- The Jewish Community of Bolsward
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The Jewish Community of Bolsward
(The most important names and the surnames of the core families are mentioned in the article.Some names are patronimic).
INTRODUCTION
Thanks to the work of Hartog Beem
(1892-1987) we have a good idea of the life of the Jews
in Friesland from the 17th century till WW
II.
In 1610 a certain Isaac Abramsen
was already mentioned in the community of Bolsward. In
1688 a person named Jacob Ammans of Amsterdam had paid a
citizens' tax and in 1678 the orphanage in Bolsward
mentioned changing money with a Jew. However, it is not
certain that Jews have lived in Bolsward, although it is
mentioned that Eliazar Cohinne, originating from Sneek,
lived in Bolsward.from1751 to 1756. In 1759 Bolsward
tradesmen complained at the municipality "about all
kinds of people and Jews". At the time that David de
'smous'(cheat) and Salomon 'de Jood'(Jew) lived in
Bolsward in 1759 and 1760, there was no question yet of
a Jewish community.
Between 1786 and 1911 there existed a kehilah in Bolsward. The community had its own synagogue situated in the Kerkstraat. In 1846 the community had the highest number of members. Of a population of 4500 persons 132 were Jews, but after 1880 there was a quick decline in the amount of members in the Jewish community. In 1911 the community was dissolved and those who were left were added to the community of Sneek. Actually, even before 1786 there were already Jews living in Bolsward.
The Jews who settled in Bolsward came mainly from Poland or Germany and thus were Ashkenazi Jews.
In 1784 the couple Rebecca Meijers and Salomon Izaaks settled in Bolsward. They came from Pekela where Salomon was suspected of theft. Salomon died in 1787 and Rebecca remarried with Berent Josephs. Their descendants accepted in 1811 the family name of Van Straten.One of the first leading figures was Philip Jacobs who lived in Bolsward since 1778. He set up the kehilla together with Eleazar Levi. After the civil equalization came into effect in1796 the kehilla could officially be founded and had as the only members of the board Kalom Izaks and Isaak Van Winden as treasurer.
In 1796 Bolsward had 61 Jews and in 1816 about 100 (Jewish?) members. Members of the community had to pay 100 caroli to the authorities who would then take care of maintenance.
In 1809 the most important members of the Jewish community were Philip Jacobs; Isaak Van Winden; Levi Salomon; Salomon Magnus; Wolf Benjamin; Symon Slager en Adam Izaks. When in 1811 people had to take on a family name, Philip Jacobs accepted the name De Hoop, other family names were Van Gelder, De Groot, De Haas, Van Der Hoek, Hauvrwitz, Fink and Horen.
In 1818 Izaak Berend was appointed chairman, schoolmaster and ritual slaughterer.
In 1840 the kehilah got a new synagogue, situated in the Kerkstraat. The kehilah itself had the amount of 1,600 guilders at its disposal for the purpose. Costs, were however 3,600 guilders and the missing amount was obtained by receiving a loan without interest from the trustees of the St. Anthony Hospice. They also received several donations.
1890 was a festive year for the
kehilah. The synagogue was renovated and opened by the
Chief Rabbi of Leeuwarden.
IMPORTANT PERSONS
PHILIP JACOBS, mentioned above, born in 1751 in Eckelsheim (near Vienna) and together with ELEAZAR LEVI, were the founders of the kehilah. Members of the board of the kehilah were:
KALMAN IZAKS and ISAAK VAN MINDEN.SALOMON LEVI DE JONG had for many
years the highest income in the kehilah. Of all the
Frisian Jews he paid the highest amount of tax, namely
70 francs. After his demise the butchers VAN DER LINDE
and HOORNSTRA belonged to the highest echelons with a
yearly income of 1,700 guilders and 2,200 guilders
respectively.
In 1811 PHLIP JACOBS added DE HOOP
to his name.
In 1911
the wedding of Henri Parfumeur and Henriette de
Wolff from Sneek took place
at the synagogue in Bolsward (she was a sister of
Sam de Wolff, the well known Dutch socialist during the
second part of the 20th/sup> century).
CORE FAMILIES IN BOLSWARD
Family Name
van Gelder
de Groot
Koopmans
De Lange
Leenmans
van der
Linde
van Minden
Polak
Schaap
van
Staveren
van Straten
de
Vries
de Wolff
IMPORTANT INSTITUTIONS
The Cheder
In 1869 Levy Itallie from Meppel
was appointed teacher. The school fee amounted to 10
cents for 1 child and 15 cents for 2 children in one
family. There were 20 pupils, out of which the parents
of nine children could not afford to pay the school
fees.
In 1882 Arent Turksma was the
teacher. He was succeeded by Naphtali Polak (who was not
qualified).
At that time there were 14 pupils,
10 girls and 4 boys. By the end of the 19th
century, however, there were so few pupils that they had
to close the school.
Chevre Magziekee Tsedaka
This society was founded in 1828
and was active till 1842.
The purpose of this society was to support the
poor. However, the situation improved and in 1869 there
were no poor Jews in Bolsward anymore in need of
support.
The Cemetery
Through the intermediary actions of
Philip Jacobs and Eleazar Levi the kehilah could buy in
1786 a piece of land from Councilman Reinder Loyenga
opposite the erstwhile Nieuweburen on the city channel.
This cemetery can still be seen at the Hoog Bolwerk, in
the shadow of the Martini Church. There are no more
tombstones. The second cemetery (1829) is situated in
part of the General Cemetery in between the
Franekersreet and the S. van Haringhouckstreet. Both
cemeteries are maintained by the City Council.
Means of Existence
Although after 1795 Jews could also be eligible for jobs in the local authorities, most Jews stayed with their old trades, like manufacturers, butchers and traders in cattle. Mainly the butchers had a good reputation and they were also active in the trading of cattle.
The sale of lottery tickets was
also a favored trade, as well as commerce in gold and
silver.
Conclusion
In Bolsward there existed a large
group of Catholics and that had a positive influence on
the relation of the Jews with the other inhabitants of
Bolsward.
Namely the Catholics were a counterweight to the Reformed and in such a situation there is also room for persons who think differently.
During the second half of the 19th
century the kehilla of Bolsward started to shrink. In
1890 there were left only 70 persons and in 1911 the
kehila was abolished and the synagogue services were
relegated to Sneek.
Literature
W.M. Dooper
Oosterend, 1993.
[Extracted from Dutch sources:-Simon (Bob) Engelsman
English Translation:-Nina Mayer
End editors:-Trudi Asscher and Ben Noach]
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