History
Jewish community before 1989 – Polska / śląskie
The history of Bielsko-Biała is in fact a history of twin towns which used to be separate. Being older and richer, Bielsko already existed as a Slavic settlement (grad) in the 11th century. Bielsko was granted the municipal rights in 1263. On the other hand, Biała developed as a settlement of farmers and craftsmen near a fortified castle located on the right bank of the River Biała. In 1623, Biała became an autonomous craftsmen’s settlement.
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The oldest note of the Jews in Bielsko dates back to 1653.
Jewish population was coming to the region from Moravia and Lower Silesia. Jews who settled there brought with them western organization models of social and political state life. They also brought customs, religious rituals and the language of Ashkenazi Jews (Hebrew אַשְׁכְּנָזִים, the word “Ashkenazi” refers to Germany, i.e. the country they came from).
At the end of the 17th century, a popular robber Mateusz Klimczak testified that a Jew was buying valuables which he stole. This resulted in a hostile attitude of the inhabitants towards Jews, yet Biała, unlike other numerous Silesian towns, did not receive de non tolerandis Iudaeis privilege .
In May 1713, emperor Karol VI issued a tolerance edict (Toleranzpatent) which allowed Jews to settle in Silesia, upon paying a special tolerance tax. The emperor’s edict divided the Jewish population into two parts: (1) property owners and non-owners (they paid a lower tax), and (2) tolerated Jews. Jews from Głogów and Biała Prudnicka were exempted from paying the tolerance tax.
In 1723 Biała received its municipal rights.
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