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[Page 190]
The First Congress of the Halutzim from across Romania took place in Kishinev on 26–28 Sivan, 5681 (July 2–4, 1921). The goal was to establish the framework for future activities and elect a central executive committee. However, two events preceding the Congress opening gave it new significance: 1) the Jaffa riots of May and 2) the assassination of I. H. Brener and his friends. “This congress is of enormous importance and it will only intensify, especially now that Eretz Israel is experiencing very tragic events and the people are left in great confusion and fear. Here at the congress we have to report on the events in Eretz and only we can dispel the dangerous confusion. Our road is more difficult, but we will overcome all obstacles. On the meeting of 6 Sivan we decided to convene the congress on 26–28 Sivan (July 2–3) in Kishinev. Each branch with up to 20 members will send one delegate and the branches with more than 20 will send 2. We mainly want a smaller congress in order to faster achieve our objectives. We invite the delegates to come and to bring with them the highest pioneer spirit!”[1]
Twenty–five branches sent delegates to the Congress. All sessions of the Congress were conducted in Modern Hebrew. Leib Glantz.[2] Opened the Congress; Chaim Shorer read the greetings from Hapoel Ha–Tzair; Itzchak Kaspi presented a report on the activities of the provisional centre; Shorer spoke about the situation in Eretz Israel; and Yehudah Danovich and Dov Tabachnik presented the report on training.
[Page 191]
The delegates held many discussions about the criteria for becoming a member and decided that membership in the He–Halutz will be given to those who were actively participating in the Party and dedicated to the ideology of the He–Halutz, and who disseminated Party ideas in the community.
The known writer Mordechai Spector, who was in Bucharest on his way to America, was a special guest at the Congress[3], which issued an important statement about the main purpose of He–Halutz: “The Congress of He–Halutz in Romania considers the He–Halutz a guiding light and a path paver for the people. Its goal is to renew the economic and spiritual life of the Jewish people based on work and creativity and find solutions to improve the life of individuals and the life of the nation.”
The delegates elected the following people to the Central Committee: Leib Glantz, Akiva Globman (Govrin), I.D. Zilber, Nachum Tulchinsky (Tal), Itzchak Kaspi, (Zilberman), Michael Landau, Joseph Lerner (Liron), Itzchak Rosenberg, and Chaim Shorer. Board members were Itzchak Chitron, Dov Tabachnick, Cohen, Natanzon, Friedman, and Kishinovsky, and assisted by Eliyahu Ortenberg, Joseph Barafael, and Nathan Cohen (Tardion).
The Kishinev Central Committee became responsible for all of Romania, overseeing the office in Chernovits and developing relations with the Eretz Israel offices in Galatz and Bucharest, which together decided to integrate the immigration activities and co–manage the resources and training activities.
[Page 192]
Dov Tabachnik assumed responsibility for training; Itzchak Rosenthal and Akiva Globman (Govrin) was charged with organizing the legal and financial aspects of immigration; and Joseph Barafael became leader of the “Friends of He–Halutz.”
Rosenthal and Globman immigrated in 1923 and the entire operation fell on the shoulders of Barafael, who worked diligently and enthusiastically until he also immigrated in 1925.
The first decisions that He–Halutz took in Bessarabia were the establishment of a training farm and a carpentry shop in Capreshti, under the management of Dov Tabachnik and the organization of hachshara groups in Soroca, Orgheiev, Bricheni, and Calarashi.
Dov Tabachnik, the “tzigel macher” (brick maker) from Capreshti, who was known as the “Pioneer of Hachshara” and the “Storm,” demanded from all the pioneers discipline and hard work and requested the best tools, the finest horses and farm animals, and quality seeds for the farm[4].
After the riots of May 1921, the He–Halutz centre had one more mission: to supply weapons to the Jewish settlement (Yishuv) in Eretz Israel, which was carried out by Zeev Levinson from the Ha–Shomer (the Guard).[5] Joseph Barafael, Akiva Globman, and Itzchak Rosenberg went to Bucharest, Galatz, and Jassy to raise money to purchase weapons. They received a lot of help from Adolph Bernhard, the secretary of the Zionist Federation in Bucharest, who himself generously donated to the cause. Most of the money was transferred to Constantinople, where it was easy to purchase weapons from General Denikin's soldiers who fled from Russia. The halutzim and Akiva Govrin himself then smuggled the weapons to Eretz Israel.
