemployment
1932, undated

collection list of the Central Jewish Unemployment Committee in Brussels

National Unemployment Committee

4 documents

Folder 26: School System
1932-1939

School and Education Society

Yiddish-Hebrew Supplementary School in Brussels

I.L. Peretz Supplementary School No. 2

Jewish Supplementary School at the Artisans Club, Antwerp

105 documents

Folder 27: Jewish People's Club
1936-1937

advertisements, programs and invitations to literary events

readings

writer events

30 documents

Folder 28: Children's Friend Society, Brussels
1930-1939

summer colony

cash report, 1936

circulars about school relief

clarification

programs

56 documents

Folder 29: Libraries
1930-1938

materials concerning the libraries at the Prokor

Ber Borokhov Jewish Library

Zionist library

Jewish Popular Library, Antwerp

advertisements and programs of entertainments

96 documents

Folder 30: Sport Clubs
1923-1940

Jewish workers' sport club "Jask", Antwerp

"Maccabi" sport club, Brussels

news about contests, entertainments

programs

visits by sport clubs from other countries

141 documents

Folder 31: Theater
1907-1940

Yiddish Dramatic Studio

Tsukunft (the future) dramatic circle, Brussels

Poale Zion dramatic circle, Antwerp

Yiddish Youth Theater

New Yiddish Theater

Yiddish Culture and Art Society

guest artists from Habimah, Ohel, Ida Kaminska, Menahem Rubin, Abraham Teitelbaum, and others

130 documents

Folder 32: Concerts
1919-1940

programs and appearances of:

Hertz Grossbart

Hava Yoalith and DavidVardi

Yosele Kolodney

Yaakov Lerman

Hayele Grober

Rahel Holtzer

Menahem Rubin

Naomi Leaf and Joseph Goland

Medem Group

Yiddish Folk Chorus

Cultural section of the Jewish Socialist Party

gala entertainments

60 documents

Folder 33: Yiddish Films
1937-1938

advertisements for:

Mir Kumen On (We are Coming)

The Dybbuk

Der Weisser Odler (The White Eagle)

The Life of Emile Zola

Yidle mitn Fidl (Yidl with his Fiddle)

others

16 documents

Folder 34: Students
1925-1938

Jewish Student Union, Brussels

report from the Secretary's office

circulars

reports

questionnaires

membership card

12 documents

Folder 35: Various Cultural Organizations
1912-1940

Cultural Congress in Brussels

Mendele Jubilee Committee

First National Conference of Yiddish Writers and Artists in Belgium

Yiddish Cultural Club

programs

Action Committee on the Rights of Yiddish in Palestine

40 documents

Folder 36: Art Exhibitions
1938-1939

Kurt Peiser

Arno Stern

Fred Prince

Shulamith Abraham

K. Enthoven

5 documents

Folder 37: The Press
1929-1939

Association of Yiddish Writers and Journalists

Unzer Togblat (Our Daily News)

Yidisher Almanakh (Yiddish Almanac)

Belgishe Bleter (Belgian Pages)

Cultural Club Amanouth (Faith)

press ball

Der Krokodil (The Crocodile)

Ekspres (Express)

others

26 documents

Folder 38: Agudath Israel
1935-1937

Tseirei (Young) Agudath Israel

invitations to Siyum Hashas (conclusion of the Talmud)

statement

posters

visitors: Jakob Rosenheim, Rabbi Blau, Dr. Yitzhak Brauer

13 documents

Folder 39: Letters from the Belgian Rabbinate
1910-1938

circulars of the consistory rabbinate

letters from several Chief Rabbis of Belgium

10 documents

Folder 40: Talmud Torahs
1917, 1936, undated

Ladies' Committee to Aid Talmud Torahs in Antwerp

Yizkor (commemoration) collections

celebration of Chanukkah

7 documents

Folder 41: Makhzikei Hadas
1934-1939

appeal to the Jewish population of Brussels on account of a ritual slaughter dispute

Hebrew calendars for the years 5696, 5697, 5698, 5699 (1936-1939)

list of community officials

Yeshiva Etz Hayyim, Heide-Kalmthout

announcements regarding meetings

29 documents

Folder 42: Beis Lekhem, Brussels
1934-1938

appeal for the relief of families "who have lost their means of livelihood"

appeal for a Beis Lekhem Week

yearly ball poster

8 documents

Folder 43: Study Houses, Minyonim
1935-1939

notices about High Holidays

synagogues in Brussels:

