Abba Kovner by BRYANA VELEZ

Background Information

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Abba Kovner was born Sebastopol, Crimea in 1908. Abba was raised in Vilna, the prime center of Jewish learning in the seventeenth century where he also went to college at the University of Vilna to study the arts and he soon became interested in poetry. During his studies he became active in a group called Zionist youth movement HaShomer HaTzair. Abba Kovner and his wife Vitka Kempner married in 1946 and they soon moved to British Palestine where they also had two children. Abba died in 1987. One of Abba’s works, a manifesto named “Let us not go like lambs to the slaughter!”is most famous for revealing the German attack plan on the Jewish people to murder them all which soon encouraged Abba to take revenge. Abba was dedicated to taking accountability for the Jewish life and culture and was a major influence during WW2.

The Act of Resistance

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While Abba was living in Vilnius, Poland was invaded by the Soviet Union. Soon, two years later Nazi Germany then occupied Vilnius from the Soviets but Abba and some Jewish friends hid in a dominican convent and soon returned to the ghetto. Abba was influenced to take control and resist against Nazi Germany. By doing so he created FPO (United Partisan Organization). This group used sabotage and guerrilla warfare to coordinate armed resistance attacks against the Nazis and their allies. He also assisted in planning secret missions like bringing guns and food into the ghetto and offering shelter and assistance to Jews attempting to flee to death camps.

Impact

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Abba Kovner impacted many lives, especially Jewish lives. He showed many ways of responsibility, power, bravery and resistance that allow people now and in the time to be influenced. After the war, Abba became an advocate for Holocaust Survivors. He made sure the stories of the survivors and the ones who suffered/died would stay alive and never be forgotten. He wanted justice and so he testified in many trials, especially the Nuremberg trials to hold all Nazi’s accountable.

Abba Kovner's Famous Writing

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Quote From Abba Kovner

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"Jewish youth! Do not trust those who are trying to deceive you. Hitler plans to destroy all the Jews of Europe…We will not be led like sheep to the slaughter! True, we are weak and defenseless, but the only reply to the murderer is revolt! Brothers! Better to fall as free fighters than to live by the mercy of the murderers. Arise! Arise with your last breath!"

Story of Abba Kovner

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Holocaust, FPO & Abba Kovner Podcast

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Song of Resistance

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