Politics and History in Emanuel Ringelblum’s War Diaries. Emanuel Ringelblum between the Two World Wars

Victoria Nizan *

Introduction

Emanuel Ringelblum is mainly remembered for the archive he established in the War- saw , Oyneg Shabes1. However, it was his outstanding activities prior to the war that enabled him to evolve into a prominent and influential historian and prepared him for the huge task of documentation that he had carried out during WWII. The world in which Ringelblum operated and developed his unique observation skills and analysis capabilities was turbulent, in transition, from the traditional to the mod- ern. Ringelblum, who was himself secular as well as a communist, was also a dedicated Jew devoted to the Jewish culture and language (). This apparent contradiction prevented him from becoming a member of the Polish communist party, but he was a member of another form of Marxist group – one that was Zionist as well as communist: Left Poalei Zion, LPZ (the left workers of Zion). LPZ suited Ringelblum not only because of their Marxist approach to the present, but also as for them, the relationship between politics and history was evident: politics was a human activity on behalf of a certain group, activities that were the result of conclu- sions derived and inspired by historical research conducted by the parties involved and

1 Oynewg Shabes is transliteration for the Yiddish pronunciation. The term entered the Yiddish language from Hebrew and the spelling of the term in Yiddish is phonetic. It means Shabbat (Saturday) delight – the best about Shabbat. In this paper, I will use the Hebrew transliteration: Oneg Shabbat.

* Victoria Nizan is a PhD Student in Hitory at the Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

4(2) 15–30 © The Author(s) 2016 16 Journal of Global Politics and Current Diplomacy search own their history. ( “proved”history that the have a threat been to Polish ( society for Jewish the rejecting entity and failing to recognize it as Polish. According to Poles, religious pretext arena, political new inthis whereas Jewish apretext was history indeed system was democratic. This impliedthat it was no longer acceptable to reject Jews for a todesigned help them. blum moved to and applied to himby rejected medicine which the faculty the but split they when in1920,hea member became of itswing. left samethe In Ringelyear citythe and up ended inNowy Sącz,. where of beginning he the grewup WWI.As till as war the soon broke out, his family fled November of 1900inBuczacz, part then Austro-Hungarian the Empire (now ), in writing that was going on Warsaw inthe ghetto and sometimes outside ghetto. the ment of face during WWIIand were background for needed perfect the establish the experience accomplishments had prepared Ringelblum’s for unprecedented the challenges he had to Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, extremely These JDC. dedicated and meaningful ya (a private school for secondary girls), and in 1932 he began working for American the searcher at Pioneering the Jewish Research Institute (YIVO), teacher a history at Yehudi what is happening ghetto inthe is influenced politics.by archive, his point of departure is that and history politics are and linked history, that is, Jewish population by Germans. the In other words, Ringelblum when to begins create the warthe reveals his preconceived approach to with dealing what inflicted the on has been fields:both history politics.and Researching what Ringelblum was engaged in prior to tolinked politics. As was this his conviction, personal Ringelblum active in was very WWII. These years have consolidatedRingelblum’s approachthat was history strongly and not necessarily everywhere atwas practiced universities. Thanks Ringelblumto and his colleagues, became acommon history Jewish interestthat tity that replaced religion as well as strengthening national the identity on ahistoric basis. andhistory its research were causes the of development the of an alternative Jewish iden In Poland of first the half the 20 of When Ringelblum living was still in Nowy Sącz,he joined Poalei the movement, Zion Emanuel Ringelblum was ahistorian, activist. He and pedagogue social wason born A Brief Account of Ringelblum’s Life Ringelblum was an active member of aZionist-Marxist re (LPZ),ahistory party paperThis is intendedRingelblum’s to describe workthe in yearsthat preceded The aboveallegations contributed the acceleratingto approaches among to Jews re Oneg Shabbat Oneg , the archive, the that treasures and under its anything wings everything Kassow 2007: 51-52 VICTORIA NIZAN th century, was history a necessity as political the ) Furthermore, for Ringelblum and others, Kassow 2007: 50, 74 ). ------the YIVOthe of research, methodology namely, firsthand collecting accounts eventsthe of in horrible conditions. In addition to assisting refugees, the Ringelblum has applied there bidden to enter Poland. They were held borderthe on camp ina the in town of Zbąszyń toZbąszyń, assist Jews of Polish were origin who from expelled but were for Uprising, was which published inYiddish in1937and inPolish in1938. his dissertation doctoral two in1932and books: amonograph, Jews Kościuszko inthe Americanthe Jewish Joint Distribution 30she the published During Committee (JDC). Yehudiya school for Jewish secondary girls. In 1932,Ringelblum working started at also diploma his training asserting as ateacher and for years, several he taught at history the came of head the its ( historical section. his dissertation entitled “Jews of Warsaw from its Earliest History until 1527”. versity and in1927,Ringelblum was awarded adoctorate inphilosophy after completing numerus clausus. eng/?CategoryID=349&ArticleID=341&SearchParam=berman+collection 13 2017from January Collection. Viewed Berman part oftheAdolfAvraham now 4 3 2 prison. inmates,wiak All including Ringelblum himself, his son Uri (aged 12)and wife with Bermans the War World Second graphs about life ghetto, inthe among his which essay to write and history it is that then he has written at an orangery belonging to Mieczysław Wolski. his During stay inhiding he continued bring himback to Warsaw. He joined his wife and son and about 30other Jews ina hiding three months later, his longtime Bermans, the managed friends, to smuggle himout and as well as with other events of war the recorded archive. inthe archivethis that has enabled world the to become familiar with atrocities the of life in the waswhich called waswhich to gather information the all about of occurrences the war. the The archive other Jews,all kept welfare on with his social work along with establishing an archive and encountered difficulties the those by ( refugees. Adolf Avraham and his wife Batya would gather written accounts from Jews in hiding and they andhiswifeBatya wouldgather from Jewsinhidingare AdolfAvraham written accounts 132017from ViewedJanuary Jewstosomeuniversitydepartments. theadmissionof Arestriction in In director 1938,the Yitsḥak October of JDC, the Giterman, sent Ringelblum to Even before completing histhesis, in1925,Ringelblum doctoral joined YIVO and be On March 7 Ringelblum was captured and to camp deported the of Travniki inApril 1943,but When WWIIbroke out, Ringelblum, was who incarcerated Warsaw inthe ghetto like th POLITICS ANDHISTORYINEMANUELRINGELBLUM’SWARDIARIES. ,1944 the hideout,1944 the was discovered. its All inmates were to taken Pa the 2 4 Oneg Shabbat Shabbat Oneg Eventually he was accepted to of faculty the at history Warsaw the Uni and hand over to his them weekly produce. has become most the famous. Once aweek, Ringelblum would meet EMANUEL RINGELBLUMBETWEENTHETWOWORLDWARS http://www.YIVOencyclopedia.org/article.aspx/Ringelblum_Emanuel is what Ringelblum is mostly remembered for, and it is Kassow 2007:81 Writings in HidingWritings in . Kassow 2007:102 Polish-Jewish Relations ) In 1928,Ringelblum received a , a series of mono, aseries )

