Wa'ad Arba 'Aratzot

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Wa'ad Arba 'Aratzot , Hebrew for " Committee of the Four Countries ", was the highest Jewish self-government institution in the Kingdom of Poland , which existed from the mid-16th century to 1764.

The so-called Synod of Four Countries was the organization that represented the congregations of the four provinces of the kingdom ( Greater Poland , Lesser Poland , Galicia and Volhynia ), among others, to the king and made decisions that were binding on the Jewish community. The committee met at least twice a year during the major annual fairs in Lublin and Jarosław . The committee appointed special officials for the Wroclaw Fair, who were responsible for compliance with Jewish dietary regulations (see Jews in Wroclaw ).

history

The committee developed in the 16th century from regular meetings of rabbis and representatives of various communities in the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania . They met during important trade fairs to resolve controversial issues of legal interpretation ( Halacha ), theological issues, and practical everyday problems. It was also discussed how the annual taxes of the Jewish community to the Polish and Lithuanian states could be raised. In 1533, in a document from Sigismund I, a decision by the Wa'ads was mentioned and accepted. During this time, the Lublin Fair seems to have established itself as the most important gathering. Rabbi Shachna played a central role at that time.

During this period, the assemblies were usually referred to as the Council of the Three Countries , and less often as the Council of the Four Countries . Representatives of Poland (Greater and Lesser Poland, sometimes separated), Lithuania and Ruthenia (Volhynia, Galicia and Podolia) met. Around 1580 the meetings developed into a permanent institution. In 1587 the name Fünfländerrat appeared (Volhynia and Galicia separately). In 1623 Lithuania formed its own council and left.

Since the beginning of the 17th century, the meetings took place regularly in Lublin in February and March and in Yaroslav in autumn. There were also meetings in other places at other times. Especially between 1648 and 1670 there were many additional gatherings on the occasion of the Khmelnitsky Uprising massacre and during the war with Sweden.

Since the middle of the 18th century there have been increasing obstacles on the part of the authorities. In 1764 the four-country council took place for the last time in its traditional form.

After that, the representatives of the regions met in different places at different times to make common decisions. In 1772, Hasidism was condemned and banned in Brody.

In 1772 Poland was largely divided between Prussia, Russia and Austria. The congregation lost its foundation.

swell

  • Israel Halperin (Ed.): Pinkas We'ad Arba 'Aratzot. Acta congressus generalis Judaeorum regni Poloniae (1580–1746) quae supersunt omnia cum deperditorum fragmentis et testimoniis ( files of the general assemblies of the Jews in the Kingdom of Poland (1580-1746), as far as they exist, together with fragments and testimonies ). Mosad Bialiq, Jerusalem 1945.

literature

  • Simon Dubnow : History of the Jews in Russia and Poland . 3 volumes. Jewish Publication Society of America, Philadelphia PA 1916-1920.
  • Herman Rosenthal, SM Dubnow:  Council of Four Lands. In: Isidore Singer (Ed.): Jewish Encyclopedia . Funk and Wagnalls, New York 1901-1906.
  • L. Lewin (Levin): New materials on the history of the Synod of Four Countries , 2 vols., Frankfurt am Main, 1905, 1906