My hometown is Katowice, Upper Silesia, with its own short but rich history. Founded by German industrialists in XIX century it was from the beginning pretty cosmopolitan city. The coal was already very important and Upper Silesia was one of the 3 most important industrial regions of Europe. Thus people were willing to come, seeking money, work and good fortune. The obvious ones were Germans, Poles and Czechs - the closest to Silesian history, but people were coming from afar and - for example - many Scottish families settled there (one of the most known are Baildons, builders and owners of a big smelting work).
The interesting moment in history (though, as it often happens, few could say so at the time) was 1884. In this year, to commemorate the 100th birthday of sir Moses Montefiore, one of the first benefactors of Jews in Eretz Israel, knighted for his acts by queen Victoria, 34 Jewish delegates from many European countries (mostly Russia and Germany, Poland at the time non-existent, but also Jewish communities from other countries were represented) met in Katowice (at the time called Kattowitz). Sir Montefiore was helping financially Jews in Eretz Israel (at the time the whole population of today's Israel was less than 350,000 and Jews were minority) and was a great propagator of returning there.
The delegates were involved in Hovevei Zion movement and were the first precursors of zionism. The conference took place 2 years after Rishon Le Zion - first settlement created by this movement - was born and during the wave of pogroms in Russia - some evidently state-aproved and financed.
Personally I must admit it is the card in my town's history I cherish and would like it to become more known.
No comments:
Post a Comment