Lodz Chevra Kadisha

in the 19th Century and Beginnings of the Jewish Community

Beginnings of the Jewish Community
Founding Members of the Chevra Kadisha
Chevra Kadisha Members, by Surname
Chevra Kadisha Elders and Electorate, by Year

Right: An early book of the Chevra Kadisha (Jewish Burial Society) in Lodz. Click on the image for a larger view.

"The few dozen Jews who were permitted to live in Lodz were tailors whose services were essential to the gentile community. They had their own guild and a shack where they met to discuss the restrictions imposed upon them by their gentile neighbors. On a table inside this shack stood a plain wooden ark containing a scroll of Law, since Jews also conducted their services there. They had no rabbi, ritual bath or cemetery. If a woman had to visit the ritual bath, she was taken to a stream outside of town and protected against the depredations of gentile youths. In winter, a hole was chopped in the ice, and the women immersed themselves. Jewish corpses were transported by peasant cart to the community of Leczyca, of which the Jews were officially a part."

--from The Brothers Ashkenazi, by I. J. Singer

Beginnings of the Jewish Community

Shochet (ritual slaughterer) in Lodz by 1807; also taught religion. Kahal (Jewish community) of Lodz established in 1809, becoming independent of the Leczyca Kahal; established by:

Fajtlowicz, Mojzesz (1767-1837), baker; son of Azrjel of Piotrkow; father of Abraham, grandfather of Elchanan Icchak; moved to Lodz in 1800
Zajdler, Pinkus (1778-1851), son of Chaim of Przedborz; father of Lewek and Daniel; moved to Lodz in 1795

First Sheliyah Tzibur (leader of services) of the Lodz Jewish community:

Fajtlowicz, Mojzesz (1767-1837), baker; son of Azrjel of Piotrkow; father of Abraham, grandfather of Elchanan Icchak; moved to Lodz in 1800

Shames (sexton):

ZOLNIERSKI (vel ARONOWICZ), Szlomo (1774-1835), son of Aron
PRASZKER, Hersz Lajb, shames under Rabbi Eliasz Chaim MAJZEL; wife: Tauba Jenta, daughter of Nisan KROL of Zdunska Wola

First cemetery established in 1811 by two elders of the Jewish community (prior to this date, the Jews of Lodz were buried in Lutomiersk, Strykow or Zgierz):

Orbach, Menachem Mendel Moskowicz, son of Wolf ORBACH, rabbi of Leczyca; moved to Lodz from "Gniezna" in 1809; brother of Mojzesz; wife: Rachel, children: Izak and Michal; second wife: widow of Dawid KOHN, son of rabbi of Warta, Nechemjasz KOHN
Zonenberg, Pinkus (1774-1830) (cohen), son of Cwi Hersz of Lask; children: Jakob Wolek, Ite HAMBURSKI, Taube ROZENBLATT, and a daughter of unknown name; moved to Lodz in 1797

Founding Members of the Chevra Kadisha

Chevra Kadisha Founding members of <>Chevra Kadisha:

____, Joel son of I.
Fajtlowicz, Mojzesz (1767-1837), baker; son of Azrjel of Piotrkow; father of Abraham, grandfather of Elchanan Icchak; moved to Lodz in 1800
GROSMAN, Samuel, born in Lodz; baker; son of Aszer of Nowe Miasto
Heber, Lewek (Becalel Jehuda Lejb) (1789?-1839), son of Jakob of Lutomiersk; father of Mordechaj Izak, Sare, Chaje BRZEZINSKI, Szandle ORBACH, Rajze BRONOWSKI, and an unknown daughter married to BLAWAT; moved to Lodz in 1801
KROMHOLTZ, Mosiek, son of Izak of Staszow; moved to Lodz in 1811
Lipman (LITMAN), Szmul (Samuel) (b. 1782), son of Eleazar of Dabie; moved to Lodz in 1809
MENDLOWICZ ?, Abraham (b. 1879), son of Lewi
Ordynans, Cwi Hersz (1775-1836), tailor; son of Izrael of Lutomiersk; moved to Lodz in 1792
Zajdler, Pinkus (1778-1851), son of Chaim of Przedborz; father of Lewek and Daniel; moved to Lodz in 1795
Zonenberg, Pinkus (1767 or 1774-1830) (cohen), son of Cwi Hersz of Lask; children: Jakob Wolek, Ite HAMBURSKI, Taube ROZENBLATT, and a daughter of unknown name; moved to Lodz in 1797

