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The pogrom
which occurred in 1905 in Odessa was at
least the sixth pogrom that took place in
Odessa since 1821. The letter below is a
plea for help from the Jewish citizens of
Odessa (more specifically those Jews living
in the Peresyp District of Odessa).
The Peresyp (Perecipe)
District at one point was a separate town at
the outskirts of Odessa. Many Jews lived in
the Пересип,
due to the
restriction placed on Jews living within
large cities during the Pale of Settlement
period.
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A LETTER FROM
JACOB TENENHOLZ
Perecyp District, Odessa
(translated from the
original French version)
Jewish Colonization
Association 7 Jan 1906
Odessa
21/3 Jan 1906
To the Committee of Jewish Colonization Association
2, rue Pasquier, Paris
Sir!
The
Committee cannot ignore, undoubtedly, the appalling
anti-Israelite disorders in Russia and particularly the
sacrament(?) in Odessa. The district of Peresyp that we inhabit has been the scene of a
terrible carnage. Many were massacred and thousands are
reduced to the greatest misery.
Unfortunately we are not yet safe and may count each day
on new acts.... Among the Peresyp victims [there is] a
group of around a hundred families [who] have rallied to
help one another in a common goal for the purpose of
emigration.
Among them
there are all sorts of artisans and other working
people. There are also some who possess small amounts of
money, but most are impoverished and suffer horribly. At
least they prefer better to die than to receive some aid
in such a way that we [may] give them.
I am one
of a number of .... group(?) and the names of those
unfortunate... I beg you to give us any means to escape
our miserable patriotism.
We do not
see another way to save ourselves(?), that our small
children [may] flee this futile(?) land.
But alas!
We are helpless "froppis"! It is vain to expect anything
that is likely to improve our position in Russia, or
otherwise it gets worse and worse. Our condition becomes
alarming and we have no immediate relief. We can no
longer remain in Russia.
We have no
more strength. [Have] pity on us! We are accustomed to
work. Show us any place in the world where we can work
and live without fear.
[Let] us
help you. Please be assured our our.....cause.
Jakob Tenenholz
Address: Odessa Peresyp Russia/Bojokino(?)....17
Jakob Tenenholz.....
next:
List of All Union
Members and Their Families
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