http://www.gfh.org.il/ 3 .

during the the during - - - - - 17 Journal of Global Politics and Current Diplomacy 18 Journal of Global Politics and Current Diplomacy the arenathe where were ideas political formed. ( ferent interest groups. This meantthat the press political preceded formation and it was munity, were debated, argued etc. through Jewish the press was which published by dif Judith (Józia), were executed at of beginning the March (probably on 10 the their impactinsocietyatlarge. 6 5 massive increase of number the of Jews inPalestine. Zionistthe aspirations was almost impossible, ifonly of because British opposition to a ing Jews outside of Poland. ( found to since that them it useful Zionistcould contained the idea be of evict seeds the future, turned Zioniston the of idea all its diversity to appealing. Conversely, Poles also importantly, lack the of hope for things ameliorating inthat foreseeable inthe respect Poland). ( but it separated was also offrom of (because rise the anti-Semitism general the society in communitythe framework. ( nationalthe level, inpractice, administration the to reduce tried and limit activity to this instance, eventhoughlaw the granted Jews the with right the for organization political at of Jewish separatism was Polish attempts to Jewish minimizethe activity. political For resentative better. purposes their would serve ( tant to absorb Jews into ranks, their had letalone who claims those for particularity. 651-653 munity were Austrian-German the well when underway decree was issued. ( differentin the communitiesJewish and battleits take to overthe leadership the comof century, that is, growth the intelligentsia of asecular influential was which already very stitutionalized trends that had already existed within Jewish the community 19th inthe trative order issued by occupying the forces of Germany and Austria during WWIin Engel 2001:655 However,themultiple split among thePolish-Jewishpopulation had opinions their power thus reduced 132017from ViewedJanuary Politics Besides, as inPoland JewishBesides, society was split within: left the right,and religious and Polish two the world between Jewish wars society was split and from divided within, to structureDue the of Polish the system, political Polish were parties mostly reluc Traditionally, disputes ideological of shades, including all within religious the com Polish Jewish Politics theTwo between World War ) Mendelsohn 1982: 94 ) This situation led to creating a feeling among that Jews their own rep http://www.jhi.pl/en/blog/2014-03-07-last-days-of-emanuel-Ringelblum Engel 2001:658 Mendelsohn 1982:94 ) The inability to integrate into Polishsociety, and more VICTORIA NIZAN ) 6 Another factor that feeling increased the Engel 2001:652 ) On the other) Onthe hand, accomplishing ) However, adminis the th Engel 2001: ) 1944. . 5 ------member of itswhichwing, left looked up the leadershipto of communist Moscow. ing inNowy Sącz.However, split party the when in1920,Ringelblum chose to become a in 1901.As mentioned before, Ringelblum ayouth he when was still joined party the liv Jewish workers founded at turn the of 20 the on Jewish focused its life because daily inexile. basis, ideology ( also enjoyingthose avast support like Bund, the managed which to fight forthe Jews on a ( popularity. Jewish life on level apersonal and life ineveryday was most the influential party’son a on situation the of Jews the inPoland itself, Thus, was most the crucial. the criterion of attempt to get achievements on anumber of present, the levels while namely, impact the secular, and on, so each of groups these strove inan to determine own their ideology by suchtendenciesamongPolish historians. 8 https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Bundism was also the reason why they Viewed January13 which rejected 2017 from . nationhood of Jewish or religiousdid notadvocateethnic separatism, but focusedonculture,notastate or a place, as theglue 7 that theories fromderived relied its sociological on ideology historical research led which people, irrespective of aJew’s view, political was not unusual. ( relying on as history ameans for achieving goals of nature apolitical for entire the Jewish blum’s concept, formulated which years before war the and core whose principles were existence eternal the of people the of regardless of and time history. Thus,Ringel inseparable the ahistorical the act, and between link existence the of Jewish the people, or movements commitment priory whose was maintaining historical the concept, ex to be of European the Jewish organizations, starting with Zionism and even orthodox religious politics. This correlation movementscharacterized most politicalsocial parties andthe of preferences.(political of perception political the of was tolerating party this Jewish the masses regardless of their loyaltydistinction between and to party the its inclination political since an important part Zion Left perfect for respect this was Ringelblum Palei as he was not required a to make Jewish the preserving people preceded aspiration the of establishing society. asocialist In namely, by boundaries the of set determining socialism that that doctrine fact the party the political party. as wella The Bund trade union a socialist movement, secular Jewish was a TheBund Here Ringelblum’s conscious choice to joinZion Left indicates Poalei personal his priorities, Zion,Left Ringelblum’s Poalei politicalparty, was a movement of Marxist–Zionist Zion (LPZ) Left Poalei The LeftThe Zion socialistPoalei thereforeand was a Party thatsecular Jewish a party had ZionLeft was notPoalei thethat party only the connectionmade between history and Engel mentions Engel 2001:661 POLITICS ANDHISTORYINEMANUELRINGELBLUM’SWARDIARIES. EMANUEL RINGELBLUMBETWEENTHETWOWORLDWARS that Kassow 2007:23 the tradition ) The Left) The Zion, Ringelblum’sPoalei party, was not among . linking ) history th centuryafterthe Bund to nationalism

