Metadata: Pinkas [community register] of the Jewish Community in Płock
Collection
- Country:
- Poland
- Holding institution:
- The Emanuel Ringelblum Jewish Historical Institute
- Holding institution (official language):
- Żydowski Instytut Historyczny im. Emanuela Ringelbluma
- Postal address:
- ul. Tłomackie 3/5, 00-090 Warszawa
- Phone number:
- +48 22 827 92 21
- Email:
- secretary@jhi.pl
- Reference number:
- PL 312/114
- Title:
- Pinkas [community register] of the Jewish Community in Płock
- Title (official language):
- Pinkas gminy żydowskiej w Płocku
- Creator/accumulator:
- Jewish Community in Płock
- Date(s):
- 1762/1819
- Language:
- Hebrew
- Polish
- Latin
- German
- Extent:
- 0.1 linear metre; 1 archival unit
- Type of material:
- Textual material
- Physical condition:
- poor
- Scope and content:
-
The pinkas (chronicle) of the Jewish Community of Płock was kept between the years 1762 and 1819. There are single documents from 1760, 1761 and 1819; however, the main body of the pinkas is from the years 1762-1795. It includes, e.g,. the names of people who were elected each year for a variety of community functions, the community regulations and taxes, purchase of real estate, lists of belongings (properties), social matters, loans and debts. Most of the pinkas is written in Hebrew mixed with some Yiddish and some Aramaic. About 10 percent is written in Polish (loans and debts) and there are some pages in Latin and German.
The register is in poor condition and requires conservation. The leather cover is battered, the paper cards have stains and are damaged.
- Archival history:
- According to the acquisitions register of the Jewish Historical Institute archive, the pinkas was donated to its archive in 2000 by Michał Kenigsberg. We do not know how it came into his possession, nor what its previous fate was.
- Administrative/biographical history:
-
The beginnings of the Jewish community in Płock probably date back to the 11th century. The first historical mention of the presence of Jews in Płock occurs in 1237 in the town charter issued by Bishop Piotr I Półkozic. An organised Jewish community in Płock was not established until the 16th century. At that time, Jews lived on Żydowska Street, parallel to the Old Market Square on its eastern side. After the end of the Swedish "Deluge" (Polish-Swedish wars of 1655-1660), which resulted in the destruction of the Jewish district, the Jews were granted a privilege that allowed them to rebuild their houses. They were guaranteed the opportunity of buying food, trading, ritual slaughtering and selling cattle, rebuilding slaughterhouses and stalls. Trade and crafts were the basic activities of the members of the community. They leased distilleries, taverns and mills. In 1789, tailors established their own guild, as did the furriers in 1792.
In the 17th century, an administratively separated enclave of the Jewish population was established in Płock, including Żydowska, Bielska and Tylna Streets. According to the town plan from 1803, the Jewish district comprised 77 properties. At the end of the 18th century, eminent rabbis, Talmudists, Chaim Guensberg and Issachar Baer, son of Yehuda Leyb, worked there. In 1765, 675 Jews lived in the town and its vicinity; in 1800 there were 731 and in 1827 as many as 3,412; by 1939 there were approx. 10,000. In 1810 the Small Synagogue was built, and in 1866 the Great Synagogue was added. In 1845, a new Jewish cemetery was established, and in 1872, the Jewish Hospital of Isaac Fogel was opened. The development of the Jewish community took place during the period of the Kingdom of Poland (1815-1914). At that time, Hasidism had significant influence in Płock, the Haskalah gradually gained the advantage, followed by Zionism at the end of the 19th century.
- Access points: locations:
- Płock
- Subject terms:
- Jewish community records
- Jewish community records--Pinkasim
- Access, restrictions:
- Scanned documents are accessible in the archive and reading room of the Jewish Historical Institute.
- Yerusha Network member:
- The Taube Department of Jewish Studies of the University of Wrocław
- Author of the description:
- Agnieszka Reszka; The Emanuel Ringelblum Jewish Historical Institute; October 2019