Lot 256
Memoirs Handwritten by Avraham Kahana - Description of Pogroms against Ukrainian Jews, 1919
Memoirs handwritten by the scholar and author Avrham Kahana, describing pogroms again Ukrainian Jews during the month of October 1919. [Kiev? October 1919].
Six leaves written by hand, on which Avraham Kahana describes the pogroms against Jews which occurred during the Russian civil war. The events occurred during four days in the month of October 1919, apparently in Kiev (when the civil war broke out Kahana was appointed Professor in the Popular University in Kiev, and probably stayed in the city during the war).
Kahana recounts the White Army forces and the Bolsheviks, riots and murder of Jews in the city's streets and his attempts to hide from the rioters. Among other things, Kahana wrote: "Officer of the Dinikins [forces of the White Army commanded by Anton Dinikin] approached the house… and asked the person who stood at the door if he was Jewish or Christian. When he answered that he was a Jew he shot him…" (Hebrew). And further: "I decided that I have to leave my apartment and hide. I went out to the yard… All my neighbors are worried about me but all of them are afraid to hide me…".
[6] leaves (9 written pages), 21 cm. Fair condition. Tears and open tears (ink erosion), some affecting text.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