created Engel 2006:125 among Engel 2001:661 7 rejected Zionism rejected Jews

was ) 8 influenced ) - - - 19 Journal of Global Politics and Current Diplomacy 20 Journal of Global Politics and Current Diplomacy to difficult the situation the of Germany,Jews in the Arabrevolt inPalestine theand fear the had 20sleft in they claimingthat bourgeoisit was a organization. This change was due Jewishness.their ( waswhich intendedsigning a curriculum to give Jewish children in of a sense security schools worked hard, not only on imparting cognitive but skills, aim their de was also establishment of arevolutionary inPalestine. society ( Borochov dish oriented groups (Bund) and established its own network of schools named after by Union, Soviet the were of they victims Polish the also police. ( 75-76 ing cities inmid-sized but had supporters also they inWarsaw ( and Lodz. and apopular sporting organization. Supporters of Zion Left came from Poalei liv Jews had anetwork of schools and soup kitchens alongside an active youth movement (Yugnt) ZionLeft had gainedsome Poalei influence amongJewish labor organizations they and were reluctant to join youth movements or ( Zionist parties. left grip inthe Zionismthus withand agood vided brought this idea to whichaudiences Despite its complexity, ideological to idea insistthe on centering in activities Poland, pro to in Palestine,idea settle to led which focusing activity their inexile, inour Poland. case, ( only there Jewish the people would able be to go through process the of modernization. estine because, according to only them, there could ahealthy Jewish entity flourish, and was acentral and of integral party. of this part ideology the Immigration hadto to Pal be able toeconomic of become part global the system. Therefore, immigration to Palestine but economical also and existential. Without astate of own, their Jews would never be 74 of assessment their that evenif there was a strong Jewish center inPalestine ( by determination their to on focus two centers: Poland and Palestine was which result the firstcialism and foremost. ( and for activism ing socialism of sake the Palestine to conclusions. political party’s This central conflict was determining the dose for combin 10 Palestine waspartoftheOttoman Empireuntil1918andin1921itcameundertheBritishMandate. 9 Kassow 2007:71

), most of Jews the living would be inexile. still The term Palestine means the geographical and spiritual land ofIsrael regardless of whocontrols it. Borochov was thefounderofPoaleiZion. Borochovwas In 1937 LPZvoted to of become part World the Jewish Zionist organization, which In separated LPZparty mid-1920s,the the its education system from other the Yid Largely, has inits failed party the attempt to provide and a practical clear vision to the According toZion Left the ideology, Poalei the Jewish problem was not political,only ) However,their activity in sinceZion Left focused Poalei Poland and were inspired 10 , which emphasized, which providing education socialist for children alongside the ) Frost 1998:137 Mendelsohn 1982:149 ) VICTORIA NIZAN ) As of singularize themselves 1921,they 9 - until 1921 this party emphasized- until party 1921this so Mendelsohn 1982:186 Kassow 2003:74 Kassow 2007:75-76 Kassow 2007: Kassow 2003: ) Therefore, ) These ) These ) ------( wartheir against Zionist the bourgeoisie faceas Jews all given danger they the think they of British the turning backs on their Jews. the LPZ announced that were they delaying Kassow 2003:74 POLITICS ANDHISTORYINEMANUELRINGELBLUM’SWARDIARIES. )

EMANUEL RINGELBLUMBETWEENTHETWOWORLDWARS

21 Journal of Global Politics and Current Diplomacy 22 Journal of Global Politics and Current Diplomacy was providing education to uneducated, the adults as well as young. the He substituted ant inPoland. In 1927,Ringelblum joined acommittee the running ture. ( and on other the hand, turned back on their they roots, namely, Yiddish and Yiddish cul of worksall these ignored analysis intheir vast the majority of Jews the on one the hand est criticism, studied Judaism from angle the ofassimilated Jews. According to Ringelblum, Kraushar of (1842-1931),both Polish origin and against whom Ringelblum had sever the and morality. In contrast (Hillel) to Nussbaum Hilary them, (1820-1895)and Alexander to prove that Jews were aspiritual entity vocation whose was to spread monotheistic ideas werewho from origin, a German treated Jews studies in their only as a religion and thrived understanding own their past. majority,the Jewish the masses. This, according Ringelblum,to prevented from Jews fully spiritual leadership, but according to Ringelblum, what was missing was accounts the of thanks to that them Jewish the population has become familiar of with history the the alive and active at but time), the work. criticizes their also He claimed that it indeed was work done by three prominent Jewish historians: Jost, Graetz and Dubnov was (who still geshikhtsvisnshaft” di as disregarded point the of of not view those inpower. ( nored much of other the of parts society. It to failed appreciate contribution their as well Ringelblum’s analysis prejudice the to thrived expose of of science the as history it ig farso was primarily conducted from viewpoint the of classes. In ruling the other words, oftive study the aspects of history. According to him,researching and writing history dance with Marxist the prism and therefore on hisshowing articles focused subjec the numerous articlesthat concerned Jewish history. Obviously, his analysis was inaccor ( associated with left those the were persecution subject to part the theon of Polishpolice. papers, one of was which inPolish and other the inYiddish. Thisrisky activity was as Yugnt evenings inan attempt to eradicate illiteracy. ( Mandelsberg and Adolf organized Berman astudy that would curriculum place take inthe Eizenshtat was who arrested and to Russia exiled and together Mahler, with Rafael Bela Kassow 2007:35 Ringelblum was appointed amember of Committee Central the of organization the Ringelblum and theLPZ The culturalThe organizationthewithinthe LPZ, Additionally, according to Ringelblum, Jost both (1793-1860) and Graetz (1817-1891). In an article he published in Ringelblum wrote name under pen the of Munie Heler, his mother’s maiden name, , the LPZyouth, the organization. It was that then he to started publish news intheir Kassow 2007:39 ) , Ringelblum mentions his colleague Dr. praised who Schiper the ) Di frayeDi yugnt no.3, 1925, “Di yidishe arbetershaft un VICTORIA NIZAN Kassow 2007:36 Ovnt kursn Ovnt Kassow 2007:38 , was one of most the import ) Ovnt kursn Ovnt ) whose aim whose ------Commission at YIVO. career as ahistorian manner inthe it inwhich developed since he established Historical the one may say that it is almost impossible to separate Ringelblum’s from activities political his Ringelblum, not much so as a politician but as a historiancertainly and a scholar. Therefore, Cherikover immediately. ( of Judaism, was established, and Ringelblum to offeredMax services his Weinreich Eliyahu and and showed gratitude their to ambitious this project. dents’ devotion. of All were them working people and despite fatigue, the came to courses the teaching courses, and butthose supervising deeply to be he touched never ceased by his stu were taught together as one unit. ( 36 housing on life the of its residents, climatic effects on diet, etc. ( humansocieties, Their approach to history is well manifestedthe in topics chosen for elaboration: impact of from Jews shouldadopt customs. Viewed January13 their countryoforigin2017 following theemancipation, and 11 ( gy. explored areas such as Jewish history, linguistics, psychology, economics, folklore and sociolo was expressed by initiating groundbreaking Jewish inthe activities spiritual world. have They was a religion as well as anational entity. butlitical its establishmentpolitical concept reflected a presentedbefore, namely,that Judaism as Jewish and history culture of European Eastern Jewish communities. The institute was apo Jewishthe people. The aim was to establishscientific a center thefor study of Yiddish, as well It institutionalized Dubnow’s and to collect research call historical the “natural resources” of people has which undergone atremendous change as aresult of modernity. ( withthe concept rift the of “Wissenschaft des Judentums” possibility ofis, very the establishing aJewish institution, academic itsa creation reflects also

) Likewise, history courses history included) Likewise, Jewish both as history well as non-Jewish history, and

History The As ofYIVO, exact, mid20s,1926to the be first the institution erected by Jews forthe study The topics coursesthose of were diverse and included naturalscience, literature and history. Despite operating as aresearch institute, YIVO had agenda an political embedded which The institute of YIVO (Yidisher Visnshaftlekher Institut) was established in Vilnius in 1925. While ofactivities the institute the regarded can be as one of of fruits the emancipation, that 1. YIVO Sandler 2002:xiii https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Wissenschaft_des_Judentums scientific study POLITICS ANDHISTORYINEMANUELRINGELBLUM’SWARDIARIES. of EMANUEL RINGELBLUMBETWEENTHETWOWORLDWARS ) One form of work at YIVO that reflected political its agenda was collect Jewish Kassow 2007:81 culture Kassow 2007:36 and religion ) This marks a crucial event) This marks acrucial forthe development of whose ) Ringelblum put atremendous effort in departing . 11 and concern a deep for Jewish the point was the Judaism Kassow 2007:78

