Recha Freier

Recha Freier (Hebrew: רחה פריאר) born Recha Schweitzer, (October 29, 1892 in Norden, East Frisia – April 2, 1984 in Jerusalem) founded the Youth Aliyah organization in 1933. The organization saved the lives of 7,000 Jewish children by helping them to leave Nazi Germany for Mandatory Palestine before and during the Holocaust.

Recha Freier was also a poet, musician, teacher and social activist. She also wrote a number of libretti for Israeli composers. These included Mark Kopytman (Chamber Scenes from the Life of Süsskind von Trimberg, written for the "Testimonium" series, 1982), Josef Tal (Amnon and Tamar, 1958, based on the Book of Samuel), and Yitzchak Sadai (Trail 19, 1982).

Late recognition Recha Freier, through her activities in the Youth Aliyah, saved over 7,000 young Jews who immigrated to Palestine and were absorbed into the Yishuv. 1984 (in November, posthumously), commemorative plaque affixed by the City Council of Berlin-Charlottenburg at the Jewish Community Center in honour of "Recha Freier, the Founder of Youth Aliya". 1990, the Recha Freier Educational Center at Kibbutz Yakum near Tel Aviv is founded in her honour. Kikar Recha Freier, a square in Jerusalem's Katamon neighborhood, is named after her. In 2018 an Israeli stamp was issued in her honor.

Published works (selection) Arbeiterinnen erzählen (lit.: Stories told by female workers), Berlin, 1935 Auf der Treppe (lit.: On the staircase), Hamburg, 1976 Fensterläden (lit.: Window shutters), Hamburg, 1979 Let the Children Come: The Early History of Youth Aliyah, London, 1961 Testimonium, compilation of texts for the music events: I Jerusalem (1968); II The Middle Ages (1971); III De Profundis (1974); IV Lucem cum Fulgeret (If ever I saw the light shining, Job 31:26) (1976); V Trial 19 (Spanish Inquisition) (1979); VI From the Revealed and From the Hidden (1983). Libretto for Chamber Scenes from the Life of Süsskind von Trimberg by Mark Kopytman, chamber opera, 1982