Story Summary:
The Bobrka Benevolent Society was established by immigrants hailing from Bobrka, Ukraine. Initial Jewish settlement dates to roughly the 15th/16th century. Jewish population in Bobrka increased steadily until the 1890s. By the 1930s, however, due to the surrounding political and economic situation, many emigrated, with about 1800 Jews remaining in 1931. The Jewish community of Bobrka was well established, maintaining its synagogues, heders, Zionists organizations, and engaging as merchants in trade. The Jewish community became the target of attacks during WWI. Bobrka's Jewish community perished following the German invasion in 1941. In 1944, about 40 Jews returned. Their memories live on.
~Blog by Olivia Scanlon
Bobrka Benevolent Society Blog
The Bobrka Benevolent Society was established by immigrants hailing from Bóbrka (Bibrka, Boiberke), Ukraine. Initial Jewish settlement dates to roughly the 15th/16th century. The Jewish population of Bobrka steadily increased, with there being over 700 Jews in 1765, about 1770 in 1859 and over 2000 by the 1890s. This number had decreased by the 1930s due to the surrounding economic and political situation. By 1931, there were 1833 Jews in Bobrka.
In 1806, a Jewish-German school was established. The Great Synagogue was later built in 1821. Sometime during the 1890s, a Jewish cemetery was also established. Many in the Jewish community established themselves as merchants, engaging in the sale of tobacco, salt, and alcohol. By the 1880s, there was a mass exit from Bobrka. By 1908, a community of immigrants from Bobrka was functioning in New York. From 1906-1929, Benjamin Zeev Geller acted as the community’s rabbi. The community maintained in total, seven synagogues, four charities, and multiple heders. By the end of the 19th century, there existed numerous Zionists parties/organizations.
During the outbreak of WWI, soldiers belonging to the Russian Army burned down the community’s homes and synagogues. By 1920, many had begun to leave for Israel. During the Soviet occupation (1939-1941), all Jewish institutions and their organizations ceased. Subsequently, the economic situation for Jews worsened. The German invasion of Bobrka occurred on July 1 1941. The next day, a pogrom was carried out. Once German civil authority had been established, all Jews under the age of 14 were required to perform forced labor. Those from surrounding towns were resettled, bringing the total Jewish population of Bobrka to about 3000. A Judenrat was established on July 10, 1941, with its chairman being O. Miller.
On August 12, 1942, about 200 Jews were killed. Over 1200 were then deported to the Belzec extermination camp. A ghetto was established in Bobrka on December 1 1942. A week later, another pogrom took place, resulting in the capture and deportation of the community’s Jewish doctors, among others. By the time of its liquidation (April 13 1943), about 300 Jews remained, all of whom were transported to the Janowska concentration camp. They passed due to starvation and the epidemic. After the war, about 40 Jews returned to Bobrka.
https://sztetl.org.pl/en/towns/b/885-bibrka
https://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/bobrka/bob117.html#Page121
https://myshtetl.org/lvovskaja/bibrka_en.html
http://www.bibrka-rada.gov.ua/pro-misto/history-of-bibrka.html
~Blog by Olivia Scanlon