Chevra Kadisha Members, by Surname

_____, Icchak Jakob, son of Sz.
_____, Jakob Lejb, son of I. of Strykow
_____, Jechiel, son of M.
_____, Josef, son of Abraham of Dzialoszyn

_____, Samuel Jechezkiel, son of J.
_____, Szlomo Iccak, son of M.
_____, Szlomo, son of Sz. Segal
_____, Zalkind, son of Sz.
ABRAHAMOWICZ, Josek
Aronowicz, Iccak Ajzyk, son of A. of Strykow
BALBIRSKI, Salomon
BERGER, Baruch
Berger, Ojzer (Lajzer), son of M. (Mordechaj)
BIRNBAUM, Joz.
BLACHMAN, Hersz
BLAWAT, Szlomo Icchak
Bronowski, Abraham, son of Cwi Lejb; father of Witel KAMINER
Bronowski, Lejb (Lewek) (1770-1837), son of Jedydji of Parzeczew; wife: Fajga; father of Abraham and Meir (Meir's children: Izrael, Samuel Izak -- whose son Abraham moved to London, where his son Jakob attended Cambridge University -- Estera FRANKFURTER, Hene Jute, Malka OLSZTAJN, Taube MILGROM) (Chevra Kadisha board member)
DOBRANICKI, A.
DOBRANICKI, Jakob
ELBINGER, N.
Fajtlowicz, Abraham, son of Mojzesz of Piotrkow
FAJTLOWICZ, Elchanan Icchak
FRIEDMAN
GINSBURG
GOLDBERG, Chanoch Henich (Chevra Kadisha board member)
GOLDENRAT, Jakob
GRINBERG, Jehoszua Heszel
GUTERMAN, Joel
Haber (HEBER), Jakob
HEBER, Mordechaj
Hamburski, Elchanan, son of Fiszel of Przedborz
HAMBURSKI, Jakob
HAYMAN family
HONIKSZTOK, Meir
KIENIK (KOENIG), Gdalje
KEMPINSKI, I.
KESTENBERG, M., father of Jakob KESTENBERG
Kochanski, Awigdor Moszkowicz, son of M.; moved to Lodz in 1809 from "Kaly"; children: Izak Jakob, Samuel, Daniel, Hirsz, Estera (wife of Wewl LEWKOWICZ) and Laja (wife of Gedalje KENIG; children: Fiszel, Izrael, Jechiel Michal, Beryl, and Golda - wife of Samuel Zanwel BERGER)
KONSZTADT, H.
KROHN, Jekel (Jakob)
Kromholtz, Icek, son of M. of Staszow
Lajzerowicz, Daniel, son of Mordechaj
Lajzerowicz, Zalman Dawidowicz, son of Daniel of Strykow
LANDE
LASKI, M.
LEWIN, Abraham Mendlowicz
LIKIERNIK
LIPSKI, Hersz
Majus, Jozef
MORGENSZTERN, L.
MRZYGLOD, Abraham
MULARSKI (vel SIERADZKI), Jakob
ODESKI, Zolna
OLSZTAJN, Jakob
Orbach, Menachem Mendel Moskowicz (1772-1864), son of Mojzesz of Dobra; father of Rachel (Chevra Kadisha board member)
ORBACH, Michal
ORBACH, Szlomo Zalkind
Pilgrom (PILGRIM), Lejb Dawid
Pilgrom, Mojzesz Zeejw, son of PILGROM, A.
POZNANSKI, I.
PRUSSAK, Abr. J.
Rokicki, Cwi Hersz Dawidowicz, son of D. of Lublin
ROZENBLAT, Dawid
ROZENBLAT, Jakob
ROZENBLAT, Szaja
Salomonowicz, Rabbi Yehudah Aryeh (Lewek) of Widawa
Segal, Szmerl (1769-1849), son of Juda of Opoczno; children: Jekutiel Zyskind, Elijahu of Konstantynow, Eleazar, Tauba HORONCZYK (wife of Saul HORONCZYK "Saul Leczycer"; children: Jechezkiel, Szymon Abe, Gitle Rebeka - wife of Eleazar Kenig, Temera - wife of Jechezkiel FRENKEL, Fajga - wife of Izrael FUKS, and Mendel Henich)
SEGAL (SIGAL), Zysman
SIERADZKI (vel MULARSKI), Jakob
SIKAWSKI, Josek
WAJNGARTEN, Icchak
WASSERMAN, Saul
ZAJDEMAN
ZAJDLER, Daniel
ZAJDLER, Lewek
ZALTZMAN, Szmul
ZAND
ZONENBERG, Jakob Wolek
Zonenberg, Zeejw Wolf, son of Pinkus
ZYLBERMAN, Gecel

Chevra Kadisha Elders and Electorate, by Year

Year	Elders (these names are likely to appear as witnesses on death records)	Electorate
1811	GROSMAN, Samuel
	ZONENBERG, Cwi
	FAJTLOWICZ, Mojzesz
1812	GROSMAN, Samuel	GROSMAN, Samuel
	____, Jozef, son of A. of Lask	ORDYNANS, Cwi
		ZAJDLER, Pinchas
1813	FAJTLOWICZ, Mojzesz	FAJTLOWICZ, Mojzesz
	____, Jozef, son of A. of Lask	____, Jozef, son of A. of Lask
		HEBER, Jehuda Lejb
1814	FAJTLOWICZ, Mojzesz	SEGAL, Szmeril
	HEBER, Becalel Jehuda Lejb	HEBER, Becalel Jehuda Lejb
		GROSMAN, Samuel
1815	FAJTLOWICZ, Mojzesz	SEGAL, Szmeril
	HEBER, Becalel Jehuda Lejb	HEBER, Becalel Jehuda Lejb
		KROMHOLTZ, Icchak
1816	FAJTLOWICZ, Mojzesz	ROKICKI, Cwi, son of D. (cohen)
	ROKICKI ?, Cwi	ZONENBERG, Pinchas
		HEBER, Becalel Jehuda Lejb
1817	FAJTLOWICZ, Mojzesz	Salomonowicz, Rabbi Yehudah Aryeh (Lewek), head rabbi of Lodz
	GROSMAN, Samuel	KROMHOLTZ, Icchak
		MENDLOWICZ, Abraham, son of Lewi
1818	FAJTLOWICZ, Mojzesz	ZAJDLER, Pinchas
	ODESKI, Szlomo Zalman	KOCHANSKI, Awigdor
		KOCHANSKI, Symcha
1819	FAJTLOWICZ, Mojzesz	____, Cwi, son of D.
	GROSMAN, Samuel	ZONENBERG, Pinchas
		____, Jozef, son of A.
1820	HEBER, Becalel Jehuda Lejb	HEBER, Becalel Jehuda Lejb
	LITMAN, Samuel (Szmul)	LITMAN, Samuel (Szmul)
		BRONOWSKI ?, Abraham
1821	GROSMAN, Samuel	GROSMAN, Samuel
	LITMAN, Samuel (Szmul)	____, Jozef, son of A.
		ODESKI, Szlomo Zalman
1822	ZONENBERG, Pinchas	____, Cwi, son of r. D.
	ORBACH, Menachem Mendel	ORBACH, Menachem Mendel
		ODESKI, Szlomo Zalman
1831	BERGER, Ojzer	BERGER, Ojzer
	FAJTLOWICZ, Mojzesz	ORBACH, Menachem Mendel
		KOCHANSKI, Symcha
1832	ORBACH, Menachem Mendel	ORBACH, Menachem Mendel
	FAJTLOWICZ, Mojzesz	BRONOWSKI, Abraham
		HAMBURSKI, Elchanan
1833	HAMBURSKI, Elchanan	____, Samuel, son of I.
	FAJTLOWICZ, Mojzesz	ZONENBERG, Jakob Wolek
		GUTERMAN ?, Joel, son of I.
1834	HAMBURSKI, Elchanan	GROSMAN, Samuel
	ORBACH, Menachem Mendel	ZONENBERG, Jakob Wolek
		HEBER, Becalel Jehuda Lejb
1835	ODESKI, Szlomo Zalman	BERGER, Ojzer
	ORBACH, Menachem Mendel	ZAJDLER, Pinchas
