Czy w Królestwie Polskim (1815–1915) istniał samorząd żydowski?
Was There a Jewish Self-Government in the Kingdom of Poland (1815–1915)?

Author(s): Artur Markowski
Subject(s): 19th Century
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: Jewish self-government; kahal; Jewish community
Summary/Abstract: The author raises the question anew whether after 1822 a Jewish self-government functioned legally in the Congress Poland, i.e. whether a Jewish community board could be considered as a form of self-government. The author claims that until the mid-19th century it was difficult to talk about the real Jewish self-government, although the model Jewish community board was intended as an element of the self-government system. However, since the middle of the century, this body as another state institution gained greater freedom in community management. It must be kept in mind that a word self-government with regard to the Jewish community never meant full independence and sovereignty in the fiscal, political and legal areas. The Jewish community boards can be recognized as a form of self-government due to the fact that this institution was independent of other collegial bodies established to supervise Jewish affairs. The supervision boards successfully dealt with everyday matters and securing fundamental needs of the Jewish community. They were chosen in elections, and the dependence on the state administration fell within the scope of the then concept of self-government.

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