Nine documents chronicling the lives of the Zionist activist Solomon Pechter, representative of Australian Jewry in the 10th Zionist Congress in Basel, and his adopted daughter Golda Joffe. Late 19th century to the first half of the 20th century. English, some Russian and French.
These documents and certificates enable to trace back a journey that started in Austria in the second half of the 19th century, passed through Australia in the early 20th century and ended tragically, shortly after the long-awaited immigration to Israel.
Solomon Pechter was born in Câmpulung, Bukovina, then part of the Austrian Empire, ca. 1858. In 1898 he was naturalized in the Australian state of New South Wales, in the city of Balmain (today, a suburb of Sidney). Pechter was a familiar figure in the Jewish-Australian community; an enthusiastic Zionist, he was one of the founders of the city's Zionist Society (1908), an active participant in the establishment of the Zionist Jewish community in Surry Hills, and the community's synagogue – the Central Synagogue (1913). In addition, Pechter represented Australian Zionists in the 10th Zionist Congress in Basel (1911).
Pechter founded a successful shoe-manufacturing company, and in addition to his Zionist activity, donated money to various Zionist causes. In 1920, he emigrated from Australia to Palestine. From there he sent reports to the Jewish-Australian Newspaper "The Hebrew Standard", describing the situation in the country, and praising its landscapes and inhabitants. In 1922, he sailed with his adopted daughter Golda Joffe to Vienna, where she would receive medical treatment, then still unavailable in Palestine. During their stay in Vienna Golda passed away. Pechter, who wanted his daughter to be buried in Palestine, took her body with him; however, on the journey back, he himself passed away on board the ship, presumably as a result of a cardiac event.
Before us are nine documents: • Pechter's naturalization certificate in New South Wales, Australia (1898). • Passport of New South Wales granted to Solomon Pechter (issued in 1911) with inscription and stamps (including Romanian and Ottoman stamps – presumably, the passport was used by Pechter on his journey to Europe to attend the Zionist Congress, during which he visited Palestine). • Three Share certificates of the Australian company Wilson Pechter & Co. belonging to Solomon and Rachel Pechter (1912). • Visa to the USA issued by the Russian Consulate in Melbourn granted to Golda Joffe, with her picture (1916, Russian and French). • Exit visa issued by the Australian authorities, granted to Golda Joffe, for a trip to Palestine; with her picture (1920; the document notes that Joffe is Pechter's adopted daughter; the British representative authorizes her immigration to Palestine, alongside her family). • Handwritten document confirming that Solomon and Golda's luggage was returned to Palestine after their passing, including an inventory of their suitcases' contents. Hand-signed by Rachel Solomon, and with additional signatures (1922). • Letter from a Sidney-based law firm to the lawyer Raphael Feinstein in Tel-Aviv: a notification of the liquidation of the majority of Pechter's assets in Australia (enclosed with the letter is a detailed list of the assets sold), and a request to send the money needed for Mrs. Pechter's (Solomon's wife Rachel) living expenses (1925).
9 documents. Size and condition vary.