Category Archives: Zionism

Zvi Lipschitz, Zionist Martyr

Posted on February 27, 2020 by ACassel

By Ben-Moshe (Johannesburg) Originally published in the Keidaner Sick Benefit & Benevolent Society jubilee book, 1950.  Young Zvi Lipschitz hy’d [1], from Kfar Etzion, was a Keidaner landsman. He was born in 1919 in the town of Yasven (Josvainiai), near … Continue reading →

Posted in Interwar, Israel, Personalities, South Africa, Yizkor Book, Zionism | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Lilienblum’s Journey

Posted on February 27, 2020 by ACassel

Originally published in the “Hebrew Encyclopedia,” Vol. 21, p. 797.  Moshe Leib Lilienblum: born Keidan 1843, died Odessa 1910. He was an author and publicist, one of the founders of Hibbat Tzion (Lovers of Zion), and in his youth had … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Personalities, Pre-WWI, Yizkor Book, Zionism | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Avraham Tzoref, Zionist Pioneer

Posted on February 27, 2020 by ACassel

From the “Encyclopedia of the Builders and Pioneers of the Yishuv.”  Avraham Shlomo Zalman Tzoref: Born in Keidan, Lithuania on 1 Kislev, November 3, 1785 — or as he himself wrote later, in the year “TaKuM”[1], thereby hinting at his … Continue reading →

Posted in Emigrants, History, Israel, Religious, Yizkor Book, Zionism | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Town’s Special Character

Posted on February 27, 2020 by ACassel

By Daniel Ben-Nachum (Prochovnik). (Beit Zera, Israel) Based on their frequent descriptions in our literature, the towns and villages of Lithuania were apparently alike in appearance and character. The market square in the center, filled with noisy trade and bargaining, … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Memoir, Yizkor Book, Zionism | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Fire in the Town, 1914

Posted on February 27, 2020 by ACassel

By Yitzhak Wolpe, as told to David Wolpe First published in the 1950 anniversary book, Keidan Sick Benefit & Benevolent Society of Johannesburg. 1. It was 1914, late spring, just a week after the holiday of Shavuot. The air in … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Memoir, World War I, Yizkor Book, Zionism | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Library and Drama Club

Posted on February 26, 2020 by ACassel

By Haviva Rochin-Carmeli (Kfar Masaryk, Israel) I have locked inside me a few memories of a number of projects and classes within the cultural life of my town, Keidan. The first is the town library, from which most of the … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Interwar, Literature, Yizkor Book, Zionism | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Progymnasium in Keidan

Posted on February 26, 2020 by ACassel

By Dr. Mordechai Sochen (Minneapolis) The progymnasium [junior high school] was established in 1921. During its first year, about 40 students, aged approximately 13, enrolled. They all studied in one classroom. The teacher and first principal was Mr. Israel Magentza. … Continue reading →

Posted in Interwar, Yizkor Book, Zionism | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Schools in Keidan

Posted on February 26, 2020 by ACassel

By Zippora Kaplan The Jewish community in Lithuania was generally poor before World War I, but it was rich in spiritual matters and in the love of Torah. The vast majority of the Jewish people in Lithuania lived financially oppressed … Continue reading →

Posted in Emigrants, History, Interwar, Israel, Yizkor Book, Zionism | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Hechalutz Hatzair and Hapoel in Keidan

Posted on February 26, 2020 by ACassel

By Pesach Shlapobersky My memories of Hechalutz Hatzair in Keidan begin in 1926. In those days, while there were Scouts and Beitar branches, both of which attracted children and school youth, the working youth had no place for meetings or … Continue reading →

Posted in Interwar, Israel, Yizkor Book, Zionism | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Beitar in Keidan

Posted on February 26, 2020 by ACassel

By Gershon Shlapobersky It’s difficult to recall and write down events that took place 40 or more years ago. If only my friend, Yehuda Geben, may he rest in peace, who died in the prime of his life in Nahariya … Continue reading →

Posted in Interwar, Yizkor Book, Zionism | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment