By staff
Title: Jewish Interwar Periodical in Poland, Polish language, 1918-1939
Predominant Dates:1918 -- 1939
ID: RG-18.03/RG-18.03
Primary Creator: Editorial boards and contributors (1918 -- 1939)
Extent: 4.0 Boxes
Arrangement:
Materials are arranged by subject/creator, then by identifier, as assigned by the processor
Newspapers are arranged chronologically in the array of collections as assigned by the processor
Subjects: Assassination attempt on the life of Stanislaw Wojcechowski, President of Poland, September 1924, Assassination of Symon Petliura, Paris, 1926, Assimilation and acculturation in Eastern Galicia, 1918 --1939, Bottwin (Botwin), Naftali, Chwila, newspaper, Jewish (Polish), Communist Party of Western Ukraine (KPZU), 1923 -- 1939, Dawid Schreiber, lawyer, public figure, member of Polish parliament, contributor to Chwila, Eastern Galicia (Poland: Region), Eastern Galician Zionist Organization, 1918 --1939, Emil Sommerstein, lawyer, member of Polish parliament, philosopher, contributor to Chwila, Interwar Poland, Jewish -- Polish relations in interwar Poland, Jewish -- Ukrainian relation in interwar Poland, Jewish Community of Lwow (Lviv), interwar Poland, Jewish Life in Interwar Poland and Ukraine, Jewish literary publication, Eastern Galicia, 1918 --1939, Jewish national minority in interwar Poland, Jewish Orthodoxy as a political representation, Eastern Galicia, 1918 -- 1939, Jewish parliamentary representation in the Sejm (Polish Parliament), 1918 -- 1939, Jewish political publications, Eastern Galicia, 1918 --1939, Jewish political spectrum in interwar Eastern Galicia, Jewish politics in interwar Poland, Jewish Popular Party (Folkists) in Poland, 1918 --1939, Jewish Social-Democratic party (BUND) in Eastern Galicia, 1918 --1939, Jewish social and cultural publications, Eastern Galicia, 1918 --1939, Jewish writers of interwar time, Poland, Juliusz Wurzel, lawyer, senator of Poland, publicist, contributor to Chwila, Leon Reich, Polish-Jewish politician, Chairman of East Galician Zionist Organization, Member of Sejm, Lviv (Ukraine), Lwow (Poland), Maurycy Szymel, poet, publicist in Yiddish, contributor to Chwila, Minority Affairs in interwar Poland, National minorities, Ukrainian, Numerus Clausus, a quota reducing admission of Jewish students to Universities, Poland, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), Periodicals, Jewish, Poland in interwar period, 1918 -- 1939, Polish Parliamentary Elections, 1919 -- 1939, Polish Socialist Party (PPS), 1918 --1939, Reflections of Jewish political and social life in interwar Poland, 1918 -- 1919, Relations between Jewish parliamentary representation and Polish state, School, Jewish, interwar Poland, Steiger, Stanislaw, Steiger Affair and Trial, 1924 -- 1925, Teofil Olshanskij, member of the Ukrainian Military Organization, a militant, Ugoda (the Agreement), Jewish -- Polish Agreement, July 1925, Ukrainian - Polish relations in the Second World War, 1939 -- 1945, Ukrainian Military Organization (Ukrainska Organizacja Vojskova, UVO), Ukrainian – Polish War in Galicia, 1918 – 1919, West Ukrainian National Republic, 1918 -- 1923
Forms of Material: Eastern Galicia (Ukraine: Region)
Languages: Polish
Chwila (Moment), Jewish daily edition in Lviv from 1919-1939. Published in Polish.
Chwila, an acclaimed professional publication of moderate Zionist orientation, reported international and domestic affairs with a special emphasis on Jewish political and socio-economic life in Galicia and Poland. It also reflected on Jewish-Polish and Jewish-Ukrainian relations. It was read all over Poland by Jews and non-Jews. A cohort of the talented Jewish writers, journalists, and public figures debuted on its pages.
In comparison with the above listed editions, Chwila is most fully represented in our Archive.
Archive has daily publications from 1919-1928, 1930, 1935, and 1939.
Prominent Jewish-Polish political, public and societal figures were associated with Chwila. The circle comprising the editorial board and permanent contributors include Jewish politicians, literati, public figures and professionals. Chwila gained the reputation of highly professional and well balanced publication oriented to the Jewish National Cause.
Jewish national intelligentsia, largely professionals and men and women of liberal professions made Chwila a high-class Jewish-Polish periodical read not only by Jewish circles but also by Polish and Ukrainian readership.
Devoted protagonist of National Jewish Cause and talented literati constituted the core of the authorship. They were Leon Reich, Henryk Hescheles, Henryk Adler, Leon Weinstock, Fiszel Rotenstreich, Emil Sommerstein, Ignacy Schwarzbart, Adolf Rothfeid, Emil Schmorak, Ludwik Mund, Juliusz Worzel, Bernard Singel and Ezriel Carlebach.
A new generation of Polish-Jewish modernist writers published narratives on the pages of Chwila. Most of these names would later constitute the core of the new Polish literature. Here they are: Debora Vogel, Artur Sandauer, Chaim Loew, Pinchas Kon, Jehuda Warszawiak, Leon Gutman, Rachela Auerbachowna.
Editorial Board and Contributors largely represented the course of the Eastern Galicain Zionist Organization. Its leadership regarded a coperation, if not a political union, with the Ukrainian national movement in Eastern Galicia as one of its priorities.
The East Galician Zionist Organization and Chwila as its official publication were perhaps the only political establishments in Jewish society of Poland that endorsed the neutrality in Polish-Ukrainian military conflict over Eastern Galicia with persistent neutrality. In the Polish-dominated political milieu and under the factual governance of Polish military and civil authority, the Zionist endorsed political and military neutrality definitively translates in to anti-Polish and pro-Ukrainian stand or in other words a commitment to the right of nations to self-determination.
In the course on the interwar period, Chwila was taking an independent position in relation to the existential political and social developments in Eastern Galicia, Poland and international affairs.
The periodical covered extensively and in its own political and journalistic terms the Polish-Ukrainian war over Eastern Galicia, the Steiger Trial (1924 – 1925), the assassination of Simon Petliura (May 1925); the Polish-Jewish Rapprochement known as Uguoda (the Agreement); election campaigns to Polish Sejm (Parliament) and the Senate; the activities of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists; ethno-national tensions in Poland, the role and perspective of the new course in Polish politics known as Sanation; antisemitic tendencies in the politics of Polish governments, the economic setbacks and the increase of poverty of Jewish population; the rise of National Socialism in Germany and subsequent rise of autheritarism of Polish central and regional authorities and the inevitable advent of the war with Nazi Germany – to name just the major themes in the publications.
Like other Polish Jewish publications, Chwila criticized radical assimilation, supported Jewish national revival, and called for the building of a Jewish state in Palestine. At the same time, it stressed the value of contributions to Polish culture made by assimilated Jews. One of its recurring themes was the situation in higher education, reflecting the concerns of Jewish students at the University of Lwów, and the question of the numerus clausus (enrollment quotas).
The paper devoted more attention than other dailies to local and regional issues (e.g., it had a column titled “Z gminy żydowskiej” [From the Jewish Community]) and featured regular news about communities in the smaller southeastern towns (Chwila Drohobycka and Chwila Tarnopolska [Drohobycz and Tarnopol Chwila, respectively]). This local focus also reflected Chwila’s interest in Galician Jewish culture; it featured articles about the region’s towns, luminaries, and Jewish writers.
Assassination attempt on the life of Stanislaw Wojcechowski, President of Poland, September 1924
Assassination of Symon Petliura, Paris, 1926
Assimilation and acculturation in Eastern Galicia, 1918 --1939
Bottwin (Botwin), Naftali
Chwila, newspaper, Jewish (Polish)
Communist Party of Western Ukraine (KPZU), 1923 -- 1939
Dawid Schreiber, lawyer, public figure, member of Polish parliament, contributor to Chwila
Eastern Galicia (Poland: Region)
Eastern Galician Zionist Organization, 1918 --1939
Emil Sommerstein, lawyer, member of Polish parliament, philosopher, contributor to Chwila
Interwar Poland
Jewish -- Polish relations in interwar Poland
Jewish -- Ukrainian relation in interwar Poland
Jewish Community of Lwow (Lviv), interwar Poland
Jewish Life in Interwar Poland and Ukraine
Jewish literary publication, Eastern Galicia, 1918 --1939
Jewish national minority in interwar Poland
Jewish Orthodoxy as a political representation, Eastern Galicia, 1918 -- 1939
Jewish parliamentary representation in the Sejm (Polish Parliament), 1918 -- 1939
Jewish political publications, Eastern Galicia, 1918 --1939
Jewish political spectrum in interwar Eastern Galicia
Jewish politics in interwar Poland
Jewish Popular Party (Folkists) in Poland, 1918 --1939
Jewish Social-Democratic party (BUND) in Eastern Galicia, 1918 --1939
Jewish social and cultural publications, Eastern Galicia, 1918 --1939
Jewish writers of interwar time, Poland
Juliusz Wurzel, lawyer, senator of Poland, publicist, contributor to Chwila
Leon Reich, Polish-Jewish politician, Chairman of East Galician Zionist Organization, Member of Sejm
Lviv (Ukraine)
Lwow (Poland)
Maurycy Szymel, poet, publicist in Yiddish, contributor to Chwila
Minority Affairs in interwar Poland
National minorities, Ukrainian
Numerus Clausus, a quota reducing admission of Jewish students to Universities, Poland
Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN)
Periodicals, Jewish
Poland in interwar period, 1918 -- 1939
Polish Parliamentary Elections, 1919 -- 1939
Polish Socialist Party (PPS), 1918 --1939
Reflections of Jewish political and social life in interwar Poland, 1918 -- 1919
Relations between Jewish parliamentary representation and Polish state
School, Jewish, interwar Poland
Steiger, Stanislaw
Steiger Affair and Trial, 1924 -- 1925
Teofil Olshanskij, member of the Ukrainian Military Organization, a militant
Ugoda (the Agreement), Jewish -- Polish Agreement, July 1925
Ukrainian - Polish relations in the Second World War, 1939 -- 1945
Ukrainian Military Organization (Ukrainska Organizacja Vojskova, UVO)
Ukrainian – Polish War in Galicia, 1918 – 1919
West Ukrainian National Republic, 1918 -- 1923
Repository: Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust
Access Restrictions:
No restrictions
Copyrighted materials, credits to and references to the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust are required
Digital copies might be available upon request
This was the first year of publicaiton of the Jewish daily Chwila in Lwow (Lviv). Its editorial board and contributing authors largely oriented in national Jewish terms (Zionists) set up a course and a style for this newspaper. The periodical by the means of editorial articles and analytical publications was to serve as a voice of Jewish national minority in Eastern Galicia and in Poland. A general course of Chwila combined a two-folded mission, namely to serve and protect civil, political, economic, cultural and religious rights of Jews in Eastern Galicia as a recognized national minority and promote nation-building in Palestine as a eventual solution of Jewish question in Diaspora.
Archive has the following issues:
RG-18.03.01, Chwila, January-December 1919
RG-18.03.01.01, Chwila, January 10, 1919, No. 1
RG-18.03.01.02, Chwila, January 12, 1919, No. 2
RG-18.03.01.03, Chwila, January 19, 1919, No. 8
RG-18.03.01.04, Chwila, January 23, 1919, No. 11
RG-18.03.01.05, Chwila, January 28, 1919, No. 15
RG-18.03.01.06, Chwila, January 29, 1919, No. 16
RG-18.03.01.07, Chwila, January 30, 1919, No. 17
RG-18.03.01.08, Chwila, January 31, 1919, No. 18
RG-18.03.01.09, Chwila, February 2, 1919, No. 20
RG-18.03.01.10, Chwila, February 6, 1919, No. 23
RG-18.03.01.11, Chwila, February 7, 1919, No. 24
RG-18.03.01.12, Chwila, February 8, 1919, No. 25
RG-18.03.01.13, Chwila, February 9, 1919, No. 26
RG-18.03.01.14, Chwila, February 10, 1919, No. 27
RG-18.03.01.15, Chwila, February 11, 1919, No. 28
RG-18.03.01.16, Chwila, February 12, 1919, No. 29
RG-18.03.01.17, Chwila, February 13, 1919, No. 31
RG-18.03.01.18, Chwila, February 14, 1919, No. 32
RG-18.03.01.19, Chwila, February 15, 1919, No. 33
RG-18.03.01.20, Chwila, February 16, 1919, No. 34
RG-18.03.01.21, Chwila, February 17, 1919, No. 35
RG-18.03.01.22, Chwila, February 18, 1919, No. 36
RG-18.03.01.23, Chwila, February 19, 1919, No. 37
RG-18.03.01.24, Chwila, February 20, 1919, No. 38
RG-18.03.01.25, Chwila, February 21, 1919, No. 39
RG-18.03.01.26, Chwila, February 22, 1919, No. 40
RG-18.03.01.27, Chwila, February 23, 1919, No. 41
RG-18.03.01.28, Chwila, February 24, 1919, No. 42
RG-18.03.01.29, Chwila, February 25, 1919, No. 43
RG-18.03.01.30, Chwila, February 26, 1919, No. 44
RG-18.03.01.31, Chwila, February 27, 1919, No. 45
RG-18.03.01.32, Chwila, February 28, 1919, No. 46
RG-18.03.01.33, Chwila, March 1, 1919, No. 47
RG-18.03.01.34, Chwila, March 2, 1919, No. 48
RG-18.03.01.35, Chwila, March 3, 1919, No. 49
RG-18.03.01.36, Chwila, March 4, 1919, No. 50
RG-18.03.01.37, Chwila, March 5, 1919, No. 51
RG-18.03.01.38, Chwila, March 6, 1919, No. 52
RG-18.03.01.39, Chwila, March 7, 1919, No. 53
RG-18.03.01.40, Chwila, March 8, 1919, No. 54
RG-18.03.01.41, Chwila, March 9, 1919, No. 55
RG-18.03.01.42, Chwila, March 10, 1919, No. 56
RG-18.03.01.43, Chwila, March 11, 1919, No. 57
RG-18.03.01.44, Chwila, March 12, 1919, No. 58
RG-18.03.01.45, Chwila, March 13, 1919, No. 59
RG-18.03.01.46, Chwila, March 14, 1919, No. 60
RG-18.03.01.47, Chwila, March 15, 1919, No. 61
RG-18.03.01.48, Chwila, March 16, 1919, No. 62
RG-18.03.01.49, Chwila, March 17, 1919, No. 63
RG-18.03.01.50, Chwila, March 18, 1919, No. 64
RG-18.03.01.51, Chwila, March 19, 1919, No. 65
RG-18.03.01.52, Chwila, March 20, 1919, No. 66
RG-18.03.01.53, Chwila, March 21, 1919, No. 67
RG-18.03.01.54, Chwila, March 22, 1919, No. 68
RG-18.03.01.55, Chwila, March 23, 1919, No. 69
RG-18.03.01.56, Chwila, March 24, 1919, No. 70
RG-18.03.01.57, Chwila, March 25, 1919, No. 71
RG-18.03.01.58, Chwila, March 26, 1919, No. 72
RG-18.03.01.59, Chwila, March 27, 1919, No. 73
RG-18.03.01.60, Chwila, March 28, 1919, No. 74
RG-18.03.01.61, Chwila, March 29, 1919, No. 75
RG-18.03.01.62, Chwila, March 30, 1919, No. 76
RG-18.03.01.63, Chwila, March 31, 1919, No. 77
RG-18.03.01.64, Chwila, April 1, 1919, No. 78
RG-18.03.01.65, Chwila, April 2, 1919, No. 79
RG-18.03.01.66, Chwila, April 3, 1919, No. 80
RG-18.03.01.67, Chwila, April 4, 1919, No. 81
RG-18.03.01.68, Chwila, April 5, 1919, No. 82
RG-18.03.01.69, Chwila, April 6, 1919, No. 83
RG-18.03.01.70, Chwila, April 7, 1919, No. 84
RG-18.03.01.71, Chwila, April 8, 1919, No. 85
RG-18.03.01.72, Chwila, April 9, 1919, No. 86
RG-18.03.01.73, Chwila, April 10, 1919, No. 87
RG-18.03.01.74, Chwila, April 11, 1919, No. 88
RG-18.03.01.75, Chwila, April 12, 1919, No. 89
RG-18.03.01.76, Chwila, April 13, 1919, No. 90
RG-18.03.01.77, Chwila, April 14, 1919, No. 91
RG-18.03.01.78, Chwila, April 15, 1919, No. 92
RG-18.03.01.79, Chwila, April 16, 1919, No. 93
RG-18.03.01.80, Chwila, April 17, 1919, No. 94
RG-18.03.01.81, Chwila, April 18, 1919, No. 95
RG-18.03.01.82, Chwila, April 19, 1919, No. 96
RG-18.03.01.83, Chwila, April 21, 1919, No. 97
RG-18.03.01.84, Chwila, April 22, 1919, No. 98
RG-18.03.01.85, Chwila, April 23, 1919, No. 99
RG-18.03.01.86, Chwila, April 24, 1919, No. 100
RG-18.03.01.87, Chwila, April 25, 1919, No. 101
RG-18.03.01.88, Chwila, April 26, 1919, No. 102
RG-18.03.01.89, Chwila, April 27, 1919, No. 103
RG-18.03.01.90, Chwila, April 28, 1919, No. 104
RG-18.03.01.91, Chwila, April 29, 1919, No. 105
RG-18.03.01.92, Chwila, April 30, 1919, No. 106
RG-18.03.01.93, Chwila, May 1, 1919, No. 107
RG-18.03.01.94, Chwila, May 3, 1919, No. 108
RG-18.03.01.95, Chwila, May 4, 1919, No. 109
RG-18.03.01.96, Chwila, May 5, 1919, No. 110
RG-18.03.01.97, Chwila, May 6, 1919, No. 111
RG-18.03.01.98, Chwila, May 7, 1919, No. 112
RG-18.03.01.99, Chwila, May 8, 1919, No. 113
RG-18.03.01.100, Chwila, May 10, 1919, No. 114
RG-18.03.01.101, Chwila, May 11, 1919, No. 115
RG-18.03.01.102, Chwila, May 15, 1919, No. 120
RG-18.03.01.103, Chwila, May 16, 1919, No. 121
RG-18.03.01.104, Chwila, May 18, 1919, No. 122
RG-18.03.01.105, Chwila, May 21, 1919, No. 123
RG-18.03.01.106, Chwila, May 22, 1919, No. 127
RG-18.03.01.107, Chwila, May 25, 1919, No. 130
RG-18.03.01.108, Chwila, May 27, 1919, No. 132
RG-18.03.01.109, Chwila, May 31, 1919, No. 133
RG-18.03.01.110, Chwila, June 1, 1919, No. 137
RG-18.03.01.111, Chwila, June 3, 1919, No. 139
RG-18.03.01.112, Chwila, June 4, 1919, No. 140
RG-18.03.01.113, Chwila, June 5, 1919, No. 141
RG-18.03.01.114, Chwila, June 6, 1919, No. 142
RG-18.03.01.115, Chwila, June 7, 1919, No. 143
RG-18.03.01.116, Chwila, June 8, 1919, No. 144
RG-18.03.01.117, Chwila, June 9, 1919, No. 145
RG-18.03.01.118, Chwila, June 10, 1919, No. 146
RG-18.03.01.119, Chwila, June 11, 1919, No. 147
RG-18.03.01.120, Chwila, June 12, 1919, No. 148
RG-18.03.01.121, Chwila, June 13, 1919, No. 149
RG-18.03.01.122, Chwila, June 14, 1919, No. 150
RG-18.03.01.123, Chwila, June 15, 1919, No. 151
RG-18.03.01.124, Chwila, June 16, 1919, No. 152
RG-18.03.01.125, Chwila, June 17, 1919, No. 153
RG-18.03.01.126, Chwila, June 18, 1919, No. 154
RG-18.03.01.127, Chwila, June 22, 1919, No. 158
RG-18.03.01.128, Chwila, June 23, 1919, No. 159
RG-18.03.01.129, Chwila, June 25, 1919, No. 161
RG-18.03.01.130, Chwila, June 27, 1919, No. 163
RG-18.03.01.131, Chwila, June 29, 1919, No. 165
RG-18.03.01.132, Chwila, June 30, 1919, No. 166
RG-18.03.01.133, Chwila, July 1, 1919, No. 167
RG-18.03.01.134, Chwila, July 5, 1919, No. 171
RG-18.03.01.135, Chwila, July 15, 1919, No. 181
RG-18.03.01.136, Chwila, July 22, 1919, No. 188
RG-18.03.01.137, Chwila, August 29, 1919, No. 226
RG-18.03.01.138, Chwila, August 30, 1919, No. 227
RG-18.03.01.139, Chwila, August 31, 1919, No. 228
RG-18.03.01.140, Chwila, September 2, 1919, No. 230
RG-18.03.01.141, Chwila, September 6, 1919, No. 234
RG-18.03.01.142, Chwila, September 8, 1919, No. 236
RG-18.03.01.143, Chwila, October 8, 1919, No. 273
RG-18.03.01.144, Chwila, October 21, 1919, No. 276
RG-18.03.01.145, Chwila, November 26, 1919, No. 312
RG-18.03.01.146, Chwila, December 4, 1919, No. 320
RG-18.03.01.147, Chwila, December 16, 1919, No. 332
RG-18.03.01.148, Chwila, December 30, 1919, No. 344
Editorial article discusses the theme of Jewish military formation, the Jewish legions, fought in the British Army. It is inevitable for the forthcoming national Jewish state to have the arme forces of its own. In Diaspora, and in specifically in Poland, Jewish military formation are not welcome by especially by the Polish Far Right. In Palestine, although under the British mandate, creation of the Jewish military is a necessity given the tense relations between Jewish and Arab settlers and the very nature of Jewish National Home in Palestine.
On the other matters, the newspaper reflecte on the election campaigns in to the Polish Constituent Assembly and on East and Central European geopolitical situation.
Editorial article analyzes and discusses the situation of Jews in Poland in 1919, when anti-Jewish mood fueled by political antisemitism posed a danger for Jews in many regions of Poland. The article entitled "Of the Justice for Jews," paraphrased the an official concept announced by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Wojcechowski, " In free Poland there shall be no place for injustice, violence and self-imposed bad will." The article regrets about the disparity between the proclaimed goals and the rise of antisemitism and violation of Jewish civil, religious, economic and political rights in Poland.
It appeals that "The only guarantee of safety for those who are weak is the belief in justice of those who are strong," meaning Polish authorities.
Editorial article resents anti-Jewish and anti-Zionist publications often appeared in Polish far-right periodicals. Polish periodicals of National-Democratic orientation (Endecja) championed in anti-Jewish campaign, criticizing Jews for lack of patriotism, deficiency of Polishness and overall in siding with the enemies of Poland.
The article in Chwila emphasized the principles of Zionism are not in dissonance with Polish statehood. Zionism, as a national Jewish movement, seeks implementation of Jewish national rights in Poland and eventually in building of a Jewish state in Palestine.
Editorial article declares the guiding principles of Chwila (the Moment) as a tribune to voice concerns and goals of Jewish society in Eastern Galicia in particular and in Poland in general.
It also clarify and disproof the accusations of un-patriotism from the Polish far right and centrist periodicals in Lviv (Lwow)
Editorial article, entitled Suum Cuique (To each his own), endorses integration of the Jews into Polish society as citizens endowed with all civil rights. By exercising the equal civil rights as Poles, they shall embrace also the equal responsibility for the state. The article propagate a new type of a Jew of Polish origin. A Jew-Pole shall not be an ardent Polish assimilationist. A new meaning of the Jew-Pole lies in the so desired civil Polish nation, unifying ethnic, religious and cultural discrimination by the means of civic virtues.
The articles opens with the program statement: “cives Poloni, natione Judae.” Rephrasing the Latin definition of nationhood, it sounds like the Polish citizen of Jewish nationality (not denomination).
The article also emphasize the common good when citizens of a stat may re-interpret another glorious Latin definition: Civis romanus sum (I am a Roman citizen).
Editorial article follows up the yesterday’s interview with Professor Wladyslaw Grabski. The editorial board marks Professor Grabski’s recognition of the distinct Jewish community of 3 million people.
According to the editorial board of Chwila, the Jews in Poland aspire to equal citizenship and equal responsibilities. It is the prerogative and responsibility of the Polish State to ensure to the Jews equality in citizenship, as well as support of Jewish traditional culture, religion and education. Such dualism shall only serve for common good.
A program article investigates the allegations by Polish military authorities in Western Galicia (General Roja) for the formation of Jewish Militia. General Roja states that he banned any unauthorized Jewish military formation and allowed establishment of the Jewish units exclusively as part of Polish armed forces.
Representation of the Jewish Public Committee (also the Jewish Committee of Public Safety) clarified this issue by bringing force the official references of the Polish military authorities who at the earlier time approved of the formation and self-defense activity of the Jewish Militia.
