About almost a year ago, Rick [Bercuvitz?] sent me an e-mail, asking if I am interested to browse some old Romanian literature related with our problems and to try to write some articles for our readers.

I e-mailed him back that I am interested to look at and see what I can do. After a few months, I received a box, with a few books and pages of photo copies, all of them written in Romanian, turned upside down, with missing pages, but everything very interesting, with many novelties for me. I have no idea who collected these books and photo copies, I didn't ask Rick, but I think, the box was inherited from Sam [Elpern?]. For somebody who doesn't know Romanian, the box with the papers is a garbage which can be thrown in the dumpster. For me, it is a fascination of old documents which can be identified with the description of the history of the Jewish people in Romania, since Romania didn't exist yet as a country.

For instance, I didn't know how were created the statlech. Do you know? To my surprise, I found out in this box some free photo copies from a book, written by Dr. E. Schwartzfeld - "Din Istoria Evreilor " edited in 1914, in Bucharest. The photo copies was the chapter treating this subject.

The author confess that he obtained the documents about the statlech from his brother, Moisa, who was the secretary general of the "Iuliu Barash Historic Society " in Bucharest, between 1886-1891. From these documents concerning Mihaileni, Podu Iloaei, Negresti, Frumusica, etc, I choose to translate the document concerning the foundation of Bucecea, a statle near Botosani, where the forfathers of our late editor Sam Elpern, emigrated in America, as an homage in his memory. The translation will not be word by word, because I can't find in English words for the old Romanian language. Any way its a piece of beautiful style, written in an old Moldavian dialect. At the end of the translation I will have some commentaries concerning this translation and Dr. Schwartzfeld's commentaries about the other statlech.

I want to outline a few points :

- Who were the foreigners they talked about?. Without any doubt the Jews. To prove is the further development of these statlech, the majority of the population being Jewish.

- Why the boyards lured the Jews in this places? Because they knew that the Jews are good merchants, handcrafts, what the boyards needed, in order to become richer. And they did-it in the right way, according first some exemptions for the newcomers and than taking taxes for everything. If you read carefully the so called " Decree " or " Ordinance " , or in old Romanian Moldavian dialect, " Hrisov ", you can see the treasures collected by the boyards from everything. As much the sellings and the buyings increased, as much the boyard was richness. As many Jews were there, as this commercial exchange increased, as well as the boyard's pockets.

Therefore we can solve the question: which came first? the chicken or the egg ? in this case the chicken, the boyard who lured the Jews to live in these places.

- But the honeymoon was cut after 5 years, when the exemptions of the Jews stopped, when the unavoidable conflicts started between some Gentiles and some Jews. However the relations were good enough, here and there a fight, a few Jews killed. But when some Jews became rich, when the Jewish intelectuals, doctors, dentists, were almost exclusive in Moldavia, not to talk about merchants, handcrafts, etc. and when the Jews asked for Romanian citizenship, because they were born there, they fought and they died for the Romanian Independence, they scarred the Romanian Government which practiced an antisemitic policy, trying without succes to limit the Jewish activity. With all their deficiencies, the Jews became irreplaceable in the life of the country. Indeed Dr.Schwartzfeld is referring to this issue, especially to the 18th and even 19th century, when these statlech were founded and the Jews came in big number from Eastern Europe :

"It is a curiosity how stories penetrate in crowded areas and little by little are transformed in historical realities, when in reality are a denial of the truth. One of this " legend " is the " invasion " of the Jews in the Romanian Principates, mainly in Moldavia. Nothing can be a bigger lie than this allegation, contrary to the historical reality! "

He wants to say that the Jews were called by the boyards from the neighbouring countries, by messangers, by words transmitted from mouth to mouth, but definitely it was not an invasion. They came because the Ordinances gave them a legal status, far from citizenship, but still a way of coming from other countries, hopping for a better life. Therefore, they didn't invade the statlech, they had a permission from the owner of the place, a Decree, which lured them to come in this land.