Kassow 2007: was a religion - - - - ) 23 Journal of Global Politics and Current Diplomacy 24 Journal of Global Politics and Current Diplomacy and concerned and personal their intimate characterized research experiences methodology 2002: xiii irrelevant to young the eventually which to increasing led the sensation of isolation. ( parents’respect, advice and guidance that was traditionally provided to offspring their became younger generation followed parents’ their footsteps it when concerned professions. In that levels. ( waswhich irrelevant structure has changed social because and as aresult, relationships at all generationsbetween were not much so as inideologies much as parents’ inthe life experience, WWI world, structure caused intergenerational adeep social gap.that They the gaps revealed was much larger. countries. In 1938,there were already 289works submitted and range the of writers the here and 32young people accepted challenge. the In 1934,304essays were submitted from various aged 16-22. ( lifepersonal story. Such competitions were held in 1932, 1934, 1938-9, and competitors were was done through competitions among teenagers had who to write an essay describing their ism.( contemporary or current, and thus constituted they an alternative to Zionism and territorial tence alongside with strengthening Jewish the idea Doikeyt, life. in thatbelieved of They the is, non-Jews. it is duty their and uniqueness particularity the because of Jews the is hiddenfrom eyes of the are needs whose into taken consideration, not only doJews have to about learn themselves, but in order to of become part more the significant forcesthe in world, alternativelyor be anentity appropriate Jewish political response to leaving Jews the outside of history. According to him, ing and documenting –Ringelblum, history engaged who inthat inWarsaw, regarded it as an Shabbat Archive Shabbat similar research approach inerecting the would which characterize also his methodology adopted at YIVO. Ringelblum, established who Historical the Commission at YIVO, a used integrating into society. ( confronted with recognition the that discrimination would prevent from them developing and statustheir and prospects general the inthe society of integration. Very that soon, youth is fore belong to an underprivileged group, and later, as teenagersto wonder begin they about have adouble problem youngsters the of insecurity: first find thatout theyareJewish thereand Introducing competition this on was which information based from contemporary people An analysis of compositions those showed how significantlyEast Europe changed. post In One of and ways youngsters the make those to try more interested communities intheir For example, Weinreich, aprominent researcher at YIVO, had estimated that Jewish youth YIVO considered itself obligated to create for legitimacy Europe Eastern the exis Jewry Sandler 2002:xiii Sandler 2002:xiii ) Sandler 2002: xi . ) Sandler 2002:xxii ) For instance, ininter war Europe, it was no longer evident that the ) The first competitiontook (1932) theplace in Vilnius region VICTORIA NIZAN ) Sandler Sandler Oneg Oneg - - - pear entirelypear inYiddish, andthe reflects this attitude group,the of that the is, Jews must ( 1926 and 1929)and later on paper the was named Bleter far geshikhte (1934, 1938). ( basis on the became YIVO which Historical Commission relied once it was founded. in Poland. ( understandingfecting the of current the economic and cultural situation of Jews the of beginning the war the in 1939.1923 till 2007: 58 Young Historians Circle). At time, the it was first the and only one in Poland. ( fael Mahler, amember of also LPZ,established “Yunger the Historiker Krayz” (the and established aconnection with people from over all Europe East to looking start mission, upon he decided guidelines the for creating of acollection firsthand accounts that backbonethe to vital development the was so of expertise academic the of YIVO. doctors. ( tified Dobnow, were self-taught scholars, whereas Ringelblum and his colleagues were cer important to development the of institute the as its founders, including Cherikover and It is important to note that Ringelblum and “Yunger the Historiker Krayz” were very nities inPoland that were published Judaica inthe published Encyclopedia in Berlin. ( 18 18 the about 216scholarly articlesof differentsorts. ( publications, and by 1939, he had written and published Yiddish inboth and Polish ( tional and social. studies of were Polish struggle intended the on to adouble serve Jewry level: na the was to study purpose initial the -while Jewishacteristics history, results the of the articles accessible to many more Jews. ( familiarbe with own their history, publishing so inYiddish was intended to make the Ringelblum 1937 Kassow 2007:59 Kassow 2009: xvii th The groupThe was engagedthe in study of Jewish-historical issueswhose aim was af Even before establishment the of YIVO, in1923,Ringelblum, and historian the Ra 2. YIVO and Ringelblum As as Ringelblum soon was accepted to YIVO and founded Historical the Com As previously mentioned, Ringelblum of part became YIVO almost from day one. For example, he researched of history the hygiene living habits of Jews inPoland in Ringelblum attributed importance to group the he because felt it had militant char century, or role the of Jews the of Poland during Kościuszko the rebellion in1794. th century, of history the Jewish printing book in Poland second in the of half the )

This groupThis was organized the at Warsaw University and met monthlyfrom Kassow 2009:xvii Kassow 2007:82 POLITICS ANDHISTORYINEMANUELRINGELBLUM’SWARDIARIES. ) When journals were these first published, they were the first to ap ) Ringelblum wrote also short monographs about Jewish commu Kassow 2007:60 ) The circle publishedtwojournals: academic Yunger historiker (in EMANUEL RINGELBLUMBETWEENTHETWOWORLDWARS ) They had ) They about 40 regular attendants theand circle ) In that Ringelblum respect, and his colleagues were ) Ringelblum was one of editors the of Society’s the Kassow 2007:60 Shatzky 1953 ) )

