Sotsyalistishe Kinder Farband
Encyclopedia
The Sotsyalistishe Kinder Farband ('Socialist Children's Union', S.K.I.F.) was founded in Eastern Europe as the youth organisation of the Jewish Labour Bund, a Jewish Socialist political party. S.K.I.F has three core ideological principles: Chavershaft (equality and empathy), Doikayt ("Being here", Jews should live, build their culture and struggle for their rights wherever they dwell, rather than seeking refuge in a Jewish homeland), and Yiddishkeit (Jewish identity through Jewish and Yiddish culture). The plural form of a SKIF member is Skifistn.
The S.K.I.F. in Poland is now defunct. Melbourne S.K.I.F established itself in 1950. Melbourne SKIF, is the last remaining SKIF branch, subsequently it is usually regarded as the SKIF organization itself. However, the SKIF in France didn't disappear, it only changed its name in 1963 and became the Club laïque de l’Enfance juive, CLEJ.
, Marek Edelman
had been a S.K.I.F. member, as were members of the Jewish Fighting Organization. They were Boruch Pelc and Jurek Błones. Other notable Polish Jewish members included the painter Yosl Bergner
, the RAF pilot Rubin Lifszyc and the organizer of children's theater for the poor in the Warsaw Ghetto
, Pola Lifszyc. Before World War II
, S.K.I.F. organized summer camps for children. Marek Edelman
, as a member of the organization, raised funds for playrooms for the children of the poor, in Warsaw
.
SKIF camps, there were enough campers to operate two separate camps.
The S.K.I.F. in Poland is now defunct. Melbourne S.K.I.F established itself in 1950. Melbourne SKIF, is the last remaining SKIF branch, subsequently it is usually regarded as the SKIF organization itself. However, the SKIF in France didn't disappear, it only changed its name in 1963 and became the Club laïque de l’Enfance juive, CLEJ.
S.K.I.F. in Poland
In Interwar Poland and in Occupied Poland, various members of the Jewish Resistance were or had been associated with S.K.I.F. One of the leaders of the Warsaw Ghetto UprisingWarsaw Ghetto Uprising
The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising was the Jewish resistance that arose within the Warsaw Ghetto in German occupied Poland during World War II, and which opposed Nazi Germany's effort to transport the remaining ghetto population to Treblinka extermination camp....
, Marek Edelman
Marek Edelman
Marek Edelman was a Jewish-Polish political and social activist and cardiologist.Before World War II, he was a General Jewish Labour Bund activist. During the war he co-founded the Jewish Combat Organization. He took part in the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, becoming its leader after the death of...
had been a S.K.I.F. member, as were members of the Jewish Fighting Organization. They were Boruch Pelc and Jurek Błones. Other notable Polish Jewish members included the painter Yosl Bergner
Yosl Bergner
Yosl Bergner is an Israeli painter.-Biography:Yosl Bergner was born in Vienna in 1920 and grew up in Warsaw.With rampant anti-Semitism in Europe, the Freeland League for Jewish Territorial Colonisation was formed in July 1935, to search for a potential Jewish homeland...
, the RAF pilot Rubin Lifszyc and the organizer of children's theater for the poor in the Warsaw Ghetto
Warsaw Ghetto
The Warsaw Ghetto was the largest of all Jewish Ghettos in Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II. It was established in the Polish capital between October and November 15, 1940, in the territory of General Government of the German-occupied Poland, with over 400,000 Jews from the vicinity...
, Pola Lifszyc. Before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, S.K.I.F. organized summer camps for children. Marek Edelman
Marek Edelman
Marek Edelman was a Jewish-Polish political and social activist and cardiologist.Before World War II, he was a General Jewish Labour Bund activist. During the war he co-founded the Jewish Combat Organization. He took part in the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, becoming its leader after the death of...
, as a member of the organization, raised funds for playrooms for the children of the poor, in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
.
History of Melbourne S.K.I.F.
The S.K.I.F. in Melbourne, Australia was established in 1950. The first five children held weekly "Sunday meetings". After the third year of MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
SKIF camps, there were enough campers to operate two separate camps.