EVERYDAY LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY. MULTICULTURAL FRIENDSHIP AND WELFARE

The Jewish community of Derazhne is one of the longest-lived because it traces back to the beginning of the 17th century.

According to researchers, the settlement of Jews occurred around 1614. The number of Jews was about 100 people at that time, which decreased significantly in the second half of the 18th century. It is possible that this was due to fires and epidemics that at that time arose as a result of the war between the Swedes and the haidamaks. During the 19th century, the number of Jews doubled, because gradually after the war, life began to get better. Jews frequently made up a half or even the majority of the population.

In 1804, the Tsarist government expanded the rights of Jewry, in particular, repealed the law of the Polish Sejm of 1778, which prohibited Jews from engaging in trade. Since then, they have received such an opportunity and have been included in the classes of merchants, burghers and landowners. As Jews were forbidden to settle in some cities, so they mostly settled in such towns as Derazhne. The result of favourable legislation for Jews was the formation of large Jewish communities in cities. Derazhne was not an exception. On the territory of the town, there were a Jewish school, a pharmacy and a synagogue. Unfortunately, no records about that were saved till now. Living sources in a face of old-timers also recall the stores that looked like crypts. Various crafts were concentrated in the hands of the Jews: wine trading, saltpetre production, fishing, baking.

Based on the stories of witnesses of the events, a quote of Serhii Yefremov comes to my mind: "...they live in close contact with the Ukrainian people. These are not even neighbours, like most other nations but one of the components of national structures on such a Ukrainian land itself."

The ability to communicate, hospitality, cordiality and successful commercialism helped Jews to gain a strong foothold in Derazhne. Usually Ukrainians perceived Jews as representatives of trade. Again, based on eyewitness accounts, we note that Jews are always characterised as wise, honest and hard-working people who treated Ukrainians with respect and friendliness.

Since the 1910s, Jewish youth parties and organizations began to form in Derazhne. One of Beitar's associations was founded in 1930 and was engaged in teaching Hebrew at school. thanks to the efforts of the district head of the Tarbut school in Volyn, in the summer of 1932 was created a committee establishing a Hebrew school. The Tarbut school worked during 1931-1939, moreover, there was also a Jewish library.

Locals point on the approximate location of the Hebrew school. It is a place near the ambulance station. However, Jewish children went to school with Ukrainians, but studied Hebrew in a house called the Hebrew school.

It is important to mention that there is no exact information about the location of the Jewish school in Derazhne. All information is taken exclusively from the stories of local residents.

Since Derazhne was annexed to the Soviet Union in September 1939, all Jewish organizations and institutions were liquidated accordingly. Anti-Semitism began to spread. And already in early August 1939, anti-Semites burned down 30 houses, primarily houses owned by poor Jewish people.

Text and chart: Kateryna Kryvko Translation: Solomiia Kotiai

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