Delegates from Chernovits and Galatz and guest members from the Tzeirei Zion and General Zionist participated at the plenary session of He–Halutz on 26–28 Shvat 5682 (February 24–26, 1922. The question of immigration, which I. Rosenberg presented, was the most important item on the agenda.
[Page 192a]
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| Photograph no. 58: A group of trainees at the carpentry shop in Kishinev, 5682 (1922) |
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1.I. Alberton, 2. Kremer, 3. Sh. Sthternshtein, 4. A. Sorokopor (Matros), 5. Tz. Takai, 6. A. Tesler, 7. Kligpost, 8. N. Rosenmeir, 9. B. Reznik, 10, Kribitzki, 11. Yaffa Alberton (Tkach), 12. Michalevich (Michali) 13. Agronomist Fikhandler, 14. I. Cohen, 15. Unknown, 16. S. Barafael, 17. N. Cohen, 18. L. Glantz, 19. I. Rosenberg, 20. Akiva Globman (Govrin), 21. I. Barafael, 22, M. Globman, 23. Unknown, 24. Roitman, 25. Z. Muchnik (Driz), 26. Shochet. |
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| Photograph no. 60: Trainees group at the basket weaving shop, Soroca, 1923 First from the left: Gershon Vinitzky, the manager |
[Page 192b]
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From right to left sitting: Akiva Globman, I.D. Zilber, I. Kaspi (Zilberman), N. Tulchinsky (Tal) Standing: I. Rosenberg, L. Glantz, H. Borodiansky (Bar–Dayan) |
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Bottom first row from right to left: I. Rosenberg, A. Koralnik, H. Bar–Dayan Second row: Al. Ortenberg, Chaim Shorer Third row: I. Shwartz, A. Govrin, Z. Saminovskaya, I. Cohen) |
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From right to left, sitting: N. Tal, L. Glanz, N. Cohen (Tardion), Akiva Govrin, Z. Bidner (El Ben Horin) Standing: Dov (Buiu) Tabachnik, Aharon Tal, I. Barafael, S. Barafael |
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1.Dov Perlmuter, 2. I. Shechter, 3. Sh. Shechter, 4. I. Barafael, 5. Aizik Cohen (Is. Shechtman), 6. H. Giladi, 7. D. Shechter, 8. Sh. Shapira |
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From right to left: N. Weisberg (Levanon), Itzchak Nusenboim (I. Ben–Aharon), Is. Geler |
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From right to left, sitting: M. Tartakov and his daughter, Tz. Tartakov, Sh. Shechter and his daughter, I. Frumkin, Sh. Shapira, Itzchak Ben–Aharon (Nusenboim) Standing: Av. Hochman (Chik), I. Zetzer (Zohar), D. Shechter, Av. Bronshtein, Is. Geler, G. Fromkin, I. Shechter |
[Page 193]
Topics of the discussion session included items such as hachshara (training), which D. Tabachnick and I. D. Zilber presented, and organization, presented by Akiva Globman–Govrin.
Because of the difficult economic situation and the immigration ban, the Executive Committee decided to send a telegram to the Zionist Executive and point out their role in delaying the immigration when it was still in their control. The committee also decided to work towards reopening without delay the immigration gates to halutzim and workers (see page 187), and despite the dire situation, to increase the agricultural training by opening an independent training farm.
Although the large training farm in Calarashi could not be opened because of financial difficulties, smaller farms were established in Leova, Kishinev, and Brugujeni and designated Akiva Globman to open training farms in Timisoara and Calineshti in Transilvania.
The professional and vocational training program in cooperation with ORT was given the task to purchase equipment for agriculture and tools for the training shops (carpentry, tailoring, fashion, welding) in Kishinev, Calarashi, Capreshti, Edinitz, Chernovits, Bucharest, and Galatz.
