Wacław Wierzbieniec

In the Second Polish Republic, from the mid-1930s, manifestations of antisemitism became more and more pronounced, and were met with protest from Jewish people. The Union of Jews Participants of Combat for Polish Independence, functioning in 1929–1939, was one of the organizations that fiercely opposed antisemitism. It was the only combatant organization in Poland that represented a national minority. While intensely fighting against the manifestations of antisemitism that encompassed various aspects of life, they condemned antisemitic riots in cities, towns and in universities, while also declaring and manifesting their loyalty and commitment to Poland itself.

In the areas that became part of the Second Polish Republic, manifestations of antisemitism became more pronounced at the end of World War I and at the beginning of the interwar period. These manifestations often turned into acts of violence against Jews, as became apparent in many towns with Jewish populations. The Lviv pogrom on 22–23 November 1918 was particularly devastating. The Jewish Rescue Committee, established in Lviv at that time, was very active in providing help to the injured, determining the number of casualties and wounded, and in assessing the extent of material damage resulting from the robberies and acts of destruction, including arson. According to the findings of the Jewish Rescue Committee, 73 people died and 443 were wounded as a result of the pogrom. The estimated material damage amounted to 102,986,839 Kr,with a total of 13,375 people affected. The actions taken by the Jewish Rescue Committee to help the victims were extremely important and effective, but they did not fully satisfy the existing social needs.

Between the years 1918 and 1939, philanthropic associations played a major social role in L’viv, as did in other large Jewish communities in Central and Eastern Europe. The aim of this research paper is to present and discuss selected Jewish associations providing assistance to children, students in secular schools and youth studying at universities. It has to be pointed out that their high level of activity was an expression of the modernization processes taking place among the Jewish population and, clearly, the enhancement of these processes.