Kassow Kassow ------25 Journal of Global Politics and Current Diplomacy 26 Journal of Global Politics and Current Diplomacy well as assesmore accurately magnitude the of destruction. the managed horror the to survive have made it possible for us to reconstruct past, the as along with its cultural treasures. Those recordsthat were gatheredbefore the war and of such arecord is invaluable –during WWII,much of Vilnius was annihilated Jewry of Lithuania).rusalem In light of war the that was about to break out, importance the to Jewish preserve Vilnius known inJewish circles as “Yerusholayim deLite” Je (the chair of Vilnius the branch of Landkentenish the wrote that Society abook attempted own accounts. ( up documents and have also ordinary Jews as well as community leaderswrite their attitude tohistorywasalsoencouraged inUSSR. 12 He put tremendous efforts in having YIVOscholars participate Sevenththe at Inter less encountering when problems concerning of destruction the community records or sources about sites. the ( Landkentenish meant to combine pleasure (tourism) and information collecting and land, but as Jewish sites were never really researched, Ringelblum thought that the showed no interest inJewish or history archeology. This was notflaw a unique to Po sites inPoland. For himJews that needed separate to be from Poles the as latter the gezelshaft farlandkentenish) andwiththem organized programs of tourism to Jewish old synagogues and cemeteries. ( andervation Commission the organized also an expedition that would pictures take of a result, Ringelblum got together with other organizations about to teach locals pres buildings were renovated with little care or attention tovalue. artistic original their As lent to architecture and In art. many places and for lack of awareness, old community like etc. banks ( habit, Ringelblum writing encouraged about to begin locals the histories of institutions est and involvement inJewish history. Once routine the of was becoming collecting a in contact with about recording and as well preserving, as simply arousing inter their around Poland, documenting present the and in many ways educating he came those ( then. from anonymous voice, people whose according to Ringelblum, was never heard until torical picture by putting together information largely on testimonies based collected documents that were held by individuals. Yet, he was to determined construct his the

In that respect, Ringelblum’s attitude towards history was communist so tospeak. Apparently, Inthatrespect,attitudecommunist towardshistory Ringelblum’s this was One way to make YIVO influential was establishing contactwith historians large.at He for addressed Jewish the also Knowledge Society of inPoland Land the (Yidisher In addition, Ringelblum was frustrated by lack the of attention community leaders And indeed, Ringelblum was involved documents in collecting and account from Kassow 2007:83 Kassow 2007:88 Kassow 2007:81 ) 12 Kassow 2007:85 ) ) However, many he times found himself quite help Kassow 2007:4-5 VICTORIA NIZAN ) For example, as aresult of efforts,the these ) ------der whose wing wereder whose from credit over all societies Poland that received help from was editor the of the USA,andin the had which many branches inPoland. From 1930-1938Ringelblum ican Jewish Joint Distribution amajor Committee relief (JDC), agency established Eighth International Congress. ( in Poland made it impossible virtually for Jews of part to Polish the be delegation to the an independent institute and not connected to any university. Sadly, shift the of moods standing accomplishment for Jewish the entity, it atriumph was also for YIVO that was ritorial nation, Jews. the ( pation, Congress the was which state-based, acknowledged existence the of an exter participation inthat conference was agreat achievement, as by allowing partici their national Congress of Historical the that Science met inWarsaw in1933.Indeed, the tainly corresponded to Ringelblum’s of developed sense solidarity. very that The fact Marxist as loans the views political were given to private people, but work the cer restore businesses the hurt by lending money. them ( government. Therefore, stepped up JDC the to protect were who those harmed and of economic boycott, initiatives that were supported by and clergy Polish the the like Brest inPrzytyk, etc. In addition, there were more and more initiatives local tive. austere situation of Jews, the instead of discouraging Ringelblum, an became incen Poland were vulnerable particularly and agreat of needed deal help. And the indeed preventhopefully agreater one future. inthe ( to supply self-help aimed at providing needy with the tools to overcome crisisand ing responsibility on of part the help the seeker, and Giterman’s approach was which school philanthropy that on was essentially providing based help, but without involv concept of philanthropy. Here Ringelblum has difference the learned old between its directors had who amajor role indeveloping Ringelblum’s attitude towards the Poland. that dealt with raising money from former Polish Jews to helping living still in those In addition, JDC. the Ringelblum of was head the the At end the of 1920s,Ringelblum the had an started additional career at Amer the Welfare or the -TheJDC Joint In many ways, work the conducted by Ringelblum didnot correspond to his As of 1936there was agrowing number of against Jews over all Poland, By CEKABE 1937,the included 870towns. figures show These that Jews over all It was that at Ringelblum JDC the got acquainted with Yitzhak Giterman, one of POLITICS ANDHISTORYINEMANUELRINGELBLUM’SWARDIARIES. EMANUEL RINGELBLUMBETWEENTHETWOWORLDWARS Folkshilf Kassow 2007:83 - the journal of journal -the CEKABE, the aroof organization un Kassow 2007:84 ) Furthermore, on top of an being this out Kassow 2007:90 ) Kassow 2007:98 landmanshaft )

