History
Jewish community before 1989 – Polska / dolnośląskie
The first chapter of the Jewish history connected with Dzierżoniów goes back to the 13th century and the foundation of the town. Jews appeared in Dzierżoniów as transient tradesmen or as tolerated by the dukes settlers. The exact place where Jews lived at that time remains unknown. Presumably, there exist a connection between the Jewish settlements, the so called Jewish area (Judenplan) and existing until the first part of the 20th century Jewish Street (Judengaβe) located within the city walls between Wrocławska Gate (Breslauertor) and Zambkowicka Gate (Frankensteinertor) )[1.1].
Jewish community in Dzierżoniów was subordinate to a neighbouring, much bigger community in Świdnica (Schweidnitz). It may be assumed that similar processes were taking place in this town as well [1.2]. Under the rule of the duke of Świdnica Bolko I the Strict Jews were exempted from the town jurisdiction and subjected to the court jurisdiction, thus gaining direct protection of the Duke. Moreover, Jews were granted their own court which dealt with cases regarding members of the community. This sort of court, placed in the Trade House in Świdnica was mentioned already in 1336. The Jews from Dzierżoniów remained under its jurisdiction from March 21, 1370. At that time, the Dutches Agnes granted Jews from Świdnica: Rabbi Osera (Judenbischof), Lazara and David Falka the privilege of independent jurisdiction for the whole community of the duchy [1.3]. Earlier, on December 6, 1328 the Duke of Świdnica, Bolko II the Small ensured all former rights of the Jewish society and obliged the Jews to duties and services which also applied to the Christians [1.4]. In 1363, Bolko II once more granted first Świdnica, and then other towns in the duchy (Dzierżoniów was also among them) statues and the Magdeburg Right, which regulated the situation in towns. In addition to general articles there appeared also regulations concerning the Jews[1.4].
The Jews’ main occupations in the medieval cities were retail and wholesale trade, craft and usury. In the chronicle of Dzierżoniów remained a note stating that on October 18, 1333 the town councillors and mayors of Dzierżoniów, Ziębice, Strzelin and Ząbkowice Śląskie borrowed from a Jew from Wroclaw 160 grzywnas (a unit of exchanged used as money). This loan was guaranteed by the town councillors from Wroclaw[1.6]. Usurious activity caused debtors’ strong aversion towards Jews. Later, the dislike of Jews expanded to the whole population of the towns. Such repugnance for the Jews put the towns in the danger of robberies and social unrest. Furthermore, the growth of an anti-Jewish atmosphere coincided with the outbreak of the Black Death, which was decimating European population. The epidemics led to a great number of anti-Semitic riots in European countries of this period. Among most severely suffering from disturbances areas were the German-speaking countries and towns including the district of Dolny Śląsk (Lower Silesia). In 1349 and 1360 massacres took place in Wrocław and in 1389 in Świdnica. Those events certainly influenced the situation of Jews in Dzierżoniów[1.7].
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[1.1] Similar roots has the nomenclature of other places in Dzierżoniów such as the monastic area (Klosterplan), whose name derived from the medieval location of the monastery [in] Nachtrag zu der im Druck erschienen kurz gesatzten Geschichte der Stadt Reichenbach, 1873, p. 32
[1.2] The first note of the Jews in Świdnica dates July 28, 1285, when the Duke of Wrocław, Henry IV Probus defined their privileges, rights, duties and taxation system [in] A. Grotte, Synagogenspuren in schlesischen Kirche, Breslau 1937, p. 26.
[1.3] A. Grotte, Synagogenspuren in schlesischen Kirche
[1.4] Świdnica. Zarys monografii miasta, ed. W. Korta, Wrocław-Świdnica 1995, p. 64
[1.5] Świdnica. Zarys monografii miasta, ed. W. Korta, Wrocław-Świdnica 1995, p. 64
[1.6] Dzierżoniów, p. 72.
[1.7] L. Ziątkowski, Żydzi we Wrocławiu, Wrocław 1999, p. 16
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