Supreme Council of State of the Duchy of Warsaw

To the Illustrious Ministers of the Interior and of the Treasury:

The Mordy estate (Dominium) in the Siedlce District—by virtue of the Decrees of the Crown Treasury Commission of the Republic of Poland in Warsaw in the year 1791, as well as the authority of the assembly held on the grounds of the town of Sokołów in that same year 1791 (appended hereto as Exhibit A)—had its own villages, namely: Paprotnia, Hołubla, Kamianka, Krynki, and Strudy (or the Jewish persons residing in these villages), attached to the Mordy Kahał (Jewish community council).

These decrees established that these villages belong perpetually to the Mordy Kahał. They belonged there without interruption during the former Polish government and subsequently under the Austrian government, as testified by the official list (Exhibit B). It was only at the end of the Austrian administration that officials, for the sake of an alleged regulation of the Kahały, dispersed. Driven by Jewish intrigues, they acted without the knowledge of the Estate (Dominium) to create new lists of which Kahały the villages should belong to, and submitted them to that Austrian government. It did not come to pass that the Austrian government officially announced this new Regulation of the Kahały, and (...) because honesty (...) Polish (...), thanks to God, removed its presence.

However, the Central Council of Lublin, having the distribution of Jewish taxes and the method of their collection, grasped at the newest tariff of the Austrian office, which was unknown to anyone. Because these lists of the Regulation of the Kahały were unknown to the Estate, it caused great confusion among the Kahały, the Jewish families, and the Estates. For this reason, it is likely that no Kahał has paid the taxes due to the Treasury properly to this day. However, this is a matter that concerns the general public, as the inspection of this falls under the supervision of the Supreme Council; and only the private grievance of my Estate is presented here. Specifically: that the aforementioned villages of Paprotnia, Hołubla, Kamianka, Korczów, and Skrudy, through the new list made by the officials of the Austrian Cession at the decline of their government, are being unjustly—and contrary to the decrees of the Supreme Instance (Exhibit A)—separated from the Mordy Kahał and assigned to the Sokołów Kahał, whose actions and explanations are worthily illuminated by Decree A.

Therefore:

1. The former Austrian government did not announce the aforementioned new Regulation of the Kahały, nor the manner or motives by which it occurred.
2. Had it been announced, the Estate would not have neglected to present its grievance.

[The petition continues:]

... that the Central Council of Lublin sent to the Siedlce District a list of the new Regulation of the Kahały, the distribution of taxes, and their division into classes and families, which took effect regarding the Mordy Kahał only in the month of December 1809, as its Exhibit C shows.

[And] that the Mordy Estate, from the first notification of the order of the Central Lublin Council regarding the Kahały, would not have failed to send its submission and Decree A to Lublin, but not having it in its custody, it endeavored to obtain and copy it from the Siedlce records, which occurred with no small amount of trouble and delay of time, and in that interval, the Central Lublin Council also ceased to exist.

For these reasons, may the Supreme Council maintain Decree A in its full power and inviolability and recognize the aforementioned villages—namely Paprotnia, Hołubla, Kamianka, Krynki, and Strudy—as belonging to the Mordy Kahał forever. The Mordy Estate submits this most humble petition. Indeed, an appeal against Decree A from the government was filed by the Sokołów Kahał, but it has not been sustained to this day, and the Mordy Kahał has remained in possession of the said villages, or the Jewish persons in them, without interruption and without any dispute, which the aforementioned Exhibit B also testifies.

Given in Siedlce on the 13th of January, 1810.

On behalf of the Mordy Estate, or that of the widow of the Honorable Brzostowski, by delegation and handwritten [authorization]:
Gracyan Przewóski, Attorney-in-fact

To

the Supreme Council of State

of the Duchy of Warsaw

Petition

from the Mordy Estate in the Siedlce District

Filed from the City of Siedlce

Regarding the Rescission of the New Regulation of Kahały announced by the Central Office of Lublin

With Exhibits A, B, and C.

50

1012–1013.
To prepare a full copy of each Decree.

[Illegible signature]
[Illegible signature]

Siedlce Imperial-Royal District Office.
No. 45429.

The same [office] is to bring into effect in its district, as of November 1 of this year, the district regulation for Jewish communities submitted on March 13, 1805, under number 2666, insofar as it has not yet been introduced, regarding all domestic, religious, political, and tax matters; whereby the previous status quo of that Jewish regulation is to be entirely abandoned from this point forward. In regard to the kosher commodity and kosher meat dues (Gefälle), however, the regulation introduced in 1798 is to remain in effect until the conclusion of the relevant leases, that is, until November 1, 1809, at which time the regulation now being introduced shall also be extended to these dues.

Furthermore, the same [office] shall receive attached its a list of those manorial domains (Dominien) and localities which were not included in the district regulation's draft, with the order to subsequently assign these to the relief transports and to immediately notify the Imperial-Royal State Accounting Office of the outcome.

Lemberg (Lviv), October 19, 1808.

Wurmser

Fürstenthal
True to the original: [Signature illegible]

Siedlce, November 15, 1808.

Number 10,908.

Circular

By a High Gubernial Decree dated October 14 of this year, No. 45,429, the new regulation of the Jewish Kahałs (Jewish community administrative bodies) of the Siedlce main District was approved, and the following separate Kahałs have been established throughout this District as of November 1 of this year:

Siedlce, Węgrów, Sokołów, Bobrowniki, Żelechów, Karczew, Seroczyn, Mińsk, Radzymin, Kałuszyn, Kopcie, Mordy, Łosice, Sarnaki.

Each Kahał shall receive a consignment (list) indicating which localities belong to it; with this consignment, each Kahał shall issue an announcement within the new territory of the parish and shall present this consignment to the Domain (manorial administration), which should provide its help and assistance to the Kahał in such events. Furthermore, from November 1 of this year, the Jews belong to the new Kahał regarding religious, domestic, and political regulations. Regarding the Class Tax, the Kosher Tax, and the Candle Tax, the old Kahałs remain according to the status quo for this year; however, from November 1, 1809, everything, including these taxes, shall be organized according to the new regulation. The Domains are therefore notified at this time so that they may immediately report this Jewish population.

Hehn.

True to the original,
Mikłaszewski mpr.

Copy.
Siedlce, May 10, 1809.

To
The Honorable Imperial-Royal Provincial State
Accounting Office in Lemberg

Regarding Number: 10,908.

Note:

Since the high Gubernial Decree of October 14 of last year, No. 45,729, through which the local revenue offices issued the confirmed new collection treasury regulations, ordered that several localities omitted from the assessment have recorded no coherence amount in the treasury, and commanded that the Honorable Imperial-Royal Provincial State Accounting Office be informed thereof, we do not fail to send this report in the attachment along with its designation in friendship.

regi Eleka
dixit.

Agreement with the original
Miklaszewicz
Substitute

March 3, 1810

March 2, 1810
No. 33 / 103.

To the Distinguished President of the Administrative Office of Siedlce in Siedlce.

Recommendation to submit a Report regarding the petition from the Mordy Estate (Dominium) concerning the repeal of the Regulation of Kahals (kahały; Jewish community boards).

Dispatched March 9, 1810.
Expediter: Piechowski.

Grab
8/c
copied

Ministry of Internal Affairs

I communicate to the Distinguished President of the Administrative Office of Siedlce, in the original with annexes, while requesting their return, the petition from the Mordy Estate regarding the repeal of the new Regulation of Kahals announced by the former Central Government, so that the Distinguished President may immediately send an accurate Report along with his opinion on this matter to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Entered
V C.

J. Lubowidzki

Sessions

Office of the General Kahal

February 25, 1810

President of the Administration of the Bialski District

The Administration sends the petition of the Łuków Kahał (Jewish community council) regarding the separation of its parishioners from the Siedlce Kahał.

The Office of the Biala Administration sends to the Most Illustrious Minister the petition of the Łuków Kahał for the separation of parishioners formerly belonging to it, but joined to the Siedlce Kahał by the current arrondissement (administrative division), not daring to form its own opinion where the general well-being of the inhabitants of the country, justly separated from private views by the supreme Government, can be brought closer to the happiness of all.

I join the expression of due respect.

To the Most Illustrious Minister of Internal Affairs

135/445
March 10.

foll. Jonas

Z. Jasiński
W. Lewicki
Referent Councilor Jasiński

20 February 1810, Łuków

Noble Administration Office of the Biała District!

Although the Łuków Kahał (Jewish community board) has already submitted its petition into the hands of the Honorable Commissioner of the Duchy of Warsaw for the presentation of the case of the Łuków Kahał against the Siedlce Kahał to the Most High Ministry, it is moreover certain that this will be presented to the Most High Ministry.

However, as the Kahał considers itself obliged to submit all its petitions to the Most High Government through the Noble Administration Office, and since the object contained in this petition is most accurately known to the Noble Administration Office from the administrative records,

Therefore, the Łuków Kahał, repeating its petition to the Most High Ministry, attaches it herewith and requests the Noble Administration Office to present said petition for adjudication to the Most High Ministry, accompanied by a just and gracious opinion.

Leybuś Moszkowicz
Herszko Maierowicz
Nutta Maierowicz
Jankiel Berkowicz

February 20, 1810

To the Most High Ministry of Interior Affairs of the Duchy of Warsaw!

The valiant protection of the Most High Ministry, under which every class of the Estates enjoys justice and beneficence, motivates the Luków kahał (Jewish community council) to submit its petition in the present description. The Łuków kahał, endowed for several hundred years with privileges by the Most Illustrious Kings, has uninterruptedly enjoyed the benefits granted to it; even under the Austrian Government, it was not divested of these granted rights. Only in the year 1809 did the Siedlce kahał, during the wartime, begin to appropriate for itself the right to those parishes which, since the most ancient times, were subject to the Łuków kahał both regarding government taxes and religious duties. On the strength of a decree issued provisionally by the Austrian Government and not confirmed by the Most High Government, it demanded the separation of parishioners from the Siedlce District and obtained a resolution from the Provisional Central Government, attached under A, which however was not extended into execution. In such an event, which threatened the ruin of the Łuków kahał, it was indeed the intention of said kahał to submit its petitions with a remonstrance to the Illustrious Central Government; however, when the dissolution of that Government by the Most High Authority occurred,

the kahał did not bring its intention to fruition. Being in peaceful possession and use of the rights long serving it, it intended to repel in steady peace the dishonest encroachment upon the parishioners by the Siedlce kahał, and conversely to support its own honest right authorized by antiquity. Therefore, now that the time has arrived which restores steady peace to the country, the Łuków kahał briefly presents its rights to the parishioners in the Siedlce District to the Most High Ministry and supports them on the grounds inscribed below:

a. The privileges given to the Łuków kahał, which can be submitted upon the order of the Most High Ministry, will support the truth of how long the Łuków kahał has existed in the Royal City.

b. The consignation attached under letter B shows which parishes from the Siedlce District belong to the Łuków kahał.

c. The credentials under C and D attached from the Siedlce District ensure that the repartition done by the Central Government for current government needs was made upon the Łuków kahał according to the ancient state of affairs, and that the parishioners were obliged to such a contribution by the authority of the Siedlce District Office; from this arises the manifest truth that the Siedlce kahał, by virtue of the decree of the previous government in the year 1799,

did not have the parishioners, and therefore even now cannot appropriate the same right for itself. For:

d. Although it was the system of the Austrian Government to reform the kahałs regarding parishioners so that each kahał would have its parish in one district, this was to be without the reduction of parishioners according to the old law; this reform in effect did not take place in all circles (districts/cyrkuły), and only drafted plans were sent for further confirmation by the Most High Government. As the kahał was not granted any new parishioners in the Biała District, the Austrian Government lost its further arrangements, and the kahał remained in possession of its parishioners in the Siedlce District according to the formerly used law. Although the state of possession was denied to the Łuków kahał by a resolution of the Central Government, this could only have happened through an unclear explanation of the good cause of the Łuków kahał, which to this time remains in the use of the right, as the abovementioned attachments C and D clearly support this truth. Finally:

e. Neither the Austrian Government, nor even more so the current one, would think to raise and enlarge one kahał to the detriment of another, or rather to the complete ruin of the second one;

about this the kahał does not doubt, but rather is in full conviction that the Most High Government will dispose its care and benefits equally for one as for the other. Especially since the kahał does not base its ruin solely on the fact that the parishioners would not assist the Łuków kahał with taxes—for in whatever proportion the parishioners would fall away from the kahał, in that same proportion the taxes would be reduced—but through the separation of the parishioners from the Łuków kahał, the kahał would also lose all resources from its religion for meeting expenses, including fixed land charges, namely: the payment of wyderkaf (perpetual interest on a loan secured by real estate) remaining on the kahał, for the Rabbi, synagogue servants, support for the poor, the repair of the Kahał buildings, and travel expenses for government orders, for which, by virtue of the resolution of the previous government attached under E, the parishioners were obliged to contribute 2128 Polish złotys annually. Furthermore, through such a separation, the city of Łuków would suffer loss and damage, as it maintains its income solely through the propination (the right to distill and sell alcohol) from markets and fairs; for the competition of the population for the city of Łuków would decrease, considering even the distressed state of the city

needing support for several years, and conversely, it would turn toward that city to whose kahał the parishioners would be joined. Indeed, this would happen essentially because parishioners, having business with the kahał as well as their private errands, usually settle them during market time with convenience for themselves and benefit for the city. Finally:

f. Even the reason that moved the Austrian Government to reform the kahałs falls away, as the Łuków kahał in the Kingdom under the government of the Siedlce Department will share its fate, as reports indicate.

