10th International Conference
JEWS IN A CHANGING WORLD
The conference is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Latvia and the contribution of Jews to Latvia’s founding and development.
April 26-28, 2017,Riga
Conference venue: Riga Jewish Community Center, Skolas 6
Organizers:
• Council of Jewish Communities of Latvia
• Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Latvia
• Museum “Jews in Latvia”
Co-Chairmen of the conference: Prof. Herman Branover (Israel) and Prof. Ruvin Ferber (Latvia)
Financial supporters:
• Ministry of Culture of Latvia
• State Cultural Capital Foundation
• Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Latvia
• Arlene Beare (UK)
• Henry Blumberg (Canada)
• American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)
• Stiftung “Erinnerung, Verantwortung und Zukunft” (Germany)
Simultaneous translation in English is provided.
Everyone is welcome to attend the conference.
Wednesday, April 26
10:30 – 13:00
Session 1. The Diversity of Latvian Jewish Fates: History, Politics, Culture
Yehuda Bitty (Israel). An educational pioneer in Jewish Riga: Reuben Joseph Wunderbar
Ineta Kulša (Latvia). Zalman Yakub – the history keeper
Leo Dribins (Latvia). Grigory Smirin’s contribution to Latvian Jewish historiography
Ļudmila Zapļetņuka (Latvia) A doctor, a pedagogue and a municipal politician – Yefim Grodzinsky and his fate
Leonid Tyorushkin (Russia) Correspondence from the front and a brief biography of a mathematician Isaac Rabinovitch
Mārtiņš Vesperis (Latvia) The activities of doctors Morduch Weinreich (1891-1972) and Max Zik (1904-1986) in Liepaja before and after World War II
13:00 – 14:00 Break
14:00 – 16:00
Session 2. The Diversity of Latvian Jewish Fates: International Context
Serafim Seppala (Finland). Orthodox dialectic of opposites: Rabbi Kook from Griva
Vadim Stetsyuk (Ukraine). Yosif Endrik: the fate of Latvian Jew in the Ukrainian army
Karina Simonson (Lithuania). Questions of power, domination and Western cultural canon in the works of South African photographer Eli Weinberg
Ivar Brod (USA). Prominent Latvian Jews in the US: a few semi-forgotten biographies
Henry Blumberg (Canada). Joseph. H. Hirshhorn’s migration from Mitau to the USA: becoming an art benefactor extraordinaire
16:00 – 17:00 Break
17:00 – 20:00. Official opening of the conference
• Welcome speeches
• Awards ceremony of school student essay contest “Diverse Latvia: the Jewish community in Latvian history and modernity”
• Keynote presentation: Iļja Ļenskis (Latvia). The Jewish role in the history of Latvia: from the blank spots to an honorary plaque
Break
Aivars Stranga (Latvia) Latvian Jews in 1939-1940: the unknown aspects of the history
Marģers Vestermanis (Latvia) The rescue of the Jews in Nazi-occupied Latvia (1941-1945): the motivation of rescuers
Svetlana Pakhomova (Russia) Stepping over the threshold: the cinematography of Herz Frank
Thursday, April 27
10:00 – 11:40
Session 3. Jews in the Republic of Latvia (1918-1940)
Sergejs Tihomirovs (Latvia).* The image of the Jew in the texts of L.Korol-Purashevitch: based on material published in newspaper “Zavtra”
Anastasija Smirnova (Latvia).*Jewish women’s organizations in Latvia in the 1920’s-30’s
Dāvids Gurēvičs (Latvia).* The activity of the Jewish deputies of the Constitutional Assembly of Latvia in the mirror of the press
Theis Klauberg (Latvia/Germany) Paul Mintz: a lawyer and a statesman
11:40 – 12:10 Coffee Break
12:10 – 13:50
Session 4. Jews in Latgale: Social Anthropology and Oral History
Josifs Ročko (Latvia). Jewish travelling salesmen in Latgale in the late 19th and early 20th century
Mariya Vyatchina (Russia/Estonia).* The existence of the term “beliye zhydi” (White Jews) in Latgale: variations and interpretations
Svetlana Amosova (Russia). Particularities of Jewish holidays in Latgale
Valda Čakša (Latvia). Memories about Jews in the interviews, conducted by history students of Rezekne Academy of Technologies
13:50 – 15:00 Break
15:00 – 16:40
Session 5. Jews in Latgale: Preservation of Cultural Heritage
Milana Bula (Latvia). Permanent exhibition of the Ludza Great Synagogue: development and perspectives
Ronita Kiršnere (Latvia).* The Synagogue of Ludza as a socio-cultural phenomenon
Marina Sokolova (Latvia).* Rezekne’s Green Synagogue as a cultural tourism object
Kaspars Strods (Latvia).* Jewish cultural heritage sites in Varakļāni
16:40 – 17:30
Presentation of recent publications in Latvian Jewish studies
17:30 – 19:00
Screening of the documentary film “The Burning” (2016), presented by the producer Kaspars Rolšteins
Friday, April 28
10:00 – 11:30
Session 6. Jewish Community of Latvia in a Regional Perspective
Irina Kurčanova (Latvia), Mārtiņš Vesperis (Latvia). The Jewish Community of Pavilosta: from the first traders to the period of its blossoming
Ingrīda Zīriņa (Latvia). Search for the lost: research materials on the history of the Jewish Community in the Valmiera museum
Krista Evelīna Liepiņa (Latvia).* Jews in Rujiena from the beginning of the 20th century to 1941
Olga Gogina-Miroļubova (Latvia). Grobina – the center of “Musar” education
11:30 – 12.00 Coffee Break
12:00 – 14:00
Session 7. Latvian Jews: contemporary history
Karīna Barkane (Latvia). Preservation problems of the synagogues in Latvia after World War II
Olga Miheloviča (Latvia). Dissidentism and Jewish Movement in Latvian SSR (1970s-80s)
Vlads Šuļmans (Latvia). Professors of the Latvian State Conservatory Max Goldin, Lyudmila Pismennaya, Mendel Bash. Creative and pedagogical activities
Yelizaveta Yakimova (Russia). History of diplomatic relations between Latvia and Israel
Elīna Vasiļjeva (Latvia). Jewish text in contemporary Latvian literature
Conference Closing: Concluding Remarks.
* This symbol marks participants of the youth section