Z dziejów Żydów na Białostocczyźnie w XIX wieku

Abstract

This paper does not complete a significant research phase, but, for a number of reasons, contains only a review of the subjects already studied, as well as some questions and hypotheses. The author introduces the following internal di vision: the Prussian period (till 1807), the beginning of the Rus.sian rule, the period from the 1830s to the 1870s and the last two decades of the 19th century. The Prussians limited the liberties of the Jewish population, while the Jewish elite was unable to take advantage of the clashes between the new rulers and the local population. The Russians initially only aimod at raising larger revernues from the urban Jews, while furthering the removal of Jews from the rural areas. After the failure of the November Updsing (1830-31) the economic position of Poles weakened, which made Jewish enter previous turn their attentian to Russians. At the some time Jews took adventage of the development of textile industry in the Białystok region. The introduction in 1832 of the so called „poczotnoje grażdanstwo" (citizenship) gave a chance for an advancement for a small number of Jews; the changes after the 1844 reform (abolition of Jewish communities) were more significant. The most interesting problems, however, remain the conflicts within the triangle Jews-Russians-Poles. The complexity of the situation is shown, among other things, by the events of 1860-1862 and the attitude of the Jewish population to the January Uprising. The beginning of the 1880s witnessed increased emigration, the appearance of first Syonist organlzations, workers' parties and formal groups, as well as the initiatives in charity work, education and culture; personal qualities of the Białystok Jews were fully demonstrated. In May 1882 Czarist authorities brought up to date the regulations concerning the settlement zone and started the removal of the poorest Jews who had to move westward. The influx of russified „Litvaks" complicated the economic and demographic situation, sharpened the conflicts in the Białystok region, at the same time creating very specific patterns in this area. They provide important subjects for further research .