On these grounds, the kahał, having its right well-founded regarding the parishioners being in the Siedlce District, requests the Most High Ministry to maintain it in these same rights and properties forever.

Łuków, February 20, 1810.

Kahalni:
Leybuś Moszkowicz [signature in Hebrew]
Herszko Mojserowicz [signature in Hebrew]
Hutta Mojserowicz [signature in Hebrew]
Jankiel Berkowicz [signature in Hebrew]

Simple Copy

W. II. 17

No. 4515
A: B:

In the Name of Napoleon the Great, Emperor of the French, King of Italy, Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine, etc. etc.

Administrative Office of the Biała District
To the
Kahał (Jewish community board) of Łuków –

The Highest Central Government, by its Resolution of December 5 of last year, No. 41191, notified this Office that according to the Report of the Administrative Office of the Siedlce District dated November 21, No. 21195, and the acts attached thereto, the Siedlce kahał extended religious rites over certain settlements formerly belonging to the Łuków kahał. This was done by virtue of a Gubernial Decree of the former Government issued on October 14, 1808, No. 45,429, and announced for execution even before the occupation of this Country by the Polish Army. This Decree established a new division of Jewish kahałs regarding religious and political circumstances, effective from November 1, 1809, upon the expiration of signed contracts. Therefore, the Government, maintaining the status in quo of the former Government—that is, its laws and regulations in the state in which they were found—recognizes this attachment of certain settlements formerly belonging to the Łuków kahał to the Siedlce kahał, not only regarding religious rites but also concerning all Jewish taxes and other political circumstances. This is deemed all the more valid as the distribution of Jewish taxes was arranged according to the new division of kahałs decided by the said Gubernial Decree, which, without damaging the whole tax aggregate and causing disorder in the collection of taxes themselves or oppression of individual families,

cannot be altered. The Łuków Kahał is hereby informed of this High Government regulation. Done at the Session in Biała on December 18, 1809.

Fx Jasiński

Dunajewski
Secretary

Consignation

Of the Parishes remaining in the Siedlce District, which have been subject to the Łuków kahal (Jewish community council) both as to Government Taxes and Religious duties from the most ancient times.

For such presentation of the present Consignation, the Łuków kahal signs — Łuków the 20th day of February 1810.

Leybuś Mośkowicz — " — ליבוש ב"ר משה ז"ל
Heiszko Mejerowicz — " — העשיל ב"ר מאיר ז"ל
Nota Mejerowicz — " — נטע ב"ר מאיר ז"ל
Jankiel Berkowicz — " — יעקב ב"ר דוב בער

Simple Copy

No. 2820. 25

Creditive

From the Office of the Administration of the Siedlce District

By virtue of which the Łuków kahał (Jewish community board), in the villages and domains containing Jewish families belonging to the said kahał, according to the attached conscription and repartition for the contribution for the purchase of horses and oxen ordered to be delivered by the same kahał, may collect the sum falling upon each family as presented in this repartition and confirmed in the District Office. For which purpose, in the absence of military assistance, all compelling measures, and even execution granted from the town of Łuków to the domains, yet without any violence or oppression, are permitted to it—the Executor is to charge 15 złoty and victuals.

Siedlce, October 27, 1807

Grzybowski

(L.S.)

Miklaszewski
Secretary

23 January 1810, Siedlce.

Simple Copy No. 5097

Letter of Authorization

By power of which the Łuków Kahał (Jewish community council) may collect the sum falling upon each family—according to the list and apportionment for the contribution of provisions (liwerunek) and vodka ordered to be delivered to the same Kahał—from the Jewish families in the villages and domains belonging to said Kahał, as presented in this distribution and confirmed in the District Office; and if any families should remain obstinate in the payment of such a contribution, they shall consequently endure military execution (enforced collection by troops) and shall be required to pay 2 Polish złoty in currency of the Duchy of Warsaw to a soldier per day, and likewise must provide food for the same, as well as for a horse.

Grzybowski

L.S.

Miktaszewski, Secretary

April 12, 1799

Simple Copy
No. 1176.

To the Kahal of Łuków

Since the needs for various community expenditures, such as the payment of school and Kahal (Jewish communal board) debts and the maintenance of the synagogue, have been demonstrated, accordingly, in accordance with the Decree of the High Imperial Royal Court Commission of March 15 of the current year, No. 4386, the collection of 592 Rhenish Guilders (Złoty Reński) of the rectified domestic contribution—from both the members of the Jewish community of Łuków and its parishioners—has been permitted temporarily and until a general regulation is established for this purpose, under the condition that the Kahal shall submit the accounts of such collection and expenditure to the Circle Office in due time. Furthermore, the costs arising on this occasion—namely the Provincial Tax, postage, and stamp duty, totaling 5 Rhenish Guilders and 39 kreuzers—the Kahal is to pay into the Circle Treasury without delay.

Imperial Royal Circle Office, Radzyń
de Henne

Warsaw, March 10, 1810

28
to No. 133/443 of March 10.

To
His Excellency the Minister of the Treasury
President of the Bialski Administrative Office

Regarding the separation of parishioners from the Łuków Kahał (Jewish community council) to the Siedlce [Kahał] for an opinion —

received March 17, 1810

Jam 14.

Assigned March 15, 1810

Dispatched: Piechowski.

His Excellency the Minister
Ministry of Internal Affairs

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has the honor of communicating to His Excellency the Minister of the Treasury, in the original with seven attachments, the request presented by His Excellency the President of the Bialski Administrative Office regarding the separation of parishioners from the Łuków Kahał and their attachment to the Siedlce Kahał—requesting the return of the same, and asking that His Excellency deign to provide his enlightened opinion on this matter. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, for its part, is of the opinion that if the arondatization (arondacja — delimitation of administrative districts) designated by the regulations of the previous government, incorporating parishioners from the Łuków Kahał into the Siedlce Kahał, has been carried out, these should remain in statu quo until further notice.

Recorded 1/12

Jatuziniski
Lippert

March 24, 1810

No. 2. 29
Minister of the Treasury
I enclose this to the Assessors!
Received May 2, 1810.

Returning the records communicated to me on March 10 of the current year concerning the attachment of certain parishioners to the Łuków Kahał (Jewish community board) and their attachment to the Siedlce Kahał, I have the honor to reply to His Excellency the Minister that, concurring with his opinion, I am likewise of the view that the arrangement designated by the previous government, which has lasted for ages and which incorporates and divides the parishioners from the Łuków Kahał to the Siedlce Kahał, should be implemented, and this matter should be left in its current state for further organization. Given in Warsaw on the 24th day of March 1810.

Moliński

4024/1567
March 10.

Wołowicz
Smir

To
His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs.

Ur: Kakotow
ad N: 391. p Martia

Warsaw, May 2, 1810. To No. 424 from March 10, 1567.

To the Honorable President of the Administrative Office of Biała in Biała.

Regarding the separation of parishioners from the Luków Kahat (kahał - Jewish community administrative body) and the attachment of the same to the Siedlce Kahat.

transmitted May 6, copied.

M. S. W. (Ministry of Internal Affairs)

In response to the petition of the Łuków Kahat sent on the 25th of February of the current year by the Honorable President of the Administrative Office of Biała regarding the parishioners detached from it and attached to the Siedlce Kahat, it is declared that since the Ministry of the Treasury confirms all Kahat arondations (arandacye - administrative assignments or leases) brought to fruition by the former Central Office on the authority of the Decree on Slaughter of the Austrian Government issued on October 14, 1808, until further regulations that may occur in this regard; it likewise confirms the separation from the Łuków Kahat that took place on the authority of the above-mentioned Decree; and

31

Exp: Łuków

confirms the attachment of the parishioners to the Siedlce Kahat, of which the Office of the President is to inform the Łuków Kahat.

Entry 11/3

J. Swierawski

Supp:t

Siedlce, March 28, 1810.

To His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs

Survey attached.

The Administrative Office of the County of Siedlce, in response to the Rescript of His Excellency the Minister dated March 5 of the current year, ad No. 33/105, submits a Report with an opinion regarding the Petition of the Mordy Domain (Dominium) concerning the Regulation of Kahats.

159. April 10.

Administrative Office of the County of Siedlce

As a result of the Rescript dated the 5th of this month ad No. 33/105 regarding the submission of a Report and its Opinion on the matter of the Petition from Mordy for the revocation of the new Regulation of Kahats announced by the former Central Government, this Administrative Office, returning the said Petition with 4 Annexes, provides the following explanation:

Regarding the allegation:

a. that the former Austrian Government did not announce that new Regulations of Kahats were to be undertaken in any manner or for what motives;

b. that if the Mordy Domain had knowledge of this, it would not have failed to present its Reclamation.

Attached here in copy is the Decree of the Governorate dated October 14, 1808, No. 41047.

33

It is shown that such Regulations of Kahats had been ordered to the Circular Offices for a long time, and that the Siedlce Circular Office sent this arondation or Regulation to the Governorate on March 13, 1805, No. 2666—that such an Ordinance for the introduction of the new Regulation of Kahats was announced throughout the entire Circle (Cyrkuł - administrative district); a copy of the Circular issued on November 15, 1808, under No. 10908, extracted from the Austrian records and attached here, shall testify. That finally, such an operation was performed not indirectly by officials but by the Will of the Government, as both the above-mentioned Governorate Decree and the corresponding Answer from the Circular Office to the Bookkeeping department in this matter prove. – By this Governorate Decree, the Circular Office was instructed that if the Regulation of Kahats, according to the submission of March 13, 1805, had not yet been introduced, it should be brought to execution immediately from November 1, 1808, as far as Seigneurial (Dominikalne), Religious, Political, and Tax interests are concerned. – Only the leases (Pachty) of the Candle (Świeczkowy) and Kosher (Koszerny) taxes, the contracts for which only ended on the last day of October, were left by the Governorate for a later time. –
The Mordy Domain states that the Consignation of the new Regulation of Kahats sent from the Central Government to the County of Siedlce...

34

Kahats, the distribution of taxes, and their division into classes and families only took effect in the month of December 1809, especially concerning the Mordy Kahat. -
The Central Government, only confirming the arondations already in place for the entire year, has not created any new ones whatsoever, and for this reason dismissed complaints intended against such Regulation, on the basis that these arrangements cannot be abolished from the already established order - it established in the distribution (Repartycye) its general amount of Tax for the Jews of the County - and the Administrative Office in the County [organized] the families through separate Commissions designated for each Kahat, with the summons of the Kahal members and men known for their morality, and distributed the Tax Sum appropriate to the number of their families among the Kahats. All of which has been introduced without any hindrance since November 1, 1809, as the beginning of the Fiscal Year. -
Therefore, this Regulation of Kahats is not a new invention, but only a supplement and confirmation of the Statutes of the former Government. The Privileges of the Domains (among which it cites) just like all others: must submit to the need of the generally introduced Tax. It is impossible to dissolve the work of the introduced assessment (taksya) now without great obstacles and significant loss to the Treasury: Since families would have to [be transferred] from a Kahat [for] arrears of taxes...

pay to [one], and the subsequent ones to another Kahat... and from such confusion Jewish families would be lost, a certain number of whom, despite the strongest efforts, is nevertheless difficult to track down. If the request of the Mordy Domain can have a place, then it seems it would be no sooner than during the regulation of the Departments, where without a doubt it will be necessary to assign or detach incoming and outgoing towns, townships, and villages to one or another Kahat. -

Grzybowski m.p.

Miklaszewski, Secretary

Warsaw, April 21, 1810.

To Mr. Gracjan Przewoski, Plenipotentiary of the Mordy Domain, in Mordy, Siedlce District.

Regarding the repeal of the new Regulation of the Kahals (Jewish community boards).

Refusal.