Editorial article argues against the Polish constituent Sejm (parliament) position of not recognition to Jews in Poland the national rights as a distinct people. The Sejm, however, not unanimously prefers to regard Jews as a religious community.
Jewish national movement and the majority of non-Zionist parties are unanimous in the necessity for the common good of recognition to the Jews in Poland the rights of national minority, not a religious community. The assimilationist trend is also not a solution to the Jewish Question in Poland.
Editorial article exposes the largely negative attitude of Polish political spectrum to the Jewish population in Poland. The National – People’s Party (Zwiazek Ludowo-Narodowy or Endecja) regards Jews of Poland as unfortunate historic factor.
The far right Polish parties treat Jews as a non-patriotic and often anti-Polish entity.
The authors of this article state their optimism in eventual rapprochement between Jews and Polish society.
Editorial article reflects on the Polish parliamentary debates of the Jewish Question in Poland. These debates took the floor of the Polish Constituent Assembly in 1919.
Stanislaw Gabinski, representative of the National – Peoples Union (Zwiazek Ludowo-Narodowy, Endecja), a far right Polish nationalist party, came up with the initiative of the establishment of the parliamentary Commission in Jewish Question in Poland. This Commission should fifteen members of the Sejm and ten Jewish members of the Sejm who represent Jewish political spectrum in the Sejm.
Polish far right and nationalistic parties accused Polish Jews of bringing up the internal question of Polish-Jewish relations into the light of international community and specifically on to the Paris Peace Conference.
The Jewish members of the Sejm agreed to the establishment of a mixed Commission in Jewish Question, although with a reservation of the endowing this commission with right of law-making. Otherwise, a consultative commission, only collecting documents and suggesting recommendation would not show any efficacy.
Editorial article continues reflects on the parliamentary debates in relation to the Jewish Question in Poland.
The article reports on the speech of the parliamentarian from the Polish Socialist Party Rudzinski and the Jewish parliamentarian from Lodz, r. Rosenblatt.
Dr. Rosenblatt dismisses stereotypical and largely antisemitic anti-Jewish conception of parliamentarian Glabinksi from the National – People’s Union (Zwiazek Ludowo – Narodowy, Endecja). He also criticizes the assimilationist trend that instigate a false notion of non-existence of Jews as a nation in general and as a national minority in Poland. The assimilationist, which in the view of Dr. Rosenblatt is a minority, comprising Jewish intelligentsia, regard Jews as the Poles of Jewish descent.
Editorial article reports on the discussion held in the Polish Constituent Assembly with regard to the Jewish Question in Poland.
Dr. Herman Diamand, Jewish parliamentarian representing a working district of Lwow (Lviv), although rather an assimilationist, supports the establishment of the parliamentary commission in Jewish Question. He states that Jewish assimilation in to Polish culture is not decreasing, oppositely it remains a significant trend in Jewish society, especially in Eastern Galicia.
He also indicates that a distorted economic structure of Jewish society has been inherited from the past and it does reflect all the restrictions imposed on Jewish emancipation in the partitioned territories of Poland, as well as in the independent Poland. In his opinion, a normal manual labor and the productive professions shall become a normality for Jewish society in Poland.
Noach Prylucki, folkist, a Jewish parliamentarian, states that the Jewish Question as an issue was not only the result of the politics conducted by the partitioning states by to a significant degree it has emanated from the antiseptic politics of the Polish National-Democracy (National – Democratic Union or Zwiazek Ludowo – Narodowy, Endecja).
He argues that Jewish cultural-personal autonomy in Poland does not imply the anti-state cause, oppositely it implies Jewish loyalty to the Polish statehood and uplifting of Polish-Jewish relation to a new, beneficial for both sides, level.
Editorial article reflects on antisemitic atrocities in Lwow (Lviv) in November 1918, known as the Lwow (Lviv) pogrom. It connects it with ongoing insinuations against Jews emitted from the camp of National-People’s Union (Zwiazek Ludowo-Narodowy, Endecja).
The new anti-Jewish atrocities took place in Upper Silesia, in Dabrowa. Once again the same 10th Regiment that entered Lwow (Lviv) on November 21, 1918 and allegedly met hostility from the Jews, acted against the Jews in Dabrowa.