The lack of steady financing for the He–Halutz activities was visible already from its inception. Many planned activities could not be realized because of lack of funds, and as result all He–Halutz branches decided to organize a “He–Halutz Week” fundraising campaign during the Pessach holiday. All activists of the movement from across the country participated in organizing balls and other events, appeared at synagogues, and decided to hold a “He–Halutz Week” every year. The “Week” became an important part of the He–Halutz budget. In the first events generated 120 thousand Lei.
[Page 194]
Data are missing for the years 5682 and 5683 (1922, 1923), but in 5684 (1924),[6] the year Bilicheni was purchased; the proceeds were 500 thousand Lei (a small percentage was collected in Bucovina). Because no fundraiser for He–Halutz was held in the Regat (Romania proper), the Zionist Federation donated 199,882 Lei[7] for the Halutzim from the Ukraine and Bessarabia in 1922 and 1923. Because of Akiva Globman's (Govrin) and Itzchak Rosenberg's work in Bucharest, Jassy, Galatz, and Chernovits, about half a million Lei were collected in 1923.
In 1924, Joseph Barafael obtained an annual pledge of 200 million Lei from Abraham L. Zisu, who published the weekly Jewish publication, Mintuirea (Redemption) and fell in love with the idea of He–Halutz.[8] His important donation was of great material and also spiritual help to the movement and served as example to many.
In 1925, with the establishment of the He–Halutz farm in the Pacurari neighbourhood of Jassy, many organizations, including the Friends of He–Halutz, the Zionist Federation in Bucharest, and the Society of Zionist Women, came together to purchase equipment and to cover the farm's expenses.
The Second Congress was convened in Kishinev on 1–6 Kislev 5683 (December 21–26, 1922) with the participation of 20 delegates and many guests from the Hachshara groups from Kishinev, Galatz, Chernovits, Capreshti, Edinitz, Leova, Marculeshti, etc.
[Page 195]
Zeev Feinshtein (Nesher), one of the pioneers of the Second Aliyah, came as a representative of the Labour Union of Eretz Israel. In the opening remarks, L. Glantz praised the youth who, despite all the obstacles created by the Mandatory Government, succeeded to enter Eretz Israel. The pioneers demonstrated to the Zionist leadership that the only way to generate employment in Eretz Israel was by encouraging immigration. The training and immigration achieved satisfactory levels despite the difficulties created by the Mandatory Government.
In his welcoming speech, Dr. Bernstein–Cohen expressed his satisfaction about the growth of the He–Halutz movement, “which is ready to take over the building of the country and to develop its economy and culture.”
Other people who spoke at the congress were Z. Nesher on behalf of the Labour Union, Asher Koralnik from the Tzeirei Zion Centre in Romania, and the writer and educator Abraham Epshtein from Tarbut. They all emphasized the importance of the He–Halutz movement in the rebuilding of the country and praised the courage and determination of the pioneers.
Other leaders, such as Tzvi Turkanovsky from the General Zionist Centre, Ezra Dubinsky from Maccabi, and Rosenshtok from the newspaper Arbeter Zeitung (The Worker's Newspaper) and the Poalei Zion in Chernovits encouraged cooperation among all the parties and the He–Halutz.
The following leaders were elected at the Congress: Executives: Nachum Tulchinsky (Tal), Z. Bidner (Ben–Horin), and Itzchak Rosenberg; Secretaries: Akiva Globman (Goverin) and Michael Grobman (Magen).
There is very little material available about the proceedings of the Congress.[9] The two newspapers reported that Zeev Feinshtein–Nesher spoke about the situation in Eretz Israel and Akiva Globman gave a report on the activities since the last Congress, underlining that the main concern of the He–Halutz was immigration. [Page 196]
He further explained the problems faced by the training activities: the lack of professional trainers in agriculture and the trades and most important, the lack of raw materials. Even with the very little help from the Zionist organizations, the He–Halutz initiated many programs and as a result established many agricultural, carpentry, building, shoemaking, and tailoring cooperatives that supplied the necessary training in these areas.
Leib Glantz spoke about the future of the organization. Itzchak Rosenberg suggested establishing a Bank for Immigration to help the Aliyah. N. Tulchinsky spoke about the ideological and cultural needs and stressed the necessity of studying the Hebrew language. Dov Tabachnik lectured about the physical training and suggested to train the women (35% of all halutzim) on various professions outside the farm. Finally, Eliyahu Ortenberg gave the report on the financial situation since the First Congress.