Ministry of Internal Affairs.

In response to the petition from the Mordy Domain sent by the Council of State regarding the repeal of the new Regulation of the Kahals announced by the former Central Government on January 13 of the current year, the Ministry, returning the annexed documents, hereby replies that—having been convinced by the report of the Honorable President of the Siedlce Administrative Office made on March 28 of the current year—this Regulation of the Kahals by the former Central Government was a completion of the Decree of the former Austrian Government dated October 14, 1808, issued in this regard, which was announced in the same year throughout the entire Siedlce District. Therefore, the Ministry cannot grant the petition of the Mordy Domain regarding the repeal

of this Regulation of the Kahals; on the contrary, it hereby confirms said Regulation as one of the statutes of the past Government maintained there until such time as other arrangements in this matter may be enacted.

Ministry of Internal Affairs.

To the Honorable President of the Siedlce Administrative Office in Siedlce.

A copy of the above response is communicated.

The Ministry has all the more readily acceded to the opinion of the Honorable President of the Siedlce Administrative Office, submitted in the report of March 28 of the current year regarding the repeal of the new Regulation of the Kahals requested by the Mordy Domain, since, upon consultation in this matter with [illegible] the Ministry of the Treasury, it has resolved to confirm the new Regulation of the Kahals established under the past Austrian Government and brought into effect by the former

Central Government throughout the entire territory newly incorporated into the Duchy, until such time as other arrangements in this regard may occur; and the Ministry communicates a copy of the response issued this day to the petition filed by the Mordy Domain to the Honorable Commissioner for his information and compliance in this matter.

K. Luczowiecki

Expedited by Duchowski.

May 3, 1810
No. 2. 41

To the Most Illustrious Minister of Internal Affairs

The undersigned Elders of the Kahal (Jewish community council) of the Town of Konstantynów, having learned from a circular that only 8 towns in the Biała District were designated as towns, while the Kahal Town of Konstantynów was omitted and other parishes were separated from the said Kahal, through which a great grievance was caused to us, as the Kahal has been in Konstantynów since ancient Polish times and we built a brick school there; therefore, wanting the Town of Konstantynów not to be omitted from the number of towns and for the Kahal along with the parishes to be maintained there as from ancient times, we bring our most humble petitions—

—before your Excellency, to supplicate that you, Most Illustrious Lord, deign to take this town of Konstantynów into consideration and leave our Kahal with the parishes belonging to it in its existence just as they were from ancient times, especially since we have paid all taxes and nothing remains in arrears.

Of the Most Illustrious Lord

Warsaw, May 3, 1815.

We reside at No. 1044 on Zakroczymska Street.

The lowliest servants
Dawid Jachnowicz
Ełe Herszkowicz

Radom, May 5, 1810
No. 2.

To the Most Illustrious Minister of Internal Affairs

By a Ministerial decree, the Kahal (Jewish community board) of the formerly hereditary town of Konstantynów, situated in the Biała District, was attached to the Kahal of the communal town of Janów; as such an ordinance appears to be an injury to the Jewish inhabitants of Konstantynów, I have the honor to submit the following representation.

The Konstantynów Kahal, although smaller now, was more accurately measured in all its losses and secured the Austrian government regarding the existence of the Kahal. The collapse of the Konstantynów Kahal would become a cause for the emigration of the Konstantynów Jews, and therefore harmful and without tribute, because the Jews living in the town have limited means of subsistence and payment of taxes, and following the side Ministerial audience and proximity [to Janów], they are coming to the utmost misery.

It should be added that the Konstantynów Kahal, composed of 26 parishioners, will be torn apart, tending toward the Kahals of Biała, Sarnaki, and Janów, the latter of which was formerly composed of only 4 parishioners. Therefore, I request most justly that these detached parishioners be returned to the Kahal of the town of Konstantynów, and that this same ancient Kahal, to which they paid taxes according to the registry records, might maintain its existence henceforth. Given in Warsaw, May 3, 1810.

Stanisław Count Aleksandrowicz

Warsaw, May 9, 1810.

No. 59 78/296 — from May 1810. 187

To the Distinguished President of the Bialski Administrative Office in Biała

Recommendation to dispatch a report on the petitions of the Kahal (Jewish communal board) members of the Town of Konstantynów and Count Aleksandrowicz regarding the maintenance of parishes under the Konstantynów kahał.

dated August 18
Deadline note: 14
signed W-ttencart (?)
Dispatched: Piechowski (?)

Ministry of Internal Affairs

The Ministry of Internal Affairs transmits to the Distinguished President of the Bialski Administrative Office the original petitions, with the requirement of their return, of the Old-Testament kahal members of the Town of Konstantynów and of the Distinguished Count Stanisław Aleksandrowicz, the Hereditary Owner of the said town, submitted to the Ministry regarding the maintenance under the Konstantynów kahał of parishes severed from it; and calls upon him to send to the Ministry of Internal Affairs a precise explanation of the entire circumstance involved, together with his opinion, within 14 days.

J. Łuszczewski

1/10
Immediately

To the Administration on 24 August 1810.

N. 2. 46.

GR. POL. 8.

Most Illustrious Minister of Internal Affairs

From the hands of the Sovereign: 16 August

On the 12th day of February of the current year, a decree was issued by the Great Commissioner of the Węgrów district in the Siedlce County, removing us from office and ordering a new election of the Węgrów Kahal (Jewish community board) members, and in this manner nullifying all rights, customs, and privileges serving both us and the Heir of the Węgrów Estate, the Most Illustrious Count Ossoliński, President of the Court of Appeals of the Duchy of Warsaw. These rights the Austrian Government did not violate, but rather maintained in their measure, and the Constitution of the Duchy of Warsaw and the laws of the current Government stand in support of our rights.

516. 10 May 1622.

Therefore, against such a decree, although it was issued from the Honourable Administration of the Siedlce County out of malice, we have filed a recourse, as evidenced by the receipt, to the Most Illustrious Minister of Internal Affairs; likewise, the Most Illustrious Count, the Heir, submitted a remonstrance to the Administration of the County in this matter to maintain the rights granted to us. Nevertheless, Mr. Jaworniecki, Councilor of the Siedlce Prefecture, acting in place of the Most Illustrious Grybowski, the Prefect in Siedlce, not regarding

the filed recourse according to the attachment, is permitting the execution of the decree.

We therefore turn to Your Illustrious Lordship, so that, considering that this circumstance has not yet been decided by Your Illustrious Lordship the Minister upon the filed recourse, you would deign to recommend to this Prefecture that until this matter is decided here, the execution should be stayed; we request this measure of fair justice to be granted. As

Your Illustrious Lordship’s and Benefactor’s

Lowest servants
in Warsaw, 24 May 1810

A. Weidenbaum
Official of the Conciliar

Fiscal and Plenipotentiary
of the Town of Węgrów.

48
No. 33.

February 15, 1810

The Commissioner of the Węgrów District in the Siedlce County issued an order dated February 12, No. 48, for Itzchak (Ialka) Leyzorowicz the Glazier to publicly announce in the school (shul) the Decree of the Honorable Administration of the Siedlce County issued on December 18, No. 4263. This was to take place on February 16, and by virtue of this, he was to convoke the entire community (Gmin), both from the town and the villages of the Israelites belonging to the Węgrów Kahal, for the election of new virtuous Kahal Jews from among them. However, when on February 15 he read in a petition submitted to him that this Kahal, abolished by the aforementioned Decree, desires a prolongation regarding the execution and extension of the said Decree—because it intends to submit an appeal (Rekurs) to the Honorable Administration of the Siedlce County from the Wyszków domain (dominium) in the person of His Excellency Count Ossoliński, the Heir of Węgrów, who claims this right—and because the selection of Kahal members formerly belonged to the Heir of Węgrów alone, as evidenced by the signed election of the Kahal members signed by the hand of the Heir of Węgrów on September 17, 1809; therefore, the suspension of the new election of Kahal members and the publication of the aforementioned Decree concerning the abolition of the Węgrów Kahal is hereby ordered, until such time as the Wyszków domain as well as the Kahal chosen by it receive a resolution regarding the appeal to be submitted in this regard. Given at the Commissariat in Suchodół on February 15, 1810.

(L. S.) Teodor Sanecki mp.

Copy. Official Receipt.

March 22, 1810

The Węgrów Kahał (Jewish community council) has filed its appeal in the Commissariat of the Węgrów District against the decree issued by the Honorable Administrative Office of the Siedlce County dated December 18, 1809, No. 4263. The said Kahał requests the forwarding of this appeal to the Honorable Administrative Office of the Siedlce County along with all attached evidence.

From the Commissariat of the Węgrów District of the Siedlce County, Węgrów.

In the absence of the Commissioner, Gruszecki

September 17, 1809

Election

Copy

Members of the Kahał (Jewish community board) as well as Officials of the Town of Węgrów and the Parish established by the undersigned Electors from September 17, 1809 until the free Jewish Easter holidays occurring in the year 1811, submitted to His Honorable Lordship for approval, as follows:

This present copy of the Węgrów Kahał members as well as the Officials belonging thereto I approve, with the recommendation of conscientious service and the best calculation of all revenues, as well as the maintaining of cash registers according to the country's [regulations] by the cashiers, I sign with my own hand with the impression of the family seal. Given at the Wynkowski Palace on September 17, 1809.

Jan Count Ossoliński, Inheritor of the Town of Węgrów (L.S.)

Węgrów, 20 May 1810

To our Friends, sent to Warsaw on the business of the local Kahał (Jewish communal self-government)!

We have already informed you by our letter through the post that the official stationed here, Mr. Jawornicki, who now fills the position of the President (since the Honorable President Grybowski has departed for Warsaw), refuses to issue the revocation ticket, nor does he permit the Military Assistance to be sent to the parishes. – Now, however, we inform you of a new thing that happened on Saturday: Mr. Granecki came to the school and published the decree of the Honorable Administration of the District from beginning to end during the performance of Divine Service; therefore, we had to send a messenger with notification to Wyszków, and a resolution arrived (as is attached), which was published in the school before evening during the performance of Divine Service. – For when we went to the said Mr. Granecki to ask whether he had received any new or repeated orders regarding this, we received certain information from him that Józef Wolfowicz and his company had endeavored to bring this about. Since the decision of Commissioner

Chmieliński is expressed as follows: this is to last until an explicit Verdict is issued on this matter by the Honorable Lord Heir (Dziedzic), and we, not knowing what to do about this, sent an express messenger to you so that you might report this to the Honorable Lord Heir and submit a most humble petition to him regarding this case. When we were in Siedlce, Mr. Jawornicki said to us loudly in these words: you are no longer members of the Kahał, for you have been decreed out of here. We replied that we are appointed by the will of our Honorable Lord Heir; to which he also loudly replied: what is your Heir to me, that he might dare to be contrary to our District Decision; and several times he spoke immoderate words against the Honorable Lord Heir, which we are not able to express in writing. Meanwhile, Mr. Obniski excused himself before us with these words: what can I do against this, I can only [illegible] through you; it came to the point that Mr. Jawornicki said clearly to Mr. Obniński: Mr. Starosta (District official), the Approval for the Kahał members is not in your power; and he said this clearly: I will make it so that Węgrów

Węgrów will be at the same level as the town of Seroczyn was before, and Seroczyn will be as great a city as Węgrów was from ancient times. Therefore, making every effort and seeking relief for the local community, most humbly petition the Honorable Lord Heir, according to the protection granted to you, to quash the will of that Starosta and even more to punish those opponents who commit actions against his most gracious will. Finally, we report that in Siedlce, the treasury of the Colonel did not want to accept 1,000 Polish złoty for the horses. – Now we have learned that Mr. Gruszecki has not yet dispatched the recourse submitted to the Ministry, saying that he took it to Siedlce and that Mr. Miklaszewski did not want to accept it, but in our opinion, this is not true. We wanted to wait until the arrival of the Honorable Mr. Grzybowski, yet we urged Mr. Gruszecki to dispatch the recourse immediately and told him clearly that we would hold him to the receipt he issued to us. If you are able to submit a petition there to the Honorable Mr. Grzybowski and endeavor to have a recommendation for him from the Honorable Lord Starosta Heir,

that would be very good. — Manesz

Mendko Dawidowicz
Szloma Lewkowicz S. Kahalny

Warsaw, June 8, 1810 / May 21, 1810

To the Honorable Prefect of the Siedlce Department. In Siedlce.

Due to a petition submitted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (M. S. W.) on May 21 of the current year by the Węgrów kahał (Jewish community board) members Weidenbaum and Isrol Mordkowicz, requesting that the execution of the Resolution of the former Siedlce Administrative Office—which removes the said kahał members from office—be suspended until the appeal against the said Resolution filed with the Ministry of Internal Affairs is resolved, which appeal has not yet been sent here; the Ministry of Internal Affairs calls upon the Honorable Prefect of the Siedlce Department to clarify this circumstance to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and if any appeal to which the applicants refer has been delivered into the hands of the Honorable Prefect, that he should send it to the Ministry of Internal Affairs immediately with a proper report, and meanwhile suspend the execution of the reclaimed Resolution.

Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Order to suspend the execution of the Resolution removing the Węgrów kahał members from office and to forward their appeal. —

Dated June 18

Proposed by W.
M.

To the Old-Testament (starozakonny) Weidenbaum, kahał member of the town of Węgrów, in Warsaw.

560

Appeal.

Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Hereby informs the Old-Testament Weidenbaum that, upon his petition submitted to the Ministry on May 21 of the current year in the name of the kahał members of the town of Węgrów, an order was issued this day to the Honorable Prefect of the Siedlce Department to suspend the execution of the Resolution removing the Węgrów kahał members from office and to forward the appeal filed against this Resolution, which has not yet been sent here.

Exp. Linkowski.

June 10. | J. Łuszczewski.

Exppz

In Biała, 19 May 1810.

The Administration of the Biała District returns the petition of His Excellency Alexandrowicz, owner of the town of Konstantynów, as well as the Kahał (Jewish community board), to His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs.

20 May 1810
Referent Klader, Assets
SW. 1695 May 10.

To His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs

No. 3213
Regarding: Kahałs

The President of the Administration of the Biała District

Following the recommendation of His Excellency the Minister of […] May of the current year, No. 39/187 – 48/296, the Administration of the Biała District, in returning the petition of the Kahał elders of the town of Konstantynów as well as of His Excellency Count Alexandrowicz, submits an explanation to His Excellency the Minister regarding the Konstantynów Kahał. The former Austrian government, in carrying out the arrondissement (territorial reorganization) of the Kahałs regarding the payment of the light tax and meat tax, reduced their number to 15; whereby the Konstantynów Kahał and the people of Janów, who previously paid the aforementioned taxes there, were attached to those of Janów and Biała. And since, on the basis of today's rescript from His Excellency the Minister dated 15 May of the current year, the arrondissement of Kahałs confirmed under the former Austrian government on 14 October 1808 is to be suspended, the Administration therefore requests His Excellency the Minister, wishing to satisfy the payment after the former government, having assessed the amount falling upon each family and bringing it to the Treasury, attaches its opinion that in this manner the increased arrondissement or payments […]

and appropriate [measures] cannot be changed.

Done at the Session in Biała
on the day as above —

J. Jasieński

W. Lewicki
S. P. B.

Warsaw, 28 May 1810. To No. 549 1695. 27 May of the current year.

To

1. The Jewish David Szachnowicz, elder of the Konstantynów kahal (Jewish community board), in Warsaw.
2. The Honorable Count Stanisław Alexandrowicz, in Warsaw.

Response to the petition for the retention of the parishes (Carafy/Parafij) by the Konstantynów kahal.

Kopeć
Kopeć

delivered 9 June of the current year.
propinator (official responsible for liquor licensing) App. Curial.

Kahal foundations established by the same Decree =

Ministry of Internal Affairs (M.S.W.)

To the petition submitted by the Jewish David Szachnowicz in the name of the kahal elders of the town of Konstantynów and the Honorable Count Stanisław Alexandrowicz, owner of the town of Konstantynów, regarding the retention by the Konstantynów kahal of the parishes separated on the 3rd day of the current month and year—having received an explanation in this matter from the Honorable President of the Biala Administrative Office dated the 19th day of the current month and year—[the Ministry] responds that since the parishes were separated from the Konstantynów kahal by virtue of a Decree of the past Government issued on 14 October 1808, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, having once confirmed that Decree, cannot accommodate the petition.

60

Regarding further arrangements that may arise in this matter, it cannot change this.

Expediter: Piechowski.

To
The Honorable President of the Biala Administrative Office in Biała.

Notification.

Most Honorable President,
Having been informed by the Report received from the President of the Biala Administrative Office on the 19th day of the current month and year concerning the petition of the Honorable Count Stanisław Alexandrowicz and the Elders of the Konstantynów Kahal regarding the retention of the separated parishes by the said kahal—that these parishes were separated by virtue of a Decree of the existing Government issued on 14 October 1808 and now confirmed—[the Ministry] answers the parties in the negative, and hereby notifies the Honorable President of this for his official information.

J. Kuszelews:

Wspr. 29.

Expediter: Piechowski.

Warsaw, May 29, 1810.

Most Illustrious Minister of Internal Affairs!

Upon our most humble petition submitted to Your Excellency on February 25 of this year, regarding the matter of parishes eternally belonging to the kahał (Jewish community board) of Łuków being detached to the kahał of Siedlce, we received on March 10 of this year under No. 2077/812 a most gracious Resolution, stating that all arrondissements of kahałs, based on the Decree of the former Austrian Government issued on October 14, 1808, having been carried into effect, must remain in statu quo until further regulations.

For these reasons, since the aforementioned Decree regarding the Łuków kahał has not been carried into effect, but in statu quo, as before, until the month of November of last year all taxes and religious revenues were imported to the Łuków kahał; and whereas from the month of November, although taxes are imported to Siedlce, all religious revenues from all the contested parishes remain until now in the continuous and uninterrupted possession of the Łuków kahał, just as before; therefore, we most humbly request Your Excellency's favor that the contested parishes, currently remaining in the possession of the Łuków kahał, remain in said possession, in statu quo, until the next change of Ordinance—which, should the Łuków kahał lose them,

it would completely lose its entire fund for inevitable religious needs, of which there is a significant multitude, and absolutely no fund would remain for the Łuków kahał. For according to the conscription of parishes directly belonging to the Łuków kahał, which we attach under sub A, it amounts in total to 2 towns and 220 villages. Whereas according to the conscription of parishes that are to be detached, submitted under sub B, only 36 villages would remain. And of these 36 villages, three parts are found to be so poor that they would only be a useless burden to the kahał.

Be pleased, therefore, Most Illustrious Lord!—considering that in statu quo the Łuków kahał remains in possession of these parishes to this day—to graciously leave such parishes with the said kahał, through the loss of which it would lose the entire fund for necessary religious needs, obtained solely from this source; for which we submit our most humble prayers for the acceleration of a most gracious Resolution.

Your Excellency’s

most humble servants

Elders of the kahał of the Town of Łuków

Leybuś Mośkowicz | [signatures in Hebrew]
Nuta Maiorowicz | [signatures in Hebrew]
Herszko Miaworowicz | [signatures in Hebrew]
Ankiel Berkowicz | [signatures in Hebrew]

June 7, 1810

To the Old-Testament (Starozakonny) Leybuś Moszkowicz, Elder of the Kahał (Jewish communal board) of the town of Łuków, in Warsaw.

Regarding religious revenues from parishes incorporated into another kahał, he is to apply to his immediate authority.

Moyel.

Sent June 18.

prof: 1/x

Expedit: Piechowsky

Warsaw Kahał

No. A: 653
2071, May 2, 1810.

K. J. W.

At the request of the Old-Testament Leybuś Moszkowicz, on behalf of the Elders of the Kahał of the town of Łuków, submitted on May 29 of the current year for the purpose that parishes separated from this Kahał and incorporated into the Siedlce Kahał should pay religious collections to the said Łuków Kahał, the religious party is hereby informed that the petitioners are to apply with such a petition to their immediate authority to which they are subject, and the latter, upon their request, will respond as appropriate or will seek a higher decision from whomever it may concern.

W. J. Kurzewsky

June 27, 1810

To the Most Illustrious Minister of Internal Affairs

Already on the 21st day of May of the current year, the undersigned delegate of the Synagogue of the town of Węgrów submitted a most humble petition in the name of all the elders of the kahał (Jewish community board) to the Chancellery Office of Your Excellency and Benefactor, seeking to obtain the most gracious decision of Your Excellency the Minister to the Administration of the Siedlce District for the suspension of the execution of a decree issued by the said Administration, which removes us from office and orders a new election of the Węgrów kahał members. We submitted an appeal against this decree through the Administration of the District to the Supreme Government of Your Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs back on the 22nd day of March of the current year, and to this day it is not found in the Chancellery of Your Excellency the Minister, or it has not been forwarded, so that because of this circumstance our case cannot be decided by Your Excellency and Benefactor.

Regarding the petitions submitted under number 1622, we have received no resolution; nevertheless, the district commissioner does not cease the enforcement of the above-mentioned decree, and in this manner, he annuls and endangers all customs and privileges belonging both to us and to the owner of the Węgrów estate, His Excellency Count Ossoliński, President of the Court of Appeal of the Duchy of Warsaw.

Since the undersigned has learned that a most gracious resolution of Your Excellency and Benefactor is already following, which is to be sent to the District Administration, I therefore most humbly request that Your Excellency and Benefactor deign to decide

to issue to the undersigned a copy of the resolution issued by Your Excellency and Benefactor.

I beg for your gracious favor, awaiting the resolution and professing the homage of the deepest respect.

Of Your Most Illustrious Excellency and Benefactor,

The Lowliest Servant, X. Józef Szmuklewicz Weidenbaum, Kahał Member and Delegate of the Synagogue of the Town of Węgrów

Warsaw, June 27, 1810

To the Most Illustrious Minister of Internal Affairs, Łuszczewski, Knight of various orders.

1. Bialski
2. Janowski Konstancja
3. Kośmiński Aleksander
4. Skrzypkowski at the White Virgin
5. Brick houses (Murowanych)

Warsaw, June 30, 1810

69

ad No. 636 June 19 / July 1, 1810

To the Old-Testament (starozakonny) Szmulowicz Weidenbaum, Delegate of the Synagogue of the Town of Węgrów, in Warsaw.

Response to the petition for a copy of the Resolution regarding Kahal Elections.

Resolution

The Honorable Eichler shall transcribe this on July 26, 1810.

(illegible signature)

Expedite: Piechowski.
Kahal Department

Ministry of Internal Affairs (M.S.W.)

The Ministry informed the Old-Testament Szmulowicz Weidenbaum on the 8th day of this month and year under No. 516/1622 from March of this year, that it instructed the Honorable Prefect of the Siedlce Department to suspend the execution of the Resolution removing the Węgrów Kahal from office and to forward to the Ministry of Internal Affairs the recourse filed against said Resolution. Since this has not yet been forwarded, the Ministry of Internal Affairs could not issue any final decision in this matter to the Honorable Prefect; the Ministry answers the Supplicant with the present response to his petition submitted on the 24th day of this month and year requesting the communication to him of a copy of said decision.

Ministry of Internal Affairs
J. Łuszczewski

Secretary General (illegible signature)

Supplicant

May 29, 1810; June 10, 1810

Most Serene King, Our Most Gracious Lord

Under a happy destiny, by the most gracious gift of the Creator of all things, the city of Łuków has been placed under the sweet reign of Your Royal Majesty. The undersigned Elders of the Kahal (Jewish communal council) existing in the said city, embolden ourselves in the deepest humility to lay at the foot of Your Royal Majesty’s throne the privileges graciously granted by the Most Serene Kings of Poland, Your Royal Majesty’s predecessors, to the Jewish citizens (literally: citizens of the Old Testament) of the city of Łuków, namely: John Casimir, Michael, John, Augustus II, Augustus III, and finally Stanislaus Augustus, most humbly begging on behalf of the people of the Jewish faith settled in Your Royal Majesty's city for the most gracious confirmation of such privileges.

Of Your Most Serene Royal Majesty, Our Gracious Lord

faithful subjects:
Elders of the Kahal of the City of Łuków

Leybuś Moszkowicz [Hebrew signature]
Nuta Maiorowicz [Hebrew signature]
Herszko Maiorowicz [Hebrew signature]
Ankiel Berkowicz [Hebrew signature]

In Warsaw
May 29, 1810

July 7, 1810, Warsaw

71

To No. 643 / 1810 from June 10.

Regarding: The Old-Testament (Starozakonny) Leybuś, elder of the kahal (Jewish community council) of the Town of Łuków, in Łuków.

Privileges granted by former Polish Kings are not confirmed.

and rejected.

PP Gaudecki
12/7

Transcribed July 13, 1810.

Sent back July 14.

Dispatcher: Piechowski.

Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Orders of His Most Serene Majesty [...] Upon the request of the elders of the kahal of the Town of Łuków, submitted directly to His Royal Majesty on May 29 of the current year for the confirmation of privileges granted by former Polish Kings to the citizens of the same town, upon the return of the Annex, it is declared: as in the current state of affairs according to the Constitution of the Duchy of Warsaw, privileges previously deemed necessary in places do not require confirmation here; therefore, His Royal Majesty did not deign to accede to the aforementioned request.

