Sections From The Zabludow Pinkas Translated by Daphna Brafman Coordinated by Tilford Bartman The Pinkas is placed at the National Library in Jerusalem The Zabludow community Pinkas is a recollection of rules made at the time's need or in memory of important events they found fit to record for future generations
Support to a Man Who Decided to Go to the Land of Israel 1663
"Shalom to you the dear and the pleasant, head champions and leaders of the holy community of Zabludow, may the rock* protect and it shall live.
"the elevated old man came to us…the Gaon** Avraham who was a teacher of righteousness in Brisk and decided to take the road to the holy land… and since it is necessary to provide him with help…" we call upon you to give this honorable man twenty goldens at once with no delay and apology. We warn you… to execute the said giving and we should receive a report from you, but do not delay."
(This letter was sent to the Zabludow community by the heads of the Grodno community, the main regional congregation that is appointed by the four state committee over small communities.)
*Rock refers to god- common term. ** Literally translates to genius but usually refers to great rabbis. One more note- the words community and congregation are both used as a translation of the word kehilah. They are both correct.
Redemption of Prisoners 1664
The word came out of the mouth of the "selected champions" leaders of the community, in the matter of the redemption of prisoners from the hands of the Mokovite soldiers who committed pogroms in the Zabludow congregation. The sum reached six hundred goldens. Some man undertook upon themselves to give in accordance with the decision of the leaders of the holy community of Zabludow and their honourable rabbi…all the above said should be done with forcing and punishments."
(During the days of the Poland-Russia war of 1559 the Russian army brutally attacked the Jews of Zabludow and many were murdered and taken captive. The heads of the community took loans to redeem the prisoners and now they collect from the wealthy so they can return the loans.)
Forbidding the Confiscation of Property Because of Debt 1667
"We have issued a warning of punishments and big fines on all the communities of the lands, their chief champions and each person that they should not take or confiscate from a single person or many of the inhabitants of the Galilee (Galilee of Lita)* for a debt of one or many and not even for taxes of the monarchy. The debtors should declare how much they owe and accordingly pay "we did it for the correction of the world, so that the land will be open before them and that none shall be caught because of his brother and that there be no limit on their steps and that none shall come before kidnappers."
(In the towns there were probably gangs of violent tax collectors who were hired by the creditors. These spread fear over the debtors who had difficulties paying their debts. The four lands committee issued the rule on how to take car of the problem and put an end to the acts of violence.)
*Galilee is a term used for north like the northern part of Israel.
Forbidding to Sell a House to a Christian 1684
A warning that no home owner in the above mentioned community* should be allowed to sell a house to any uncircumcised…in other streets and other neighbors in the streets of the Jews and also in the market without the knowledge of the high court of the Grodno community"
(this rule followed a complaint the Christian residents brought before the owner of the town, princess of Radzhvil. They claimed that the Jews violated the bill of rights her ancestors gave them. The Jews were outcasting them of making a living of bruery, commerce and craftsmanship; they also build homes and settle in streets they should not live in.
* the Hebrew term used is kehilat kodesh (holy community)- this is a common terms used in religious letters regarding every Jewish community around the world.
Conditions for Settling in the Community 1750
The head of a family who will want to join the community shall have to pay 2 reds as ownership dues. Others will pay according to the decision of the head of the Kahal* and the Rabbi. New settlers have no right to participate in the elections to the kahal leadership, and they will not be appointed to any position for ten years from the day they paid ownership dues and registered in the Pinkas Hakahal. If a person did not register in the Pinkas and was appointed to a position, his appointment is null and void even though he paid the dues.
*kahal means crowd. Usually refers to the synagogue crowd.
Supervising Baalei Tfilah and Those Who Blow the Shofar The heads of the Kahal should on the first day of Slihot* make arrangments in the matter of prayers and tekiot**, so that every Baal Tefilah and every Baal Tekiah will master in the holy task. Baal Tfilah and Baal Tekiah shall rest from their works, sit in the Beit Hamidrash and study at least three days before Rosh Hashannah.
*The slihot/selichot are prayers before the high holidays. Sepharadi Jews practice them the entire month of elul. Ashkenazi less than that. **Tekiot is the blowing of the shoffar. Beit hamidrash is the yeshivah.
Rules Against A Liar Asking Donations to Fund Their Trip to Eretz Israel 1798
Since there are people in the cities who are asking for assistance to fund their pilgrimage to the land of Israel and in fact their only plan is to collect money, it is announced that until the meeting of the "state committee" no man is permitted to grant a document of assistance for a journey to the land of Israel; if such a paper is at the hand of any person, it is the duty of the heads of the community to take it from him, tear it and confiscate the money he collected "and to give to the collectors for the poor of the land of Israel."
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