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| Illustration no. 13: Minutes of the Second Congress in Kishinev, outlining decisions. Mordechai Rashfi from Beit Oren gave the minutes to the author. |
[Page 197]
The decisions made at the Congress can be summarized in a few words: “Work is our life; Hebrew is our language, and Eretz Israel is our motherland!”
The He–Halutz strives to train free Jewish workers to work and build the economic and cultural base of Eretz Israel to achieve freedom of the individual and salvation of the entire people:
Total: 15 training groups
[Page 200]
A decision was made to close the small training farms in Leova and Capreshti and to enlarge the farm in Rogojeni. The 8–hectare farm near Kishinev's orphans' house was growing fruits, such as grapes, and had a chicken coop. 12–15 people worked there under the supervision of agronomist Finkhandler. Other groups worked at the private farms and vineyards.[11]
In the summer of 1923 a new group was established in Soroca at the cabinet making shop of Gershon Vinitzky. The group started with 12 members, grew to 20, and lasted more than two years. It closed because the Centre did not see a need for this industry in Eretz Israel.
The carpentry shop in Edinitz was enlarged to accommodate 12 halutzim because of an investment of 100 thousand Lei.[12]
In Elul 5683 (1923) Joseph Baratz, a native of Kishinev and one of the founders of Degania Aleph, came to visit the training groups in Kishinev, Soroca, Rogojeni, Beltz, Novoselitza, and Chernovits. He inspired the pioneers with his lecture about life in Eretz Israel and the need for trained immigrants, and his words filled the hearts of the people with enthusiasm about their historical role in building the nation.
In the spring of 1924, the Rogojeni farm was enlarged to 91 hectares with the money from closing the smaller farms in Leova and Capreshti. The animal farm had 10 horses, 8 cows, several calves, and a chicken coop. The farm had 60 trainees working on 16 hectares growing wheat, 2 hectares of rye, 10 hectares of flax, 5 hectares of oats, 5 hectares of beets, 2 hectares of potatoes, and 13 hectares used as hothouses for growing other vegetables. After Pessach, the remaining plots were sown with corn, beans, and lentils.[13] The He–Halutz Centre faced demands for more equipment and farm animals and had to supply funds accordingly.
[Page 201]
The Second Council was held in Kishinev on 20–23 of Kislev 5684 (November 28 to December 1, 1923) to discuss the training and the absorption of the halutzim in Eretz Israel. The Second Council decided to concentrate the training in fewer centres and only where there is an opportunity to purchase more land. It agreed that training should also be done in harness making, metalworking and carpentry for construction.
The Council discussed the situation of the groups upon their arrival in Eretz Israel. Because the situation on the ground did not allow the pioneers to continue in the same training spirit they were used to in Romania, the Council decided to postpone the immigration of the agricultural trainees until a better arrangement was found. The Council decided to negotiate with the agricultural centre in Eretz to find a suitable solution for the immigrants.[14] Other discussions touched on the work relationship between the female and male pioneers following a complaint from the women who worked in the kitchen. The women complained that they were treated as inferior to the male field workers. The Council decided to reinforce respect and equality in the workplace for all pioneers.
Very little material is available about the Third Congress. What is known is that it took place in Kishinev in Iyar 5684 (1924). The decisions made at the Third Congress reinforced the previous Congress and Council decisions such as:
[Page 202]
The following table illustrates the emigration from Romania in the spring of 5685 (1925).
| Period | No. of Groups |
Men | Women | Total | With a trade |
Without a trade |
| Until Spring 1922 | 10 | 784 | 198 | 982 | 465 | 517 |
| Spring 1922–Spring 1923 | 5 | 176 | 57 | 233 | 181 | 52 |
| Spring 1923–Spring 1924[17] | 5 | 128 | 31 | 159 | 140 | 19 |
| Spring 1924–Spring 1925[18] | 3 | 91 | 43 | 134 | 128 | 6 |
| Total | 23 | 1179 | 329 | 1508 | 914 | 594 |
Footnotes:
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