		ZAJDLER, Arje Lejb
1836	ODESKI, Szlomo Zalkind	ZALTZMAN, Szmul Jechezkiel
	ORBACH, Menachem Mendel	BRONOWSKI, Abraham
		KOCHANSKI, Awigdor
1840	PILGRIM, Mojzesz Lejb	ZALTZMAN, Szmul Jechezkiel
	ZAJDLER, Arje (Lewek)	ZONENBERG, Jakob Wolek
		GOLDENRAT, Jakob Jehuda
1841		ZONENBERG, Jakob Wolek
		____, Mojzesz, son of A.
		KOCHANSKI, Awigdor
1842	ZONENBERG, Jakob Wolek
	ZADLER, Arje (Lewek)
	ODESKI, Szlomo Zalman, assistant
	LIPSKI (lewit), Cwi, assistant
1850	PILGRIM, Mojzesz
	____, Icchak Jakob, son of Sz.
1851	BERGER, Ojzer	____, Szlomo Zalkind, son of Samuel
	KOCHANSKI, Samuel	____, Baruch, son of Mordechaj
		____, Abraham, son of Jehuda Lejb
1852	BERGER, Ojzer	BRONOWSKI, Abraham
	BIRENCWAJG, Icchak	BIRENCWAJG, Icchak
	GUTERMAN, Chaim Joel (taking the place of Icchak BIRENCWAJG)	LEWANDA, Szmul Icchak
1853	BERGER, Ojzer	BLAWAT, Szlomo Icchak
	HEBER, Mordechaj	DOBRANICKI, Jakob
		GOLDENRAT, Jakob Lejb
1855	BERGER, Ojzer	FAJTLOWICZ, Elchanan Icchak
	KOCHANSKI, Samuel	WARSZAWSKI, Jakob (lewit)
		GOLDENRAT, Jakob
1856	ORBACH, Zalkind	GOLDBERG, Henoch
	_____, Becalel Jehuda	WARSZAWSKI, Jakob (lewit)
		SIKAWSKI ?, Josek, son of A.
1859	HEBER, Mordechaj Icchak
	FAJTLOWICZ, Elchanan Icchak
	BLAWAT, Szlomo Icchak
	DOBRANICKI, Jakob, cashier
1860	BLAWAT, Szlomo Icchak	GOLDBERG, Henoch
	HEBER, Mordechaj Icchak	BRONOWSKI, Abraham
	FAJTLOWICZ, Elchanan Icchak	FAJTLOWICZ, Elchanan Icchak
	____, I. son of Mojzesz, cashier	WALK ?, Cwi Hersz
		MRZYGLOD, Abraham
1861	HEBER, Mordechaj Icchak
	FAJTLOWICZ, Elchanan Icchak
	BLAWAT, Szlomo Icchak
	DOBRANICKI, Jakob, cashier
1864	HEBER, Mordechaj	WASERMAN, Mojzesz
	WARSZAWSKI, Jakob (lewit)	____, Mojzesz Icchak
	POZNANSKI, Izrael Kalmanowicz, cashier	SEGAL, Zysman
		GRINBERG, Jehoszua Heszel
		TIRKER ?, Herszel

Source

Friedman, Philip (Filip) and Pinchas Gliksman. Stary cmentarz Zydowski w Lodzi: dzieje i zabytki (Old Jewish Cemetery in Lodz: Records and Relic Remains.). Lodz: Nakladem Gminy Wyznaniowej Zydowskiej m. Lodzi, 1938.