In general , all these Decrees or Ordinances have more or less the same content, a tax exemption of 5 years for the newcomers, synagogues, ritual baths, schools and Jewish cemeteries constructed by the boyard or Jewish people, being also tax exempt, as they write "for the Jews not to become angry " , and in some cases is mentioned that the butchers can sell kosher meat to everybody. What I didn't know is that the boyards took care of their religious and traditional necessities, the Jews didn't have to fight for them. What a new story for me !

These important documents were found by the author and his brother Moisa, mainly in some old books, named " Geographical Dictionary " which existed for every Moldavian county (judet). These books have some mistakes due to the primitive statistical methods used, some confusions in historical datas and confusions in informations. But the author used some other sources from old familial and state archives, and books provided by the most famous Romanian historian, Nicolaie Iorga, born in Botosani.

There are many readers who don't know where is the statle their forefathers came from, maybe they know only a name which they can not find it on the map of Romania, because there are cases in which there are changes of the name of the statle or they disappeared completly. Not to mention the confusion created by Bessarabia and Bucovina which changed the owner from Moldavia, to Russia, to Romania, to Moldovian Republic, back to Romania and than to Moldova and Ukraine. I tried to take as much as I thought from this chapter, even some of the readers will be bored, but maybe one will discover something interesting for him. This is the reason of mentioning any place described by the author, even if only a few Jews lived there. And believe me, not all the statlech are mentioned, but not too many are missing. I want to add a photo copy of a map from a book by Carol Iancu: " Les Juifs de Roumanie (1866-1919) edited by l'Universite de Provence, Aix en Provence, 1978 in France, in which almost all statle mentioned bellow, can be found.

2.- Onitcani, ( 1. being Bucecea) seems to be the first statle founded by a Decree, around 1700. Very few informations we have about this place. Nicolaie Iorga, mention that in 1720, under the Prince Mihai Racovita, a contagious disease named in Romanian "napasta singelui" (blood calamity ) spread all over the village and some Jews with their wifes were arrested. We don't know how many Jews were in Onitcani, but after 1725 , due to this incident, the Jews left the place, which became a small and not important village named Onescani and around 1775 disappeared from the Moldavian map. It is not mentioned where this statle was located. I tried to find out where it was, and I thing that was in Bessarabia, not far from the Nister, because in the chapter of this book is described an other one, Oniscani, between Roman and Bacau, founded after 1880.

3. Herta ( Ghertza ), now in Ukraine, about 30 km. north from Dorohoi, was founded by a bailiff, Gheoghe Ghica, the owner of the statle and we know that around 1750 he signed a contract with some Polish Jews, to come and live on his land.

4. Targul Frumos, a statle near Iasi, was founded by the Prince Grigore Ioan Calimah Voevod II. The owner of the land, based on the Prince Decree, signed on 3rd of July 1763 a contract with a group of Jews to come and to live in this place. They didn't pay any taxes for 6 years, not 5 as usual. The big number of Jews who came in this statle, is mentioned in 1781 by a writter named Fr. J. Sulzer in the following words: " it will be a mistake to suppose that the town is nice, like its name shows, ( frumos means nice ), because is like a poor nest, where a lot of Jews live. "

The desire of bringing Jews in villages and to find new living places for them is seen in many Ordinances and favors to special Jews : a silversmith named David, from Poland, came in Moldavia, and was exempted forever of any taxes for his work and for other silversmiths brought by him. ( they need-it ) The Prince Constantin Mavrocordat helped 2 Jews from Chotin-Bessarabia, Avram and Boroh to move in Bacau and to obtain land to build houses. By a special Decree signed by the same Prince, a group of Jewish handcrafts, were exempt of any taxes. In 1741, the Holly Metropolitan of Suceava, Antonie, hired 2 Jews, incharge with the administration of the Hollyest Metropolitan Church. In 1759 2 other Jews were hired for the famous Putna Monastery, for the same type of job. It is difficult to understand how the Orthodox Christian Church agreed with this intimacy with some Kikes, who are known that one of them, Judah, killed Jesus. But the real priests knew that this was a lie, as well as other lies atributed to the Jews against the Christians. What a story !! And again we find in old manuscripts, favors for the Jews from Harlau, Botosani Bacau, etc.