, adepartment ) ------27 Journal of Global Politics and Current Diplomacy 28 Journal of Global Politics and Current Diplomacy , the Congress Kingdom ofPoland,GaliciaandRomania. Russian Empire,theCongress Viewed January132017from before theHolocaust.Shtetlach were mainlyfoundintheareasthatconstituted the 19th-century Pale ofSettlement in the 13 arbitration, an organizing committee, open and secret control acleaning services, and service, department and an independent post office(with 53 employees), a welfare office, court of a pitalization, carpentry workshops, tailors, shoemakers, books, alegal section, amigration days Iand Ginzberg, that set is), up awhole township with departments for supplies, hos gees. In his letter what to Mahler he he describes didonce he arrived to town: the into Poland. people been forcedThese had out Germanyof forbeing considered Polish but notallowed about 7,000-6,000Jewish refugees from Germany, out of were 17,000deportees, gathered. as government preferences political and therefore, almost paralyzed. ( Jewish communities. These werelargely the under influence of politicsinternal as well important work out stood incomparison to what the less of or political their religious convictions. ( worked all of they beliefs, their together inan attempt to ameliorate situation the regard backgroundtheir and was reinforced believes as he witnessed how despite division the people, Ringelblum’s approach that Jews constituted aclass of own their regardless of get hold of from ordinary people. Furthermore, as accounts were written by of sorts all provided Ringelblum with insight into amazing the quality of accounts that one could Jewish population. ( most inthe breaking heart mannerscribed huge the encountered difficulties by the accounts by ordinary Jews connected to the that help was through publishing newspaper in the todesigned convince American Jews to support shtetels. the Jewish borrowers to get more involved general inthe economy. ( means to strengthen community the rather than weakening itencouraging while the loansthose required responsibility on of part the borrowers the madeventure this a because oftheNaziregime. return toPoland would afraid that the Polishstate was and Germany in Jews living at thenumerous aimed passports was of Poland. Thelaw outside of to Poles cancellation living dealt with which October 1938 14 wikiwand.com/en/Shtetl

Shtetlach –the Yiddish wordfortownswithlarge Jewishpopulations,whichexisted inCentralandEasternEurope Deportation “ In November 1938Giterman sent Ringelblum where to border the town of Zbąszyń, Zbaszyn Apart from providing valuable information about realities the inPoland, reports these In 1938,Giterman put Ringelblum in charge of the In the course of those five weeks we (originally Giterman, Ginzberg and I, and after ten 14 Ringelblumpersonthe as in charge spent five the of Zbąszyń inweeks refu of Germans . Kassow 2007:100 from Polish to Zbąszyń VICTORIA NIZAN ) was a Kassow 2007:100 kases response (free loan societies) which de which loan (free societies) Kehilles Folkshilf. for landsmanshaftn landsmanshaftn Polish , the official, the institution of 13 . One way to encourage Ringelblum publishedRingelblum legislation ) Their valuable and Kassow 2007:99 Kassow 2007:100 from which waswhich https://www. March ) and - - - ) - all the threads lead from the and Jewish masses to the to Jews Zbąszyń who suffer there… a heavy moral blow against the Jewish population of Poland. And it for is this reason that citizens of the third class, and asaresult we are all visited by terrible tragedy. was Zbąszyń for the defenselessness of the Jews of Poland. Jews were humiliated to the level of lepers, to in Germany, but Polish the and it revealed also exposed government antisemitism. ghetto. have with constant the to deal flow fromof deported their Jews hometowns the to Warsaw would become really handy he had gatheredperience Ringelblum when inZbąszyń would an independent unit from town the that had housed actually camp. the Obviously, ex the In addition, Ringelblum’s approach to welfare work stands out here up as he set camp the as Ringelblum’s organizational capabilities, as well as chaos the incamp prior to his arrival. a complex sanitation etc. service, terwards the organizedterwards the took place. pan assassinated aNazi diplomat, German Ernst vom inParis Rath, and immediately af out by Herschel parents whose Grynszpan Grynsz were among to deportees Zbąszyń. the November 9 press and English newspapers. ( MahlerRafael dated 6 December found can be ina letter aboutrials written deportation the to by Zbąszyń Ringelblum to accountsalso from refugees. those Evidence of his intention with gathering to deal mate ments from from homes expelled their Jews the had who been material (the was lost) and well known that Ringelblum when was in that town, a huge he collected amount of docu feelings that he had put inwriting in1939and on spot.( the rate entity from Polish society. ( refugees, but sent amessage to entire the Polish that Poles Jewry regarded as them asepa Jews and Poles. Their to helprefusal the not deportees Jewish the unfortunate only struck ( Ringelblum 1938 Conclusion ortheBeginning In same the letter to Mahler, Ringelblum concludes: Ringelblum exposed the eventto harshThe Zbąszyń realities of of fiveyears of Nazism The informationthat Ringelblum provides with indicatesMahler the on one hand, On September 1 were eventsThe followed Zbąszyń of by Kristallnacht the or Night of Broken Glass, on traumatic The encounter was very forRingelblum,withthe Zbąszyń Jewish in refugees th -10 POLITICS ANDHISTORYINEMANUELRINGELBLUM’SWARDIARIES. th ). These events ). These Ringelblumhelped graspthe depth the of abyss between , 1938. The alleged alleged , 1938.The reason forthat pogrom was an act of revengecarried st EMANUEL RINGELBLUMBETWEENTHETWOWORLDWARS , 1939,WWIIbroke out. accountbrief This very whatof Emmanuel Ringelblum 1994:306 Ringelblum 1938 ” ( th Ringelblum 1938 , 1938,asking materials himto collect from Jewish the ) ) ) “ …