J. Łuszczewski

Assistant: 1/9.

Supplication

General [...] of the Kahals

72

In Piechowice.

Confirmation of all activities, July 30, 1810. Bromm regarding the Files.

Józef Piechowski

July 10, 1810

To His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs.
The Prefect of the Siedlce Department

73

Responding to the Rescript of His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs dated June 8 of the current year, Number 518/1622, and received on June 24, regarding the clarification of the reasons for the dissolution of the Kahał (Jewish communal self-government) in the City of Węgrów, the following explanation is submitted. The Central Government, wishing to bring relief to the Israelite people in taxation and to free them from the extortion they suffered at the hands of the pachciarze (tax farmers) or leaseholders of the Kosher Tax and the Candle Tax, ordered the redistribution of the general tax sum of 127,000 Rhineland Florins (Ryński), previously paid by these same tax farmers from the Siedlce District, among the Jewish Communities according to the Kahałs established during the Austrian Administration in 1808. These were divided into three classes according to wealth, in a progression of 1, 4, and 6.

The Kahałs, which until that era were unregulated by the persons delegated for that purpose according to the Regulations and the scope of their extent confirmed by Governmental Decree, were called upon to regulate themselves, to submit accounts, to conduct new elections among themselves for persons to manage this tax, to report their population, and to assign every poor and wealthy family

74

to a class according to its wealth and the tax to be paid by it. All, being obedient to the orders of the Government, complied. They accepted this call and the work of the Central Government, breathing with benevolence, with readiness and admiration. Only the Kahałs of Węgrów and Żelechów, seeing in this a barrier placed against extortion and their private profits, not only failed to appear immediately at the call of the Delegate, but by all means, through procrastination, attempted to force the overturning of this Government Statute at the Government itself. When the Delegate arrived in Węgrów several times, only the Community (Gmina) itself was assembled without the Elders; when the Kahał members refused to hand over their books or proceed with the division and submission of families; when the Community made thousands of complaints against them and submitted disclosures of their extortions to the Office, which reported this to the Central Government, a Resolution of the Central Government dated November 20, 1809, No. 2711, ordered that a local Commission be sent in the person of Honorable Councilor Markowski. He, having looked into all the grievances of the Community and strictly scrutinized and examined the conduct of these Kahał members, proceeded to regulate the Kahał.

He performed the division of the people into classes, calculated the payment from each family, appointed collectors elected by the Community, and having found the Kahał members guilty of extortion and oppression, sentenced them as punishment to removal from the Kahał

service for 3 years and to police arrest. Having submitted the Kahał members elected by the Council in their place to the Administrative Office of the District for confirmation along with his opinion, as the entire attached record (operat) indicates, the return of which with all attachments is requested.

The Administrative Office confirmed this just opinion and, having reported this to the Central Government, ordered the execution of this verdict to the Honorable Święcki, Commissioner of the Węgrów Circle (Obwód). The latter, misled by the Kahał's declaration of a desire to file an appeal (rekurs), refrained from execution and only reported this step to the Administrative Office. The Administration, not wishing to block anyone's path to seeking justice or mercy, despite repeating the order for the execution of its verdict, awaited the submission of the declared appeal and suspended full satisfaction of the Decree for a time. But when, after several months of vain waiting, new complaints were filed regarding the extortion and oppression of this Kahał, and when the influence of any payment from this Kahał was halted, finding the cause solely in the administration of these same persons once more convicted of malfeasance, the Prefect of the Department ordered the Circle Commissioner, by Resolution No. 7511, his verdict

...to be brought to effect; thus it was completed, and the new Kahał members elected have been submitted to the Prefect of the Department for confirmation under No. 13507.

Such is the state of the matter regarding which the Kahał Jews Wiedenbaum and Mordkowicz have approached His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs with their petition. Their conduct, shown in the Protocol of the Commission by Honorable Councilor Markowski and proven by the new injustices charged against them, along with the duplicity and delay they used throughout the entire matter; given the falsehood by which, through the thought of filing an appeal—which has been vainly awaited for 5 months—they still defend their cause and delay time only to satisfy their ambition and pillage; they have dared, while mocking the Government as they openly relied on their subterfuges and protection, they invite a severe punishment. However, as the Prefect of the Department has commuted the arrest and fulfilled the sentence only by removing them from office, His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs will easily be convinced of the justice of this verdict, and by confirming it, will deign to further block the path of vengeance, subterfuge, and pillage for persons of such harmful character.

Grzybowski

No. 10323
361 hp.

Warsaw, August 2, 1810. No. 96 from July 77 / 1810.

To the Well-Born Prefect of the Siedlce Department in Siedlce.

Confirmation of the proceedings regarding the new election of the Kahal elders (starszych Kahalnych) in Węgrów.

And communicating for his official information a copy of the response today issued to the Kahal regarding the complaint.

To the Old-Testament (starozakonny) Weidenbaum in Węgrow.

Notification regarding the complaints.

To His Majesty’s Minister of Internal Affairs.

Having reviewed the record of the proceedings of the former Administrative Office of Siedlce in the matter of the Węgrów Kahal members removed from office and the undertaken new election of these same Kahal members, sent to you by the Well-Born Prefect of the Siedlce Department under the date of July 9 of the current year, and having found that, being grounded both on the recommendations of the former Central Government issued on November 20 of last year and on prudent conduct, there is nothing against it, and hereby, upon returning the files to the Well-Born Prefect, permission is granted for the implementation of the new election of the Węgrów Kahal members.

To His Majesty’s Minister of Internal Affairs.

To the petition of the Old-Testament Weidenbaum submitted to you under the date of May 21 of the current year

78

in the name of the Węgrów Kahal (kahał - Jewish community board) for the suspension of the execution of the Resolution of the former Administrative Office of Siedlce removing the Węgrów Kahal members from office, it is hereby replied: that as it appears from the Report of the Well-Born Prefect of the Siedlce Department made under the date of July 9 of the current year, the Węgrów Kahal members removed from office became the cause of their own removal through disobedience to Government orders, and that their removal also occurred upon the express recommendation of the former Central Government issued on November 20 of last year, therefore no representation or recourse against the measures taken in this regard can have any effect.

Suszewski

Expediter: Piechowicz.

Siedlce, July 2, 1810.

To His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs

The Prefect of the Siedlce Department

The Jewish communal boards (kahały) of the Siedlce District are located for the most part in private cities and towns, in which ancient customs allowed their owners (dziedzice) either total or partial influence over the election and confirmation of Rabbis and other Jewish officials. These individuals, through their authority, act as civil-public officials not only over the families living in that town but also over the parishioners within the district of their kahał; and depending in their election upon the owner, they extend such a privilege of sovereignty and supervision, which in a free country should remain with the state, into the hands of a private person. Since all sovereignty in the country depends only upon the Government and should be granted by it, and as the insistence of owners upon their claims could easily cause a collision between them and the Government, the Prefect of the Department, anticipating such...

to His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs, so that he may decide and once and for all establish a rule in this matter, upon whom the confirmation of members of the kahał and all Jewish officials, who should be considered public officials, is to depend.

Grzybowski

Miliszewski, Secretary

July 4, 1815 – Ad. No. 94/303. July 21.

To the Honorable Prefect of the Siedlce Department

Regarding the dispatch of the Regulation of the former Austrian Government concerning the election and confirmation of Jewish Kahals (kahał, a communal board).

received July 17

prop. 57.
dr.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (Ministerstwo Spraw Wewnętrznych; M.S.W.), in response to the submission of the Honorable Prefect of the Siedlce Department dated the 2nd of the current month made to it concerning the election and confirmation of Kahal and other Jewish officials, replies that before it finally grants a resolution to the Honorable Prefect, it desires to have precisely explained what specific regulations existed under the Austrian Government, which the Honorable Prefect should extract from the records and transmit to the Ministry of Internal Affairs with the submission of a reliable report.

Un. S. Kahals

Administrative Department pg 12 = Arq 16
J. 1. 82

Warsaw, July 10. J. Łuszczewski

August 5, 1810, Biskupice

To the Most Illustrious Minister of Internal Affairs in Warsaw.

Archive Records. August 18, 1810. In Labasz. Rescript dated. Records of January 8, 1811. Entry no. 227. 646. August 10.

Previously, and indeed always, the Jewish Kahał (communal self-government) of Biskupice existed, and it did not lose its proper title even under Austrian rule. Despite all this, the Administration of the Biała District announced by Circular No. 1000 on April 27, 1810, to everyone, that by virtue of a Rescript of the Most Illustrious Minister of Internal Affairs issued on March 15, 1810, the Arondacja (administrative grouping) of the late Austrian Government, dated October 14, 1800, is to be inviolable. According to which Arondacja, Biskupice, being attached to Siedliszcze, loses the title of a Kahał. Against this announcement, which is burdensome for Biskupice, the undersigned have the honor to represent to the Most Illustrious Minister of Internal Affairs that this Arondacja was made by Mr. Mohrenbach, the former District Starosta (administrative head) of Biała, who for his injustices was dismissed, taken into arrest, and removed from Biała—it was made arbitrarily, without the government or other Kahałs. And not only did it not obtain the confirmation of the Highest Austrian Governments, but it was not even

communicated to the Kahał, who would have immediately brought their grievance before the Throne; but moreover—it was impugned by the subsequent District Starosta, Count Castiglioni, under the date of August 23, 1809, Nos. 8700 and 9702, as evidenced by the records of the former Biała District.

Therefore, this imaginary Arondacja can in no way take place, firstly because this Arondacja, being unpublished, could not become law, and law only acquires its efficacy when it is announced. Secondly, the Biskupice Kahał, having its own Rabbi, Synagogue, and school, which Siedliszcze lacks, would suffer great damage if it were attached to Siedliszcze; and what is more, the Biskupice Kahał along with the parishes of Łańcuchów, Milejów, Jaszczów, Łysołaje, Brzeźce, Siestrzitów, Trawniki, Oleśniki, Fajsławice, Gardzienice, Łopiennik, Dębie, Pilaszkowice, and Krzywe, is separated from Siedliszcze by the navigable river Wieprz, which river Wieprz floods several times during the year, hindering all religious rites and bringing great hardship not only to the Biskupice Kahał but also to the parishioners, if it were to change its ancient seat of the Kahał.

After such clear proof and representation

---

especially since according to the current regulation, Siedliszcze belongs to the Chełm District, while Biskupice belongs to the Lublin District.

84

of so many inconveniences resulting from this imaginary Arondacja, especially for the Biskupice Kahał along with the parishioners lying on the opposite side of the river Wieprz from Siedliszcze, the undersigned submit the most humble request to the Most Illustrious Minister, that he might deign to maintain the Biskupice Kahał along with the stated parishioners in its continuous significance. And by his just decree, protect from damages and inconveniences those who have the honor to remain with deep respect the lowest servants.

Aron Leybowicz, Kahał elder (נאום אהרן ב"ר בער כהנא)
Leyba Fiszel, Kahał elder (נאום ליב b"r יצחק)
Smul Leybowicz, Kahał elder (נאום שמואל ב"ר יהודא ליב)
Srul Dunowicz, synagogue beadle (נאום ישראל ב"ר דן משמש נאמן)

Warsaw, September 19, 1810.

To the Honorable Prefect of the Siedlce Department.

Original note of the Jews (Starozakonni) from Maciejowice regarding the formation of a separate kahal (Jewish community council) is sent herewith.

Dispatched September 19.

To Jews Dawid Muchinowicz and others from Maciejowice, in Warsaw.

Extract.

(–) G. Wyprzym.

Visa: Rector.

148. 85
     D. No. 1002 September.
     Cik.
     M.W.W. (Minister of Internal Affairs).

Communicating to the Honorable Prefect the original note of the Jews of the town of Maciejowice regarding the formation of a separate kahal, submitted on the 10th of this month, together with the annexes, and requesting the return of the same, he is called upon to look into the request of the petitioners, examine it, and not fail to submit a report to the Minister of Internal Affairs on this matter.
M.W.W.

Notice is given to the Jews Dawid Muchinowicz, Herszka Boruchowicz, Nathan Dawidowicz, and Josio Wolfkowicz of Maciejowice that their note regarding the formation of a separate kahal, submitted on the 10th of this month, has been sent to the Honorable Prefect of the Siedlce Department for a report and opinion.

