Prison Uniform of Zvi Preigerzon (1900-1969), who was Accused of Zionist Activity and Sent to Gulag Labor Camps
USSR (Russia), 1950s
Cotton
Gift of the Zvi Preigerzon family, in commemoration of the author
Must Know
Preigerzon was an author and poet who wrote in hebrew – which was prohibited in the Soviet Union. In 1949 he was captured by the KGB and sentenced to 10 years of hard labor in Siberia. His writings, which were smuggled to the country and published under the pen name A. Tsefoni, have in recent years been translated into Russian to wide distribution and acclaim.
Zvi Ben Israel Preigerzon was born in Ukraine in 1900. As a scientist and an author, he was devoted to his people and to the hebrew language throughout his life. Born into a family with Zionist education, he wrote books in hebrew in secret in the Communist era. he painted, played the violin, sang, and wrote songs. In 1913, he was sent to Israel to study at the herzliya Gymnasium, but due to the outbreak of World War I while visiting his parents, he could not return to Israel, so, instead, he continued his studies at a Russian gymnasium in Odessa. In 1919, he travelled to Moscow to continue his studies at the Moscow Mining Academy as a chemist. he was a prominent scientist and a talented teacher. In 1927, he started to publish poems which were also published in literary journals in Israel. In 1934, the terror became more intense in the Sovet Union, so Preigerzon stopped publishing his work, but continued writing in hebrew in secret. In 1949, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison in Siberia, but was released in 1955. he returned to his scientific work and to writing in hebrew. he died in 1969, before being able to immigrate to Israel. His ashes were brought to Israel in 1970.
More Info
Zvi Ben Israel Preigerzon was born in Ukraine in 1900. His father was an educated Jew and as a Zionist he encouraged Zionist education and the love for Israel and the hebrew language in his son. Already from his childhood he had had many different talents: he sang well, played the violin, painted, and wrote songs. In 1913, he was sent to Israel to study at the herzliya Gymnasium, but due to the outbreak of World War I while visiting his parents, he could not return to Israel to continue his studies. he continued his studies at a Russian gymnasium in Odessa. he learnt to play the violin and in the evenings he went to the yeshiva. In 1919, he travelled to Moscow to continue his studies at the Moscow Mining Academy as a chemist. Over time, he became one of the greatest experts on improving the quality of coal. he was a prominent scientist and a talented teacher. Throughout his lifetime, he persevered in his devotion and love to his people and the hebrew language. Zionism took the place of religion in his life and he joined the organisation “Zeire Zion”. When the revolution broke out in 1917, he was torn between his loyalty to Zionism and his belief in Communism. In 1927, he began to publish poems. His poems were published in literary journals in Israel. he published his work at the important platforms of the period (for example in journals like HaOlam, HaDoar, HaTkufa, hedim, Davar, or Gilyonot) In 1934, the terror became more intense in the Soviet Union, so Freigerson stopped publishing his work, but continued writing in hebrew in secret. From then on, his life was divided into two: outwardly, he was a successful Russian scientist, used the name Grigory Izraelovich, and published studies on how to refine coal, while secretly he was a hebrew writer. he became more active at the end of World War II and started to write short stories and novels, for example “When the Menorah Fades”. During this period, he joined a group of hebrew writers, who survived in the Soviet Union. An undercover agent of the KGB joined this group and convinced Preigerzon and his fellows to send some of their work to Israel in order to incriminate them. All group members, including Preigerzon, were arrested. In 1949, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison in Siberia. In 1955, he was released and he returned to his scientific work and to writing in hebrew. When he retired, he spent his free time in the library leaning on hebrew books, in which he invested all his time and soul. he died in 1969, before being able to immigrate to Israel. His ashes were brought to Israel and laid to rest in Shefayim in June 1970. His wife and children immigrated to Israel and brought his literary legacy to the Kipp Center for hebrew Literature and Culture at Tel Aviv University. he was the last writer in the Soviet Union who continued publishing in hebrew. His works are an authentic literary and historical documentation of the demise of hebrew culture during the time of the Soviet regime. he described the tragedy of those Jews who supported Communism and believed that they alongside could maintain a Jewish character. Yet, his works also express optimism and love to any human being among its writings. The novel “When the Menorah Fades” was published in 1966, originally under the pen name “The Eternal Flame”. In 1976, his memoirs from the concentration camps were published. After his death, his stories were collected and published in the book “The Sufferings of Shem” (1985). From his legacy, a selection of poems and his unfinished novel “Doctors” were published in the book “The Unfinished Story” (1991). In 2012, his memoirs from the concentration camps were published in the annotated academic edition “Mahaseger”, a diary of memoirs from the imprisonment in the Soviet Union. In 2008, a street named after him was inaugurated in a solemn ceremony in Tel Aviv where also the mayor participated.
