Hirsh Lekert

Hirsh Lekert (born 1880 in Onuškis, in the Troksky Uyezd of Vilna Governorate[1] died June 10, 1902, in Vilnius[2]) was a Jewish socialist activist and member of the Bund.

Von Wahl ordered the arrest and flogging of a number of Jewish and Polish workers who had taken part in the May Day parade in 1902.

Lekert, together with several other Bund members began watching von Wahl's movements, bought weapons and trained in forests outside of Vilna.

Lekert, who was working as a shoemaker at the time, fired a pistol twice at the governor as von Wahl was exiting the circus show,[1] wounding him in the leg and arm.

At his trial, Lekert, despite the advice of a local rabbi, refused to ask for forgiveness and gave an eloquent speech on the dignity of the Jewish worker.