J. Kossecki
Sent September 19.
Kopytowski

9 October 1810, Siedlce

No. 2, page 4, 8 October 1820
86

26 October

To
His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs

Prefect of the Siedlce Department

143/936
October 10

Executing the Rescript of Your Excellency the Minister of 19 September of the current year, No. 148/1002, in which the Note submitted by the Jews of the town of Maciejowice regarding the formation of a separate kahał (Jewish community board) was communicated, I have the honor to submit a representation that I am not in a position to satisfy this request at any other time than that in which a complete new arrangement of kahały throughout the entire Department should be undertaken, the necessity of which the Prefect of the Department has the honor to present to Your Excellency the Minister on this occasion.

Through the new delimitation of Departments in the Country, due to the incorporation of the districts belonging to the Warsaw Department as well as the counties (powiaty) located within them, the arrangement of kahały established by the former Austrian Government according to the circle (cyrkuł) districts has been so far confused that not only does one kahał with its parishes belong to several counties, but even half of some have been attached to one Department and the other half to another

87

Department. For these reasons, difficulty remains for the kahały, and there is almost a total impossibility of executing orders issued to them regarding the satisfaction of Treasury dues, as the Prefect of the Department has already received complaints in this matter from certain kahały. Presenting therefore this circumstance to Your Excellency the Minister—of which you will be pleased to be convinced—that the undertaking of a new arrangement of kahały is even necessary, and that an appropriate regulation in this matter should be issued; I have the honor to declare that only then could the request of the Jews of Maciejowice be considered; for now, it could be undertaken with no other effect than creating ever greater confusion among the kahały, rather than providing oversight at this time.

Grzybowski

Mikluszewski

No. 552. 98.

Warsaw, 26 October 1810, No. 143/936. From the Revision.

To the Distinguished Prefect of the Siedlce Department.

The Prefect is hereby authorized to draft a proposed plan for the division of Jewish communities (kahały) in his Department.

Upon receipt, write accordingly to the other 3 Prefects.
Done. Copy: 6 November 1810.
See No. 58. November 1810.

Eichtes prd: d: 5: November 10 Bassi. 31/10

Ministry of Internal Affairs

Having received the representation of the Distinguished Prefect dated 9 October of the current year regarding the need for a new foundation of Jewish communities in the Siedlce Department; finding the observations of the Distinguished Prefect to be just and their implementation necessary; he is hereby permitted to draft a proposed plan for the division of Jewish communities in the manner he deems most appropriate and convenient; he shall express the reasons and observations that indicate the need for this division of Jewish communities; and he shall send the entire plan for his Department according to the current insurance of the said communities, with all details, explanations, designations, and his conclusions, to the Minister of Internal Affairs for further decision.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs draws the attention of the Distinguished Prefect that in drafting the plan

89

for the Siedlce Department, he should keep in mind that in regulating the endowments of the communities, these should be delineated for all religious, charitable, and social rites and funds, as well as for tax purposes.

*Wissen 22.

Łuszczewski

Ed: Grabowski

Beffu[?]*

Siedlce, February 17, 1810

In the administration, February 21, 1811
No. 290

To His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs

The Prefect of the Siedlce Department presents a project for a new arrangement (arrondacja) of the Jewish communities (kahałs), in accordance with the Rescript dated October 26 of last year, No. 1413/936.

Upon receiving the Rescript sent by His Excellency the Minister under the date of October 26 of last year, acknowledging the validity of his observations regarding the need for a new arrangement of the communities, the Prefect has the honor to present to the Minister the following opinion for the convenient implementation of this work—

To be filed with reports from other Prefects — Ad acta.
February 23, 1811
[signature]
Entry 26/2 1

383/845 February 11

The confusion experienced until now in all community affairs, the almost complete impossibility of properly executing government orders issued to them, as well as the failure to discharge public levies due to the Treasury, have convinced the Prefect of the Department that the sole cause is the current fragmentation of the communities, where no community

About the Communities

91

parishes of a community are found not only in several districts (powiats), but rarely even within two departments. Thus, preventing such disorder can only occur through a strict adaptation of the community arrangement to the current internal division of the country. In view of this, the Prefect of the Siedlce Department, basing himself on principles aimed at bringing the above objective to fruition, has the honor to propose to the Minister that it is an indispensable necessity that:

1. In each district, there shall be one main community in the district town, whose circuit would encompass all parishes located within each respective district circuit.

2. Following such a division of the communities, all public levies and regulations, as well as government orders, should be applied to them in no other way—

92

applied except according to such a division. From these same considerations:

3. The main community located in the district town will represent the Jewish population of its entire circuit, that is, the district.

4. Regarding religious rites, should difficulties arise for parishioners living several miles from the district town to gather there for their worship, it will therefore be necessary to maintain those schools (shuls) or synagogues that currently exist in towns, hereafter under the general supervision of the main community located in the district town. In these, the Jewish population from defined villages, according to such divisions as may be established, will be able to perform worship and settle all religious rites. Finally:

5. The election of community elders (kahalni) and deputy elders (podkahalni), as well as other community officials—

93

officials, should take place in the presence of the local sub-prefect (podprefekt), where the assembled Jewish commune of the community circuit shall make the selection from among themselves.

Having presented his aforementioned opinion regarding the new arrangement of the communities—since internal regulations regarding the maintenance of community accounts for collections and expenditures, as well as rules of conduct for community officials, will surely be specified by special government decrees in a short time—the Prefect of the Department sees it as his duty only to represent to the Minister circumstances that should not be omitted in this new reform of the communities, and first regarding the Kabała (the kosher meat tax).

94

Concerning the securing of the public Treasury in the matter of outstanding arrears, which can only be collected according to the currently existing community circuits: hence arises the need to establish for each community circuit, as they now exist, one community board and one sworn collector. Their duty will be to collect Treasury arrears according to the lists of dues to be officially assigned to them and to deliver them to the district treasuries; and with the receipts obtained from these, they are to justify themselves before the appropriate sub-prefect in whose district the community town of the circuit was located. Furthermore, attention should be paid to the community debts, which, although they will now no longer be legally considered community debts but Treasury debts, are to be reclaimed from the former—

95

Austrian government. The said central government of the Emperor of Austria, succeeding to the debts placed upon the communities as part of its own Treasury, and having established for the liquidation of these a tax on kosher meat (koszerne) which it had collected since the Austrian fiscal year 1798—such a collection over 12.5 years may have already equaled the sum of the debt. But as it is expressed in the Decree of the Sovereign Lord issued on May 22 of the current year, found in the Journal of Laws No. 18, that for the liquidation of community debts in the new province, a further fund through the family tax (podatek familijny) established by a patent of the Austrian Government in Vienna on August 20, 1806, is surely to be surrendered to the local Treasury. Therefore, may it please His Excellency the Minister—

91

to issue your decision, should you graciously deign to approve the above project of the Department Prefect, on how to proceed regarding the confirmation of such debts: that is, whether to consider them as no longer concerning the communities at all and having no influence on the new allocation, nor on the old or the now-projected community arrangement; or, on the contrary, whether they should be applied?

Submitting this entire circumstance to the high decision of His Excellency the Minister, the Prefect of the Siedlce Department has the honor to request its swiftest possible communication—

and this—

97

and this for the purpose of facilitating the distribution of the Jewish taxes now being brought to effect.

Grzybowski

Referent Sczerbiński, Assessor.

Budziszewski

March 4, 1811

Most Illustrious Minister of Internal Affairs.
Most Gracious Lord!

The elders of the Kahał (Jewish community board) of the town of Maciejowice have several times submitted their requests regarding a separate Kahał in this town and the attachment of nearby parishioners to it. As they have received no resolution thus far, they have the honor to renew their request that this take place—that is, that the Kahał of the town of Maciejowice be established, and until this occurs, that the Kahał of Żelechów be prohibited from all executions for profit.

Humbly seeking this favor and request under the protection of the Most Illustrious Minister, as the protector of all religious establishments, we remain with deep respect.

Most Illustrious Lord's lowest servants,
Delegates and Elders of the Kahał of the Town of Maciejowice.
Dawid Dochumowicz
Herszk Boruchowicz
Mosko Dawidowicz

28/99.
May 11.

In Warsaw, March 4, 1811

Regarding Kahałs

February 5, 1811

Acts.

To the Illustrious Prefect of the Siedlce Department:

An investigation is to be conducted into the petition of the Maciejowice Kahał (Jewish community council) so that for now, until it is organized, it shall not be subject to the Żelechów Kahał.

Urgent.

Transcribed.

To Dawid Dorzumowicz and other Elders, delegates from the Maciejowice Kahał.

Sent to the Petition; transcribed [by] J. B. and delivered into hands.

M. Raba Donr

90
given March 28

Ministry of Internal Affairs

On account of the petition submitted to it by the delegates of the Maciejowice Kahał, requesting that until another division of Kahałs occurs, the Żelechów Kahał should refrain from [interference] toward them, thereby leaving them undisturbed. The Ministry of Internal Affairs hereby calls upon the Illustrious Prefect of the Siedlce Department to enter into a close investigation of the matter and to seek to protect the petitioners from the illegal oppression of the Żelechów Kahał, if indeed their claims are confirmed.

Ministry of Internal Affairs

Notify the Elders Dorzumowicz and other delegates of the Maciejowice Kahał that on this day the Illustrious Prefect of the Siedlce Department was ordered to investigate the petition, so that it may be commanded that the Maciejowice Kahał, until it is organized, shall not be obliged to submit to the Żelechów Kahał, as the latter imposes the most improper costs upon heavily distressed localities.

In administration: So. May 21, 1811.
Postponed.

March 20, 1811, Warsaw

Illustrious Minister of Internal Affairs.

Regarding the petitions to Your Excellency from the members of the kahal (Jewish community board) of the town of Maciejowice, the hereditary property of His Excellency Zamoyski, Ordynat and Senator of the Duchy of Warsaw, concerning the formation of a separate kahal in that city, we attach copies of the resolutions obtained. As this matter has not yet reached the desired conclusion, and since the time is now approaching for the payment of certain fees and taxes—in the collection of which the senior inhabitants of the town of Maciejowice experienced abuses and burdens from the Żelechów kahal, which His Excellency the Owner likewise viewed with an impatient eye, and desired, and continues to desire, that there be a separate kahal and parish in his town of Maciejowice—having traveled here specifically for this purpose, we approach Your Excellency the Minister with a request to obtain a final decision in this matter. We most humbly pray for its expedition, especially as we have already arrived here several times and incurred no small expenses, submitting for this purpose our authorization.

The most humble servants of the Illustrious Minister and Lord.

Dawid Nachmanowicz
Herszek Boruchowicz
Elders of the Maciejowice kahal in their own and others' names.

531. May 11.

Copy

September 19, 1810, Warsaw

Minister of Internal Affairs.

Informs the Jews (Starozakonni) Dawid Nochimowicz, Herszek Boruchowicz, Nochim Dawidowicz, and Icek Herszkowicz of Maciejowice that their petition, submitted on the 10th of this month regarding the formation of a separate Kahał (Jewish community),

Warsaw, 25 May 1811

To
The Prefect of the Siedlce Department

To submit a report regarding the Maciejowice kahał (Jewish community board) who do not wish to be subordinate to the Żelechów kahał.

Signed.

See folio 447
1811

To
Dawid Nachimowicz
and Herszek Boruchowicz
of Maciejowice

Copy.

Appended 25 May [18]11.

Regarding Kahałs

To Number 530/1010, 27 March 1811

Ministry of Internal Affairs

On 5 March of the current year, the Prefect was instructed that, having entered into a closer examination of the petition of the Maciejowice kahał, which does not wish to be subordinate to the Żelechów kahał, he should protect the supplicants from the unlawful oppression of the Żelechów kahał, and investigate whether their proposals might truly be beneficial. Since nothing is known to date regarding the outcome of the steps taken for this purpose by the Prefect; he is therefore summoned to submit a precise report on this matter within fourteen days from the date of this rescript.

Ministry of Internal Affairs

In response to Mr. Dawid Nachimowicz and Herszek Boruchowicz regarding their petition submitted on the 20th of the current month in the name of the specified inhabitants of the town of Maciejowice for the formation of a separate kahał, [the Ministry] declares: that prior to the general organization and delimitation of the kahałs in the four new Departments, nothing specific regarding the town of Maciejowice can be undertaken.

104

Since His Majesty the King, upon their previous note, instructed the Prefect of the Siedlce Department to liberate and protect the supplicants from the oppression they suffer at the hands of the Żelechów kahał after examining the matter; they ought to be satisfied with this.
J. Klusiewicz

Registration Clerk
Mich Liebmanowicz

June 15, 1811

Sent on June 15, 1811, regarding the Jews of Maciejowice who do not wish to depend on the Żelechów Kahał (Jewish communal board).

