Based on materials from the Latvian Press
The Latvian Jewish Courier Vol. 39, Issue 1 – August 2025
On February 26, the Academic Library of the University of Latvia hosted a presentation of the book Prominent Latvian Jews in the USA. The book brings together portraits and life stories of Jewish figures born in Latvia who later emigrated to America and became a source of pride for Latvian Jewry (two of the individuals featured in the book were born elsewhere, but later moved to Latvia).
The book was prepared for publication and released by Jumava Publishing House with the recommendation and financial support of an initiative group of members from the Latvian Jewish Society, led by the society’s Deputy Chairman of the Board, Benjamin Kajem. In his speech at the presentation, he noted that the book does not claim to be an encyclopedia, but serves as an excellent portrait of the Jewish community, which, in the last century, was a visible and influential part of Latvian society. “We want to leave behind more than monuments or currency,” said Mr. Kajem, “and that is precisely why we actively supported the publication of this book”.
The director of the Jews in Latvia Museum, Ilya Lensky, emphasized the importance of the fact that the heroes of this book were born at different times in Latvia. What difficult life circumstances led them to leave Latvia is insignificant—whether fleeing the Holocaust or trying to escape Soviet persecution—and whether this happened in childhood or adulthood.
Historically, these individuals are part of Latvia. Via video conference, the book’s compiler (it is published in both Latvian and English), Ivar Brod, who currently lives in the United States, greeted those in attendance. He noted that back in 2003, the Latvian President’s Fund published a collection titled Outstanding Jews of Latvia, in which the idea was already voiced that it would be worthwhile to create a separate volume focused on notable Jews of Latvia who, at some point in their lives, chose to move to America.
The book vividly illustrates the contribution that Jews with roots in Latvian soil have made to global art, culture, science, and industry. Among the more than thirty individuals featured in the book are names such as jeans inventor Jacob Davis, sculptor Naum Aronson, painter Mark Rothko, renowned photographer Philippe Halsman, lawyer and philosopher Max Lazerson, VEF plant deputy director Alexander Maryasin, bridge engineer Leon Moisseiff, musician Sasha Semenov, ethnomusicologist Johanna Spector, historian and political scientist George Schwab, writer Pyotr Vail, linguist and founder of the YIVO Institute Max Weinreich, and many other outstanding individuals.
Speakers at the presentation included art historian Oyar Sparitis, former Latvian ambassador to the U.S. and Russia, Andris Teikmanis, and leaders of political parties. Also in Juris Visockis, head of Jumava Publishing, stated at the presentation, “This book clearly demonstrates the unique contribution of the Latvian Jewish community to global achievements. Unfortunately, in the 20th century, a very significant part of our nation—the Jewish community— perished as a result of the Holocaust. Today, this connection has been revived, and as a publisher, I am proud of our work on this project”. Based on materials from the Latvian press attendance were former Latvian presidents Andris Berzins and Egils Levits.
If you would like to purchase the book, please send a check for $25.00 payable to JSL to the address below and be sure to include your return address so we can mail the book to you.
c/o JSL, S. Gizunterman, 236 Butternut Drive, Wayne, NJ, 07470