Zbąszyń has become a symbol Shatzky 1953

) However, it is ” ------

29 Journal of Global Politics and Current Diplomacy 30 Journal of Global Politics and Current Diplomacy Moses Shapiro and Tadeusz Epstein, Indiana University Press. Kassow S.D. (2009)“Introduction” Bloomington: Indiana University Press. Kassow S.D. (2007) Europe,Zionism inEastern Pittsburgh: The University of Pittsburgh Press, Gitelman (editor).Zvi Kassow S.D.Left (2003)The Zion inPoalei Interwar Poland, in The Emergence of ModernJewish Politics, and Bundism (Accessed: January 132017). Jewish historical institute website. Available at: Nachman Blumenthal and Joseph Kermish eds. Huberband S.(Hebrew) (1969) Frost S.(1998) Ringelblum: The Historian and his Era, Engel D. (2006)(Hebrew) History Writing as aNational Mission: Polish Jews and Historiographical their Traditions inEmanuel ShazarZalman Center, Israel Bartal and Gutman Israel (ed.). two the wars,between in Engel D. (2001) (Hebrew) A problematic tradition? comments on tendencies political the and culture of Jews the of Poland SearchParam=berman+collection Adolf Avraham Available Collection. Berman at: 1969: 310 inYIVOused were implemented at archive the as well. ( YIVO how determined archive the would organized. be In other words, same the methods more complicated, he established anetwork of people to help. Ringelblum’s background at Shabbat zational enabled skills himto erect awhole system of self-help and he established the in two weeks. This decree foundRingelblum ready respect. His forevery organi action in normal inWarsaw Jews 1940,when until were October ordered to move to ghetto the with September 28 Defense Civil the Organization and continued also to work for Joint the relentlessly. On could have leftlike many others did, but he remained in Warsaw.Ringelblum in part took Congress and inGeneva could have stayed behind. Even on first the days the warof he andexperience above motivation all, to react according to events. the Ringelblum was involved inprior to war the shows that he was well equipped intalent, Mendelsohn, E.(1982) (Hebrew) Book Center.Book book is digitalized andcanbe This found at: Ringelblum E.(1937) References Ringelblum could have fled Polandtime. in In August 1939 thehe was 25 in Although brutality the of Nazis the was immediately felt, things remained relatively archive ghetto. inthe At first he workedalone, butbecamethingswhen more and ). Schooling asasocio-political expression th , 1939,Warsaw was occupied by Germany. The Polish Jews in the Kościuszko rebellion 1794 Who write our will history? Emanuel Ringelblum, the Warsaw ghetto, and the oyneg shabes archive The broken chain, Polish throughJewry the ages, Vol.Society, II, Culture, Nationalism Kiddush Ha-Shem: Jewish Religious and Cultural Life in Poland during (Accessed: January 132017). Zionism in Poland: the formative years, 1915-1926 The Warsaw Ghetto,Oyneg Shabes-, catalogue andguide , Jerusalem: Magnes, p. 137. VICTORIA NIZAN http://www.jhi.pl/en/blog/2014-03-07-last-days-of-emanuel-Ringelblum https://archive.org/details/nybc201351 (Yiddish) (1937),Amherst, Massachusetts: National Yiddish http://www.gfh.org.ileng/?CategoryID=349&ArticleID=341& , Jerusalem, p. 94. Kassow 2007:147;Huberband .(Accessed: January 132017). , Jerusalem: The , Jerusalem: The , editors Robert , editors Robert th Zionist Zionist , Tel-Aviv: Oneg Oneg - - ,

2017). Wikiwand website. Available at: Wikiwand website. Available at: Wikiwand website. Available at: Ringelblum_Emanuel The YIVO encyclopedia of Eastern in Jews Europe website. Available at: nybc210146 by Dr. Jacob Shatzky, where Ringelblum’s works were gathered afterthe war. Available at: in Argenṭine (1953).Bibliography of Ringelblum’s articlespublished prior to war the was put together edited inabook Shatzky J. (1953) Yale University Press, (2002). Sandler J. (editor) Noy Press, p. 306. Ringelblum Emanuel (Hebrew) (1994) Available at: Ringelblum E.(1938)Aletter by Emmanuel Ringelblum’s on refugees the Srodborow, inZbąszyń, 6,1938. December (Accessed: January 132017). http://www.yadvashem.org/odot_pdf/Microsoft%20Word%20-%207807.pdf Chapters of the life of Polish Jews in the past Awakening lives, autobiographies of Jewish youth in Poland before the Holocaust (Accessed: January 132017). POLITICS ANDHISTORYINEMANUELRINGELBLUM’SWARDIARIES. EMANUEL RINGELBLUMBETWEENTHETWOWORLDWARS https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Bundism https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Bundism https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Wissenschaft_des_Judentums Last Writings, Polish Jewish Relations, January 1943–April 1944 (Yiddish), Buenos Aires: Tsenṭral-farband Poylishe fun Yidn . (Accessed: January 132017). . (Accessed: January 132017). http://www.YIVOencyclopedia.org/article.aspx/ . (Accessed: January 132017). https://archive.org/details/ , New Haven and London: . (Accessed: January 13

, Jerusalem: Daf- 31 Journal of Global Politics and Current Diplomacy