The articles expresses the hope on the balanced and actions on the part of Polish authority who shall restore the order and justice.
Editorial Article exposes the hardship of the Jewish population in Lwow (Lviv) under the Polish – Ukrainian war. The Jews are falsely accused of profiteering, however, they are in the much more precarious position than the Christian population of the city.
The Jews do fulfil their duties for the city. They are, however, not treated equally and often abused by the Polish military and civil authority.
Editorial article analyzes historical and geopolitical nuances with regard the Polish-Ukrainian claims to Eastern Galicia.
In the last months of the disintegration of the Austrian administrative system, since the summer of 1918, both, Polish and Ukrainian proto-political entities laid their territorial claims to the lands of Eastern Galicia. Both, Polish and Ukrainian political and military establishments substantiated their political rights on Eastern Galicia.
With the political and administrative disintegration of Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, the Polish-Ukrainian long-lasting political, religious, economic and cultural tensions grew into a military conflict, first in Lwow (Lviv) and then spread over the territory of Eastern Galicia.
Ukrainian National Council seized power in Lwow (Lviv) on November 1, 1918 and proclaimed establishment of West Ukrainian National Republic in all ethnic Ukrainian territories that situated in the former borders of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. The Ukrainian National Council also all national and civil rights to the Jewish, Polish and German minorities. The certain number of the political seats were reserved in the new Ukrainian parliament – the Ukrainian National Council.
The leadership of the Jewish Community of Lwow (Lviv), realizing the imminent brake of the war between Ukrainian and Polish military forces, established the Rescue Committee and the Committee of Public Safety. These Committees on behalf of the entire Jewish population of the city declared Jewish neutrality in the Polish – Ukrainian military conflict.
Although, with no enthusiasm, the Jewish neutrality was accepted by both belligerent sides – Polish and Ukrainian. On the other hand, with the conflict continuation and becoming a full-scale war, the significance of which was recognized internationally, the Jewish neutrality was becoming a precarious cause. The Polish belligerent side in Eastern Galicia and the Polish state institutions would tend to regard the neutrality as a clandestine sympathy, if not the support, for the Ukrainian cause.
Editorial article discusses the introduction of the martial law in the Central Poland (the former Congress). Polish Government responded with the establishment of the martial law to the growing influence of the bolshevik propaganda and to the direct military threat from the Soviet Russia.
The article also relates to the occurrences when the Jewish population was often unlawfully accused with the support and sympathizing with the pro-Soviet organizations.
Editorial article criticizes the inequality and the abuse of civilian and political rights with regard to the Jewish population in Lwow (Lviv) and Eastern Galicia. The Jews became subjects for the compulsory labor. This administrative decision of the local authorities echoed a political retaliation related to the Jewish neutrality in the Polish – Ukrainian war. There were other measures, largely conceived against the Jews, as they were regarded not loyal Polish citizens. Two of these measures relate to the reservation with regard to Jewish-Polish lawyers and also a compulsory subscription to the governmental securities (a loan taken by the Polish state). These measures were officially approved by the First Polish Constituent Assembly and de jure became the law
The article underlines that these acts creates inequality and does not built citizenship.
Editorial article publishes an appeal issue by the representative of the American Relief Administration Mission to Poland, Captain Merian C. Cooper.
Captain Cooper appeals to introduce active measures for the sake of helping starving people of Lwow (Lviv). He especially emphasizes the precarious situation of the Jewish population in the city.
This appeal is written in the form of a letter addressed to Gerszon Zipper, Editor of Chwila.
Captain Cooper’s appeal of relief contains specific measures and actions to be taken for the sake of providing aid to the numerous people suffering from starvation in Lwow (Lviv), taken into the account the state of war between the Polish and Ukrainian forces around the city.
Editorial article compares and analyzes the milieu of the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 and the Brest armistice treaty between Germany and Austria-Hungary on one side and the Soviet Russia on the other. If the Paris peace conference is a diplomatic forum, the Brest armistice treaty in Brest was a German dictate, lacking any diplomatic forms and implemented with violation even of the German, initially provisioned protocol.
In April 1919, the German delegation is invited to Versailles, the seat of the Paris Peace Conference. The atmosphere here corresponds to the established diplomatic canons. The negotiations on the reparations are not going to be an easy and fast settlement.