S. i. pr. June 15, 1811. 105

In accordance with the Decree dated the 25th of last month, Registry Archive No. 530 / 1019, from the month [...] Further Decision.

In Warsaw on June 25, 1811.

To the Illustrious Prefect of the Siedlce Department regarding the Jews of Maciejowice who do not wish to depend on the Żelechów Kahał.

No. 225, June 11. JR. Pasker, June 25, 1811. St. Jrom. I transcribed [this] June 26, 1811, Kiszewski. In Markatów.

No. 225, June 11.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, having not received a submitted report in response to the Rescript dated March 5 of the current year, No. 28 / 99, in which it instructed the Illustrious Prefect to enter into a closer investigation of the request of the Maciejowice Kahał not wishing to depend on the Żelechów Kahał, and to protect the petitioners from the unjust oppression of the Żelechów Kahał if their submission is indeed confirmed, as well as regarding the secondary order issued in this matter dated May 25 of the current year, No. 530 / 1019; the Ministry of Internal Affairs feels compelled for the third and final time to call upon the Illustrious Prefect so that, within seven days from the date of receiving this instruction, he does not fail to submit a detailed report in this matter; otherwise, he will bear the blame of the auctioneers for the paying legitimacy, Dzięgiel escapes.

[signature illegible]

July 2, 1811

No. 3733.

Department of Statistics

Siedlce

In response to the Rescript dated March 5, 1811, from the Department of Administration, Administrative Bureau, under No. 28/99 of March—submits in the attached copy the Report of the Sub-Prefect of the Żelechów District, together with the Original Protocol of the Inquiry of the Delegated Jews from the community of the town of Maciejowice, on the occasion of the various complaints of oppression against the Żelechów Kahał (Jewish community board) brought by them to His Excellency the Minister, which was prepared following the order given to him on the basis of the above-mentioned Rescript.

The Prefect of the Siedlce Department to His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs.

In fulfillment of the Rescript of His Excellency the Minister entered under the date of March 5 of the current year, No. 28/99, as well as subsequent ones, one dated May 25, No. 530/1019 of May of the current year, and a second dated June 25 of the current year, No. 225, issued on the same matter—concerning the swiftest possible inquiry into the complaints submitted by the Jews of the town of Maciejowice regarding various oppressions against the Żelechów Kahał, while attaching the Copy of the Report in this matter made by the Sub-Prefect of the Żelechów District as a result of the order given to Him, and the Original Protocol of the Inquiry sent with it, has the honor to state:

That from this Inquiry Protocol and the Report of the Sub-Prefect, it appears that the inhabitants of the town of Maciejowice are most concerned with the formation of a Kahał in Maciejowice regarding religious rites, and that in their conclusion, they request only this, together with a request for permission to establish a Kirkut, or Jewish cemetery, and they have voluntarily renounced all other previous complaints regarding harassment. This voluntary withdrawal shows that under the pretext of complaints of harassment submitted, they wished, through persistence,

to obtain from the Government the granting of Permission for the establishment of a New Kahał, which, upon their petition regarding these demands submitted directly, had been refused to them for sound reasons.

For although, as the Sub-Prefect includes in his Report, the Lord of the Place, His Excellency Ordynat Zamoyski, wishes for this in order to provide relief to the inhabitants—the Prefect of the Department has the honor to state:

1. That despite the unsuitable location, as the town of Maciejowice is situated on the very edge of the Department;
2. That the formation of a Kahał there in any respect could only take place during the general arrangement (arondacja) of Kahałs, which is absolutely necessary;
3. That as they themselves admit in their complaints, there is a small number of Jewish families there, and those are very poor, it is not appropriate to form a Kahał in the town of Maciejowice, especially since

as experience teaches, this would bring no relief to the nearby inhabitants; on the contrary, it would become a reason for forming new collections under various religious pretexts and for the extortion of the poor people—except in the event that the Project submitted by the Prefect of the Department to His Excellency the Minister on October 9, 1810, No. 553/98, regarding the new arrangement of Kahałs in proportion to the district (powiat) circuits was approved; and then the town of Maciejowice would be incorporated from the Żelechów District into the Garwolin District, within whose boundaries the greater part of the lands belonging to the Maciejowice Estate are located, and in which a Kahał for the Garwolin District would be established.

However, the Prefect of the Department, submitting this to the high Decision of His Excellency the Minister, has the honor to attach the Petition for its communication to him.

Grzybowski

Reported by Gumowski, Adjunct.

Petition of the Elders and Delegates of the Międzyrzec Kahał regarding separate quarters in the said town.

June 13, 1811, in Żelechów

Copy to No. 3753.
No. 283 and 640.

July 11
To the Most Illustrious Prefect of the Siedlce Department
The Sub-prefect of the Żelechów District

Complying with the recommendation of the Most Illustrious Prefect dated March 12 of the current year, No. 1398, and dated May 30 of the current year, No. 3399, I have the honor to submit the following report to the Most Illustrious Prefect.

For the purpose of examining the complaint of the delegates from the Maciejowice Jews regarding illegal oppression, filed with the Most Illustrious Minister of Internal Affairs against the Żelechów Kahał (Jewish community administration), I had long ago summoned them to appear in my office to undertake the

investigation. However, raising various excuses regarding the impossibility of appearing, they delayed their personal attendance until the 12th day. When they finally appeared on the 12th, the Sub-prefect undertook the protocol of investigation regarding the same and inquired as to what illegal oppressions on the part of the Żelechów Kahał they had brought their complaint about to the Most Illustrious Minister of Internal Affairs, and at what time these occurred. In response, having specified in points the grievances experienced from the Żelechów Kahał, the Maciejowice Jews simultaneously stated in their conclusion that, because through the formation of a new department of the Kosher tax (podatek koszerny) and the reduction of the power of the Dominion, hope has been placed in the Kahałs, and considering that the Żelechów Kahał owes significant arrears to the treasury, they voluntarily renounce all claims regarding the burdensome distribution of taxes and the conduct of executions

arising therefrom, without further investigation being conducted in this matter. They only requested that regarding religious rites they be separated from the Żelechów Kahał—that is, since they already have a synagogue and a cemetery (kirkut) established in Maciejowice, they might obtain permission and constitute a separate Kahał; they declared this in the name of all the Maciejowice Jews.

Therefore, the Sub-prefect, considering further investigation unnecessary in such a case, concluded the protocol—which he attaches as evidence for his report. For the resolution of the request discussed in the conclusion by the delegates, I have the honor to send it to the Most Illustrious Prefect, while the Sub-prefect attaches his opinion that the request of the Maciejowice Jews regarding the formation of a separate Kahał for their religion is just, especially since the owner, the Most Illustrious Ordynat Zamoyski,

desires this himself and offered to designate a place for a cemetery. This, however, could only take place in the event of attaching to Maciejowice certain villages and towns from the Garwolin District (in which there is no Kahał), because the Maciejowice estate itself contains a sufficient number of Jewish families for the formation of a separate Kahał.

(- Signed) Grabowski

(A true copy of the original)
Nudriszewski
Secretary General

PREFECT OF THE SIEDLCE DEPARTMENT

12 June 1811

Result of the Order of His Excellency the Prefect of the Siedlce Department No. 1098 of 23 May of this year, No. 3099, by virtue of the Rescript of His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs of 5 June of this year No. 11/28 79 n-go, and of 25 May of this year No. 520 1019, issued for the purpose of examining the complaint submitted to His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs by the Delegated Jews of Maciejowice against the Żelechów kahał (Jewish community council) regarding unlawful oppression, prepared by the Sub-Prefect of the Garwolin District on 12 June 1811.

The Sub-Prefect, having received the aforementioned orders of His Excellency the Prefect, and intending to fulfill them, summoned the Delegated Jews of Maciejowice and Żelechów to appear at his Office, and conducted a material investigation into the grievances submitted in the complaint of the Jews of Maciejowice, according to the following points:

1.

What are the oppressions suffered by the Jews of Maciejowice from the Żelechów kahał, about which the Delegates submitted a grievance to His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs, and at what time did these occur?

Ad 1.

We, the Delegates, in the name of all the Jews of Maciejowice, declare that the oppressions inflicted upon us by the Żelechów kahał are as follows:
a) That the Żelechów kahał in the year 1808, regarding the Class Tax (podatek klasyczny), imposed it upon such a poor small town as Maciejowice—where most Jews find themselves in unbearable poverty and barely a dozen wealthier persons can be found—to the amount of 948 [złoty]. When, due to their misery, the kahał could not collect it in time, it was extorted by Całuszyński, who increased our misfortune with a sequestration of 360 Polish złoty (złp.) from the community money.

ad No. 731.
Lipsi 11.

1. That in the year 1809, out of proportion to the ratio of families in the town of Żelechów and others, the Żelechów kahał at that time, seeing the abundant contributions for horses despite the poverty of the Jewish families of Maciejowice, designated 42 ducats in gold for the year as a burdensome amount. First, they ordered us to pay 17 bank złoty for each ducat; then, seeing the scarcity of gold, they later demanded 27 bank złoty for a ducat. Thus, giving no respite from this harassment, the Maciejowice families finally achieved their goal, though at great cost. Being squeezed by this, and some having sold their last cows for the said 42 ducats in gold, they paid the treasury, and the costs of this goal reached 150 bank złoty.

2. That in the year 1810, the Żelechów kahał similarly and burdensomely distributed the Class Tax upon the Maciejowice families in the sum of 840 bank złoty. This tax was collected by the Bankmeisthan in silver until the last day of July; however, after the last day of July, it was to be paid in bank notes. For 417 złoty, the property of the families was executed by the military, and in this regard, it cost the Jewish families of Maciejowice over 200 bank złoty in silver.

3. Likewise, it is no less a bitter oppression for the Jewish families of Maciejowice that, regarding religious rites, they belong to the Żelechów kahał despite having their own synagogue in Maciejowice; they must transport their dead 4 miles to the cemetery (kirkut) in Żelechów, and consequently must bear other costs.

4. That there are also other oppressions of lesser importance which the Maciejowice families have suffered under the Żelechów kahał, and they remain under the constant protection of the Lord Heir regarding the matter of rents, which have not been transferred to the chest.
   For which reason, before the government authorities today, such absolute distribution of taxes by the kahał cannot be permitted.

[The text here is fragmented and reflects a continuation of grievances] ...independent reading ... was forbidden, and the unfortunate establishment of a new distribution of the Offering Tax (podatek ofiarny), according to the proposal prepared by the Excellencies the Councilors here and the Delegates from the community, which, since it has caused over two hundred [problems] in the six months since its inception, constitutes a difficulty for us and a total hardship in recovering our money from the Żelechów kahał. As it is known to us that the Żelechów kahał owes nearly 40,000 Polish Royal złoty to the Treasury, we, the undersigned, in the name of all the Jewish families of Maciejowice, hereby declare that we completely waive and renounce all our claims which we had against the Żelechów kahał regarding the union of taxes and offerings, about which we submitted our grievances to the Excellencies the Ministers of Internal Affairs. We make no further claims in this matter... We only most humbly beg one favor of His Excellency the Prefect: that the individual [communal] authorities arising from the rites of our religion be left to us... and so that we may always have a synagogue in Maciejowice and permission to build [it], especially since our Lord Heir, the Count Ordynat Zamoyski, has willingly consented to this, and that it be recognized as a separate kahał regarding rites and other matters, and so that we may submit the... of our children at the port to the Excellencies the Ministers of Internal Affairs.

...to inspection, as well as from extraordinary punishments; and that the Civil Registry officials, for whom we have a house in Maciejowice, be released from paying kahał fees to Rebechowski; may they deign to do so.
Icyk Dawidowicz
Miszel Lewkowicz

The delegates from the Maciejowice Jews, having dictated their remarks into the protocol regarding their grievances against the Żelechów kahał, for which they had submitted a complaint to His Excellency the Minister of Revenues and Treasury; now, in the name of all Maciejowice Jews and all those present, [regarding] the burdensome distribution of taxes and the demand for military [contributions] pertaining to the Żelechów kahał—considering that other communal kahałs are falling into arrears with the Treasury, and since others have been relieved of such oppressions through the formation of the new Jewish Kosher Tax and the entrustment of its selection to the families—they declared that they withdraw without making further demands in this matter. They declared only in the conclusion of their petition that they should receive permission for a synagogue in Maciejowice and the creation of a kahał, as far as Ordynat Zamoyski consents to it, and that, being added to the great list of numerous petitioners to His Excellency the Minister of Justice, they might establish a separate kahał in Maciejowice regarding their religious rites and be freed from the [requirement] of the beadle to bury the dead miles away and from arbitrary fees for the same. Therefore, on the basis of such a declaration by the delegates of the Maciejowice Jews, seeing no need to enter further into the investigation or to compel the Żelechów kahał to provide explanations, the Judaizing [investigation] was concluded. As for the request of the Maciejowice Jews to form a separate kahał, the Sub-Prefect submits this for decision with his opinion that their request is just, insofar as His Excellency Ordynat Zamoyski consents to it; however, the submission and effect of certain [matters] regarding the General Treasury, in which the Maciejowice community is involved, can only be said to be carried out in this manner.