Tifereth Israel

Ahavas Reim

Noakh Sholem

synagogues in Antwerp:

Akhdus Israel

Beys Hakneses of Bikur Kholim and Talmud Torah

14 documents

Folder 44: EZRAH (Jewish Aid Society)
1917-1937

appeal for aid

notices about events

membership card

10 documents

Folder 45: Yesod Hatorah
1932-1938

religious school

Chanukkah celebration

6 documents

Folder 46: Various Religious Societies
1928-1939

statutes of the movement "Akhdus Israel"

Adas Israel community

Taharas Israel Society

statutes of Khesed shel Emes

Haknoses Kale (orphaned girls' philanthropy), Antwerp

Gmilas Khasodim office (no-interest loan society), Brussels

Kahal Adas Yeshurun Talmud Torah (elementary school)

29 documents

Folder 47: Various Religious Materials
1920-1938

Bris Hanoar Hashmonim (youth organization)

Hadlakas Ner L'shabes Kodesh (lighting of Sabbath candles) schedule

pidyon kapores (High Hodiday ritual)

kashrus

19 documents

Folder 48: Ezras Yoldos Aniyos Ladies'Aid Society
1931-1938

banquet

ball

artistic event of relief to the needy

10 documents

Folder 49: Various Materials from the Provinces
1934-1936

Jewish Home in Liege

Dealers' Association in Liege

YIVO, Liege

Jewish community in Seraing

First of May Academy, Charleroi

community elections in Charleroi

Peretz Academy, Charleroi

Yiddish Public School, Charleroi

People's Club, Charleroi

21 documents

Folder 50: Association of Polish Jews
1935-1938

advertisements about balls

circular concerning Universal Students Association

Action Committee to Fight Against Antisemitism

protest meeting

High Holiday prayers in the Association House

excursion to Poland

Polish-Jewish Combatants' Union

mass meeting against separate ghetto benches at Polish universities

invitations

programs

appeal by the Polish consul

World Conference of Polish Jews, Antwerp, 1937

conference agenda

71 documents

Folder 51: Landsleit (people from the same hometown)
1933-1939

invitations

Russian Jews' Club

Siedlce landsleit

8 documents

Folder 52: League Against Racism and Antisemitism
1937-1939

circulars

Belgian League Against Racism and Antisemitism

call to a protest against Czestochowa pogrom

26 documents

Folder 53: Antisemitic Materials
1937-1939

"Jewish invasion of Belgium"

"Don't buy from Jews"

"Buy from the native peoples"

12 documents

Folder 54: Newspaper Clippings
1932-1939
newspaper clippings (including antisemitic ones) from Belgian newspapers, concerning Jews
Folder 55: Boycott Against Germany
1933-1939

refugees

appeals

fund collections

boycott actions

anti-Nazi propaganda

addresses by Chief Rabbi Yosef Wiener

protest meetings

Committee to Aid Nazi Victims

struggle against those who break the boycott

confidential circulars by the Committee for Economic Action

196 documents

Folder 56A: Council of Jewish Organizations
1934-1940

General Relief Committee

Jewish kitchen

political resolutions

proposals

Cultural Commission

conferences

announcements

182 documents

Folder 56B: Council of Jewish Organizations
1934-1940
same as above
Folder 57A: University Circle
1934-1940

announcements about lectures on Hebrew literature

history

materials of the University Circle

announcements on its activities

110 documents

Folder 57B: University Circle
1934-1940
same as above
Folder 58: Association of German-Jewish Refugees
1937-1939

Working Community of German-Jewish Refugees

reports

appeals

circulars

information on matters concerning refugees

45 documents

Folder 59: Various Materials
1929-1939

notices about private and kosher enterprises

sea excursions

Linas Hatzedek (shelters)

statutes of a cooperative enterprise

Ivria Credit Institute

30 documents

Folder 60: Missionaries
1935-1938

invitations to missionary lectures

poster for public meetings

"End the Battle between Jews and Christians"

5 documents

© 2013 YIVO Institute for Jewish Research Terms of Use Privacy Policy