G.
Urinsky
1520 - VAA (POLISH JEWRY), 1623 - VML (LITHUANIAN JEWRY)
As it is known, in
OLD POLAND existed during more than 200 years, from 1520 up to 1764, an
autonomous Jewish organization that administered all internal matters of Jewish
life, and regulated all questions related to the national power, as taxes and
others. This institution was known with the name "VAAD ARBA ARTZOT"
(VAA - "Four Land Council" - Poles - formed by Greater Poland,
Smaller Poland, Russia and Lithuania). It was formed by representatives
of biggest communities, leaders and rabbis of the country. Meetings were made
periodically (during the fair in " Gromnitze ", and in Lublin before
Pesach).
In year 1623
Lithuanian communities separated from Polish General Council, and founded an autonomous body, independent from
the Poles, denominated Vaad Medinat Lita" (VML - Lithuanian State
Council). The cause for which they separated from Polish Council, mainly was
fiscal reasons. Lithuania (TN: Grand Duchy of Lithuania) as for taxes was separated from Polish Crown. For
that reason all taxes imposed to Jewish community in general, were different
for Polish Jews and for Lithuanian Jews.
One of the main
issues of which VAA was in charge , was
the distribution of taxes - that
government imposed all Jews - among different communities. Considering
that Lithuanian Kehilas should pay a different amount, these conformed VML that
worked during 138 years (from 1623 up to 1761) (TN: See both Council
disappeared close to first Poland partition, and the influence of national
political and taxes issues in Jewish
organization).
The conformation
of Lithuanian Council had changes during its existence. At the beginning there
were only representatives of the three big communities of Lithuania: Brest, Grodno
and Pinsk, which influenced in smaller one which were in their periphery.
Afterwards Vilna adhered, and Slutzk formed part first of Brest circle (before
being a State itself) which was bigger, and had near some 30 communities and
settlements. Pruzhany belonged to Brest District, just as we find it in the
protocol of VML in the first meeting in year 1623.
These are the
limits and surroundings of Brest Saint
Community:
Mezritsh, Varin, Yanov, Rashes
(Rashi), Lomz, Bila, Beshtsh, Vladvay, Slovitz, Kadna, Visoky, Amstivavy , Kobrin,
Horodetz, Pruzhany, Malech. Selcz, Tshernovitz, Kamenietz, Shereshev,
Rozshinoy, Slonim, Dvrotz, Novorodek, Nieshvitsh, Slutzk, Mintzsk, Moholovny,
Orsha[i].
At the beginning,
meetings were made regularly once a year, or a year and a half, or every two
years. But later, they took place each two or three years. Still later took place rarely, and from one
session to next, there were meetings composed by an incomplete member council,
only to consider most urgent problems.
The meetings
of VML happened in their majority in
smaller settlements. The cause could be, because in those places members of the
Council felt sure. Sometimes, different
authorities of corresponding places, didn't see well Jewish representatives to
the " Seim " (Municipal Council) (TN: this persons were a mix of
secular an religious authorities) , and they invented accusations to press them
and to demand more money. Although we find in
later decisions of the Council, that
meetings should be carried out according to the shift corresponding to
each community that belonged to the Circuit of each of five Kehilas, it
was not respected strictly.
The first meeting
of VML happened in 1623 in Brest, the biggest community in Lita. Later meetings, one after three years, and
the second after four years, were also
made in Brest. One year later in 1628, a meeting is made in Pruzhany. In this
meeting they took following decision:
" The
meetings of the Council, will happen two years after finishes Pruzhany's meeting
, together with country authorities (TN Poland) and Rabbis of three main
Kehilas"....
But closest
Council meeting happened with backwardness in 1631, and again in Brest. It
seemed to be that Pruzhany was not the appropriate place for the meetings, but is
ignored which were the reasons.
Meetings of VML in
Pruzhany, were of the most important, for the quantity and diversity of
decisions taken. The protocol of this meeting, contained 93 points and it
embraced different questions about the economy, rights, culture and religion,
of Jewish life in Lita. In that
Assembly many of the decisions about family life were taken. We find for
example, the acceptance of weddings to
a quantity of poor women to the age of 15 , with the economic help of the
Kehila, pointing out the quantity of women corresponding to each district. A
resolution was taken about providing poor women. two white shirts each.
An amendment was
also decided: no woman should go to a gentile's house without being escorted by
two men. Some decisions were made against the excess of using expensive clothes
and jewels. The transgressors should pay a fine. Resolutions were also taken
about economic rights on leases, trade in general, control of weight and
measures, and others. Also were taken resolutions about tax payment to State by
population, and resolutions as for relationships with power authorities ( with
local authorities and with central power) .
Also decisions
were made about internal organization of the Kehila, relationships among Rabbis
and Kehila, education, religious amendments and others. At the end a summary
was made about the relations among the Council (VML) and different Kehilas, and
with private people.
It is convenient
to highlight one Council Resolution in connection with Kehilas which is the
following: "The three main communities should direct each one for itself,
not disclose secrets of the Kehila, and
inhabitants should not know Kehila's business. Those that transgress
this decision will be punished severely".
The Accounts Summary
presented at the end of Protocol, includes the sum given by the Pruzhany's
Community to Wilna Commandant as gift during his visit to Pruzhany.
In a Council
meeting 67 years later, in 1695 in Olkenik
was decided again that next Cuncil Assembly was to be made in 1699 in Pruzhany
or Selcz. This meeting was carried out in 1700 in Selcz.[ii]