Zelig Hirsch Kalmanovich (Latvian: Zēligs Hiršs Kalmanovičs) (1885–1944) was a LitvakJewish philologist, translator, historian, and community archivist of the early 20th century. He was a renowned scholar of Yiddish. In 1929 he settled in Vilnius where he became an early director of YIVO.
He was incarcerated in the Vilna Ghetto where he became an observant Jew. During his time in the ghetto, Kalmanovich kept a secret diary which is one of the few primary sources recording day-to-day life. His diary stressed the efforts of the community to retain their humanity in the face of oppression. For example, on October 11, 1942, he wrote the following entry in his diary:
On Simhat Torah eve at the invitation of the rabbi, I went for services in a house that had formerly been a synagogue and was now a music school ... I said a few words: 'Our song and dance are a form of worship. Our rejoicing is due to Him who decrees life and death. Here in the midst of this small congregation, in the poor and ruined synagogue, we are united with the whole house of Israel, not only with those who are here today ... And you in your rejoicing, atone for the sins of a generation that is perishing. I know that the Jewish people will live ... And every day the Holy One, blessed be He, in His mercy gives us a gift which we accept with joy and give thanks to His holy name.[1]
During the Nazi occupation, he was forced to work at the YIVO offices under Nazi supervision, sorting through the pillaged contents of Vilna's libraries and preparing selected volumes for shipment to Germany; these labourers, known as the Paper Brigade, managed to save a portion of these documents from destruction. He was sent to the Vaivara concentration camp in Estonia, where he died in 1944.
Worksedit
Translationsedit
Simon Dubnow. Algemeyne Idishe geshikhte: fun di eltste tsaytn biz der nayer tsayt. Vilnius: Historisher farlag, 1920. (Translation from German of Weltgeschichte des Jüdischen Volkes)
Max Brod. Di froy fun undzer beynkshaft: roman. Riga: Bikher far alemen, 1928. (Translation from German to Yiddish of Die Frau, nach der man sich sehnt.)
^As quoted in: Stephen Howard Garrin, "'But I forsook not thy precepts'" (Ps. 119:87): Spiritual Resistance to the Holocaust," in Jonathan C. Friedman (Ed.), The Routledge History of the Holocaust (pp. 337-347). London: Routledge, 2011. p. 340.
Kalmanovitch, Zelig. Yoman be-Getto Vilna u-Ketavim me-ha-Izavon she-Nimze’u ba-Harisot ("A Diary from the Ghetto in Nazi Vilna"). Tel Aviv, 1977.
Kassow, Samuel. Who Will Write Our History?: Emanuel Ringelblum, the Warsaw Ghetto, and the Oyneg Shabes Archive. Indiana Univ. Press, 2007.
External linksedit
Diary excerpts
November 17, 2023
zelig, kalmanovich, zelig, hirsch, kalmanovich, latvian, zēligs, hiršs, kalmanovičs, 1885, 1944, litvak, jewish, philologist, translator, historian, community, archivist, early, 20th, century, renowned, scholar, yiddish, 1929, settled, vilnius, where, became, . Zelig Hirsch Kalmanovich Latvian Zeligs Hirss Kalmanovics 1885 1944 was a Litvak Jewish philologist translator historian and community archivist of the early 20th century He was a renowned scholar of Yiddish In 1929 he settled in Vilnius where he became an early director of YIVO Zelig Hirsch KalmanovichBorn1885Kuldiga Russian Empire modern day Latvia Died1944Vaivara concentration camp Reichskommissariat Ostland modern day Estonia OccupationsPhilologisttranslatorhistorianKnown forDiary of daily life in the Vilna ghettoHe was incarcerated in the Vilna Ghetto where he became an observant Jew During his time in the ghetto Kalmanovich kept a secret diary which is one of the few primary sources recording day to day life His diary stressed the efforts of the community to retain their humanity in the face of oppression For example on October 11 1942 he wrote the following entry in his diary On Simhat Torah eve at the invitation of the rabbi I went for services in a house that had formerly been a synagogue and was now a music school I said a few words Our song and dance are a form of worship Our rejoicing is due to Him who decrees life and death Here in the midst of this small congregation in the poor and ruined synagogue we are united with the whole house of Israel not only with those who are here today And you in your rejoicing atone for the sins of a generation that is perishing I know that the Jewish people will live And every day the Holy One blessed be He in His mercy gives us a gift which we accept with joy and give thanks to His holy name 1 During the Nazi occupation he was forced to work at the YIVO offices under Nazi supervision sorting through the pillaged contents of Vilna s libraries and preparing selected volumes for shipment to Germany these labourers known as the Paper Brigade managed to save a portion of these documents from destruction He was sent to the Vaivara concentration camp in Estonia where he died in 1944 Works editTranslations edit Simon Dubnow Algemeyne Idishe geshikhte fun di eltste tsaytn biz der nayer tsayt Vilnius Historisher farlag 1920 Translation from German of Weltgeschichte des Judischen Volkes Jaroslav Hasek Der braver soldat Shveyk in der velt milkhome vols 1 2 Riga Bikher far alemen 1921 1928 Translation from Czech to Yiddish of Osudy dobreho vojaka Svejka za svetove valky Max Brod Di froy fun undzer beynkshaft roman Riga Bikher far alemen 1928 Translation from German to Yiddish of Die Frau nach der man sich sehnt See also editList of Holocaust diarists List of diarists List of posthumous publications of Holocaust victimsNotes edit As quoted in Stephen Howard Garrin But I forsook not thy precepts Ps 119 87 Spiritual Resistance to the Holocaust in Jonathan C Friedman Ed The Routledge History of the Holocaust pp 337 347 London Routledge 2011 p 340 References editDawidowicz Lucy S The War Against the Jews 1933 1945 Bantam 1986 Kalmanovitch Zelig Yoman be Getto Vilna u Ketavim me ha Izavon she Nimze u ba Harisot A Diary from the Ghetto in Nazi Vilna Tel Aviv 1977 Kassow Samuel Who Will Write Our History Emanuel Ringelblum the Warsaw Ghetto and the Oyneg Shabes Archive Indiana Univ Press 2007 External links editDiary excerpts Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zelig Kalmanovich amp oldid 1132612691, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