On this basis, the present protocol is signed by the Sub-Prefect and witnesses.
In Żelechów, 12 June 1811.
Grabowski

Warsaw: July 26, 1811. D. A: 934. 731.

D.
Ministry of Internal Affairs (M.S.W.) 149

Regarding the Jew David Dochunowicz in Maciejowice, Siedlce Department, Żelechów District. - That a separate Kahal (Jewish community administrative body) in Maciejowice cannot be requested at this time. -

Official.

Received in Petitions.

State Clerk
on July 26

Transcribed July 27, 1811
Fisser

In response to the Notes submitted by the delegated Jewish inhabitants of the town of Maciejowice dated March 4 and May 20 of the current year, in which they complain of their grievances caused by the Żelechów Kahal and request the establishment of a new Kahal in the town of Maciejowice, it is hereby answered to the Jew David Dochunowicz: that, as concerns their grievances against the Żelechów Kahal, the Honorable Prefect of the Siedlce Department reported in a Report dated the 2nd of the current month and year that the petitioners have withdrawn from pursuing their grievances against the said Kahal and have testified to this in the Minutes of the Commission appointed for this matter; thus, this circumstance

Kahal Office

110

To the Honorable Prefect of the Siedlce Department.

The above dispatch is communicated.

is considered settled; as for the establishment of a separate Kahal in the town of Maciejowice, the petitioners have already received a response from the Ministry of Internal Affairs on May 25 of the current year under No. 590/1019 in this regard, to which they must conform.

Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Sends to the Honorable Prefect of the Siedlce Department, for his official information, a copy of the response given this day to the Jewish inhabitants of the town of Maciejowice regarding the Report submitted by the Honorable Prefect on the 2nd of the current month and year concerning the circumstance of their grievances against the Żelechów Kahal about burdens, and the request for a separate Kahal in the town of Maciejowice, declaring furthermore to the Honorable Prefect that these inhabitants shall continue to belong to the Kahal

M.
of Żelechów until the implementation of the projected Plan of Division of Kahals in his Department, submitted by the Honorable Prefect to the Minister of Internal Affairs, in accordance with the Rescript of the Minister of Internal Affairs dated October 28 of the current year, No. 149 / 996, regarding those not yet submitted. -
Entry Jatuszowski 25. 26.

Piechowski
[24] / 7

Lappert 24.

Most Honorable Minister of Internal Affairs!

The Religious Department has the honor of transferring this matter, which belongs to the Administrative Department, to the same. August 5, Year 1811.
Gorski.

To No. 1.

Archive at hand.
Join the files.
Luch.

In view of the decision.
Since my several-fold request cannot, on the basis of the Treasury, bring anything but no response.
Luch.

226/119.
August 11.

Reproduce upon the arrival of the response from the Most Honorable Minister of the Treasury to the communication of September 27 past; or if it should not arrive within a week, order it to the Files.
Luch. Vp/13. LL 14.

24 July 1811

The undersigned Parish Priest of the Roman rite in Piszczac, in the Biała District (Powiat), Siedlce Department, having the sum of 1,500 Polish złotys (złp.) invested in the Biała Kahał (Jewish community council), which was later transferred to the Biała District Treasury as evidenced by the attached document sub /: regularly received interest on this sum from the Biała District Treasury under the previous government. Under the current government, when the said interest did not reach the undersigned, he submitted a petition in this matter to the Honorable Sub-Prefect of the Biała District, requesting that he act so that the interest from the aforementioned sum be paid to the undersigned. As a result of this petition, sent by the Honorable Sub-Prefect of Biała to His Excellency the Prefect of the Siedlce Department, and subsequently communicated to the Honorable Director of the Treasury of the Siedlce Department, the undersigned received the Resolution attached here in the original, stating that the just request of the undersigned will be satisfied. The undersigned, having no other income except for a small piece of land and this interest unpaid for two years, is not only unable to pay the taxes due to the public treasury, but is also unable to maintain the necessities of his life.

For this reason, he submits a most humble request to the Honorable Minister of Internal Affairs, that he might graciously order the payment of the interest from the aforementioned sum to the undersigned, both for the past and the current year.

In Piszczac, on the 24th day of July 1811.

Father Stanisław Barczewski, Parish Priest of Piszczac of the Roman rite

art = 110
Siedlce 11.

124

November 19, 1810, Siedlce

The Director of the Public Treasury in the Siedlce Department

In response to the petition from the Honorable Father Stanisław Baczewski, Pastor of Piszczac, regarding the payment of overdue interest from the foundation sum of 1,500 Polish złoty placed on the Biała kahał (Jewish community council), which was submitted to the Right Honorable Sub-prefect of the Biała District and communicated to the Director of the Treasury by the Right Honorable Prefect of the Siedlce Department, he replies: that the Honorable Father Baczewski, Pastor of Piszczac, should apply for the payment of such interest to the Most Honorable Minister of Internal Affairs, as the overseer of the Fund for the Liquidation of Kahał Debts.

Rembieliński

Pawłowski

To the Honorable Father Stanisław Baczewski, Pastor in Piszczac

ad N. 127 4. November 1810

March 28, 1801

Verified copy.

No. 119
2 f. l.

No. 1481. To the Roman Catholic parish office in Pisarce: from the local Royal Tax Office, by virtue of the order issued by the high provincial authority, the outstanding interest from January 1 to the end of October 1798, amounting to 13 florins (fr.) 37 1/2 kreuzers (kr.), is to be paid out from the capital of 375 florins belonging to the Pisarce parish church and held at the Biała (Biala) Revenue Office; likewise, from November 1, 1798, current rents are to be paid at an annual rate of 15 florins 45 kreuzers against the parish priest's receipts issued in accordance with the regulations.
Biała, March 28, 1801. District of Wesenbeich.

I certify the conformity of the presented and present copy with the verified original.
Biała, November 13, 1802.

August 6, 1811
126

Most Honorable Minister of Internal Affairs

Dunajewski, Parish Priest in Biała

30 July 1811
11 August

The inhabitants of the town of Piszczac, in the Biała District (Powiat Bialski), in the Siedlce Department, living nearest to the Zalesie Post near Terespol, to whom the following parishioners belonged: in Kościeniewicze, in Wólka Kościeniewicka, in Lahutyn — in Chotyłów — in Zalesie of His Honor — in Horbów — and in Kłoda. —

When, during the assessment by the former administration of the Biała District of the chimney taxes (podatki gzymsowiczane; a hearth tax) and family taxes, these parishioners, among whom the elders in all matters living in the locations listed above were torn away from us; they were attached to the Biała Parish in the year 1810, by which a great detriment to our parish occurred; we request in this regard His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs that these same parishioners, as in regards to religion, as they formerly

$\frac{161}{340}$

127

formerly were able to belong to the parish of the town of Piszczac — For which humbly requesting, we await the acceleration of a gracious resolution.

Given in Piszczac on the day of 30 July 1811.

Josel Herszkowicz Parnas (elder of a Jewish community)
Szloma Mejerowicz
Kahal elders sent from the entire community of Piszczac

August 16, 1811

To:
The Elders Josel Herszkowicz and Szloma Mejerowicz, deputies of the Kahał (Jewish community board) of the Parczew Gmina, should present themselves to the Prefect.

Appeal

128
August 16
Ministry of Internal Affairs

In response to the note submitted by Messrs. Josel Herszkowicz and Szloma Mejerowicz, deputies of the Kahał of the Parczew Gmina, concerning the annexation of certain nearby parishes to their Kahał, it is declared that the supplicants should address their request to the Prefect of the Siedlce Department.

J. Starzeński 16

Entered 9.
Dispatched August 17.
Status […] August 17.
Received August 17, 1811.

To the Kahałs.

To
the Most Illustrious
Minister
of Internal Affairs
from the Gmina of the City
of Kraków, a petition
for a general
intervention.

As within.

108
In Warsaw

130

Regarding Report 2960
To
the Honorable Patron Borowski, Procuracy
in Pińczów, to Mr. Radosław
in Pińczów.

The sum of 399 silver rubles paid August 1 / August 23, 1851.

Warsaw, August 16, 1811, No. 106 from Letter 783

To the Honorable Prefect of the Siedlce Department

To provide a report: were 6 parishes (parafie) indeed attached from the Kahal (Kahat - Jewish communal board) of the town of Łomazy to the Kahal of Biała, or not?

Plan signed by Eichler: August 19, 1811.
August 17.
Refused: August 19, 11.

To the Jews (Starozakonni) Folk Szmułowicz and Leibuś Wolfowicz, residents of the town of Łomazy, in Warsaw.

Stamp

Files: Kahals

Ministry of Internal Affairs

Having received on the 8th day of this month and year from the Jews Folk Szmułowicz and Leibuś Wolfowicz, in the name of the Kahal of the town of Łomazy, a note: that six parishes belonging for a long time and under the Austrian Government to the Kahal of Łomazy, the Kahal of Biała has unlawfully usurped for itself, and that they received no favorable resolution in this matter from the Honorable Prefect—the Ministry, communicating such note in the original to the Honorable Prefect of the Siedlce Department with a request for its return, calls upon him to explain this circumstance to the Ministry of Internal Affairs in detail and to provide the necessary opinion in this regard.

Ministry of Internal Affairs

In response to the petition submitted on the 8th day of this month and year by the Jewish residents of the town of Łomazy, Folk Szmułowicz and Leibuś Wolfowicz, in the name of their Kahal,

142

concerning the attachment of six parishes which have unlawfully fallen away to the Wikariat of Biała (Wikariatu Puskiego), the Ministry answers: that on this day, the Prefect of the Siedlce Department was summoned to clarify the request of the petitioners, after which the Ministry of Internal Affairs will do what is appropriate.

Rokicki

Wicher 11.

J. Turowski 16.

Soffert 10.

In administration, August 20, 1811
$L. r. 24/8.$
133

August 12, 1811

No. 4884.

Department of Statistics

The Prefect of the Siedlce Department

In response to the Rescript dated the 26th of last month, No. 227/731 of July, from the Administration Department, Bureau of Special Administration, he presents a copy of the Draft for the Lease of Inns (Arrendacyja) already previously submitted.

481/1087
Sud 11.
Anna 1.

Ad Acta
August 24, 1811.
[signature illegible] 30.
W. Nakata

To His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs

Having learned from the rescript cited above that His Excellency the Minister did not receive the project of the Prefect of the Department regarding the Lease of Inns, made pursuant to the Rescript dated October 26 of last year, No. 142/906, under the date of February 1 of the current year, No. 24, I have the honor to submit a faithful copy of the same for High Decision.

Grzybowski
Antoniewski S. J.

to No. 1087
Sied 11.

Copy

No. 94.

DEPARTMENT

Siedlce, February 1, 1811

The Prefect of the Siedlce Department presents a project for a new Arrondation (district reorganization) of Kahals (Jewish community boards) according to the Rescript dated October 26 of last year, No. 870/926.

Prefect of the Siedlce Department to His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs

Having received, by the Rescript of His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs dated October 26 of last year, a call for my observations regarding the necessity of a new Arrondation of Kahals, I have the honor to present to His Excellency the Minister the following opinion, for the purpose of conveniently bringing this Work to fruition. —

The confusion experienced thus far in all Kahal affairs, the almost complete impossibility of trouble-free implementation of Government orders issued to them, as well as the collection of Public Levies due to the Treasury, have convinced the Prefect of the Department that the sole and entire cause of this is the currently existing division of Kahals, where the parishes of one Kahal are found not only in several

in several Districts but even in two Departments; thus, the prevention of such disorder can only occur through the strict application of the Arrondation of Kahals to the present Internal division of the Country; and in this regard, the Prefect of the Siedlce Department, basing himself on principles that would aim to bring the aforementioned Exchange to fruition, has the honor to propose that there is an indispensable need that:

1. In each District (powiat) there should be one main Kahal in the District Town, whose jurisdiction would include all Parishes (parafie) located in each respective District area.

2. After such a division of Kahals has occurred, all public levies and regulations, as well as Government orders, should be applied to them in one manner

only according to such division—and for these reasons—

3. The Main Kahal located in the District Town will represent the Jewry of its