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

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

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

Browse by Series:

Series 1: David Trotsky Collection, 1907-1940

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

Browse by Series:

Series 1: David Trotsky Collection, 1907-1940