United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Felix (Shraga) Librach was born in 1919 in Halle, Germany, to Avram (Abram/Adolf) Librach (1891-1941) and Gutta (Gitel/Gizela) Librach (1891-1942). He emigrated to Palestine in 1935 with Youth Aliyah, worked in agriculture on a kibbutz, and became a citizen in 1945. His German-born sister Sophie (1917- ?) also emigrated to Palestine with Youth Aliyah. Their brother Martin (1915-1965) was born in Łódź, active in socialist and Zionist groups in Germany, expelled into Poland in 1938, and emigrated to Palestine illegally in 1939. Avram and Gutta Librach were also expelled into Poland during the Polenaktion with Martin in October 1938 because they had been born in Widawa and Łódź before moving to Halle and never obtained German citizenship. Avram died in the Łódź ghetto in 1941, and Gutta was killed at Chełmno in 1942.
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The Felix Librach papers are arranged as five series: I. Biographical materials, 1935-1965, II. Correspondence, 1934-1965, III. Diaries and notes, 1934-1945, IV. Emigration and immigration, 1934-1945, V. Kibbutz Hulata, 1939-1958
The Felix Librach papers consist of biographical materials, correspondence, diaries and notes, emigration and immigration records, and kibbutz records documenting Felix, Martin, and Sophie Librach's emigration from Germany and Poland to Palestine in the 1930s, their lives in Palestine and Israel, their parents' experiences in Łódź, and Felix’s involvement with the kibbutz in Hulata. Biographical materials include identification papers for Felix Librach and obituaries for Martin Librach. Correspondence files primarily consist of letters and postcards from Martin Librach in Germany, Poland, Palestine, and Israel to Felix Librach in Palestine and Israel describing Martin’s health, emigration plans, and life in Israel and conveying greetings and news. Additional correspondence from friends in Germany, the Netherlands, Palestine, and Israel also conveys greetings and news. Diaries and notes include small diaries and notes by Felix Librach. Emigration and immigration records include correspondence and printed materials from German and Palestinian organizations aiding the Librachs with their emigration plans, a Palestine Department of Health form, Felix Librach’s Palestinian certificate of naturalization, tickets, a packing list, and an address list. Kibbutz Hulata materials include correspondence, notes, newsletters, and drafts of newsletters documenting Felix Librach’s involvement with the kibbutz in Hulata.
Felix Librach papers