Kontakty polsko-żydowskie w kulturze ludowej Podlasia. Część II - rzemiosło

Abstract

The hypothesis of entire self-sufficiency is considered to belong to the category of myth. Rural population had frequent contacts with craftsmen, often Jewish, either directly or through Jewish peddlers. Jewish craftsmen were particularly numerous in widely understood sphere of cloths production (manufacture of fabric, tanning of leather, sewing of linen and leather clothes, manufacture of caps and shoes). Also in building, particularly funiture carpentering, Jewish workers were very common. Although their participation in smithing and pottery was not as big, nevertheless in Podlasie and Suwalszczyzna it was still larger - particularly in pottery - than in other regions. First of all Jews were employed in distribution of pottery products. Tradesmen sometimes influenced the quality of pottery by ordering certain ornamental patterns, and sometimes teaching certain techniques, e.g. varnishing. Some kinds of pottery were manufactured only for Jews in connection with their rituals, or for Jewish rural tenants (usually of a manor), dairies, or as pots for milk. Trade relations served to learn about customs and rituals observed by the Jewish contracting party. Polish-Jewish relations in manufacture and trade on the Polish side extended beyond strictly economic relations of producer - agent - customer (this relation, as the only possible, is considered in the sociological model of „Shtetl"). Jews were not anonymous for Christian rural community. Jewish craftsmen - peddlews, stopping anywhere to perform their Services, entered into close relationship with a specific farnily. Then interrelations occured both within material and spiritual sphere. The studies of these types of relationship between the groups have been conducted very rarely and should be cantinued.