The Romanians needed this people for their professional skills as handcrafters, merchants, doctors, etc. They revived the Moldavian economy.

5. Falticeni, named first Soldanesti, was founded in 1780 by the Prince Constantin Moruzi, on the estate of the boyard Ionita Basota. In the Decree is mentioned that " the Jews to have a house for prayers, which should look like any other house and a cemetery ". Also for the Jews having any kind of business, except the ones specified by the boyard in a letter, to be exempted of taxes, them and their children. The town is located in northern Moldavia and now is a County capital.

6. Mihaileni, known at the begining under the name of Vladeni or Targul Nou, was founded on the estate of the boyard Costache Mares, in the district of Suceava, may be 20 Km. North of Dorohoi. The story is that this boyard saw the thriving of Falticeni, close to his estate, and obtained a Decree from the Prince Mihail Sturza for the creation of Mihaileni, which has the name of the Prince. 4 Jews, Jun Aizicovici, Mochil Moscovici, Marcu Aizicovici and Leiba Zet Borohovici were sent by the boyard in Moldavia and the neighbouring countries, to make propaganda for this place and to bring Romanians and Jews. An other Decree, signed by an other Prince, Alexandru Moruzi, gave to these propagandists, houses and tax exemptions for them and for the people brought by them. Also, it is mentioned in the Decree, to be constructed a synagogue, a ritual bath, a school and a cemetery for Jews. Almost in all Decrees for the founding of a statle, it is mentioned the constructions necessary for the Jews. This is a prove that the boyards wanted the Jews to come, because they brought economic prosperity. And Mihaileni had a population of Jews ab. 90%.

Le Comte d'Hauterve, a French author not quiet favorable to Jews, wrote in 1787, in his memoirs, about the Romanian Jews :

" We have to recognise the merits of the Jews : they are moderates, they pay taxes without public commentaries, they become rich little by little without to send their savings in other countries. They bought even products which before were throwed away, like rabits furs. They say that are the most beautiful from Europe and they sold in Germany 100,000 pieces annualy. "

A story about 7.Balti, which is in Bessarabia , now Moldova, but until 1812 in Moldavia. . In 1818, than a small village, was visited by the Tzar Alexander I, who traveled from Hotin to Chisinau, now called Kishinev. In Balti, the Royal Hyness was obliged to stay over night. Because of the terrible mudd, His carriage crushed and needed repairs. In this village, the Tzar found out that His Heir to the throne was born, Alexander II. In his happiness, he proclaimed Balti a city and county capital. Since than, Balti, a village of a few hundred people, started to thrive, having 1/2 of the population Jewish. But Balti existed as a small village even before the Royal visit and some old documents mentioned some letters of understanding between boyards and Jews way before , in 1782, when this territory was Moldavian and they became the majority of the population of the city. In 1892 census, from a total population of 11,118, 7143 were Jews. Balti became an important and prosperous city, surrounded by small towns and villages with much less activity and prosperity. You will find this city under the name of Beltsy on recent maps.

8. Panzareni, was created late in the 18th century, near Iasi, " on the other side of the river Prut ", on the land owned by " the treasurer Bals ". Therefore was located on the left side of the river, because Iasi is on the right side. Anyway, the only thing we know about this statle, is that the Jews came there from the "other side of the river Nister " , which mean from Russia. For unknown reasons, the Jews from this statle moved in Moldavia before 1840 and the place became a small village, which eventually disappeared.

Some of the statlech are not mentioned in the geographical dictionary or the year of foundation is missing or is wrong. This will be the case of 9. Mamornita, from the Dorohoi County, 10. Moinesti, (1781, ?) Bacau County, 10. Namoloasa, in Putna County, near Focsani, founded in 1818, (?) , 11. Pascani, in Suceava County, around 1800, 12. Radauti Dorohoi, (not to be mistaken with Radauti Bucovina ), 13. Saveni, Dorohoi County, (1818,? ), 14. Sulita, (south of Botosani) and others.

15. Podul Iloaiei, called first Podul Leloaiei, was founded on the land of the boyard Constantin Palade by a decree signed by the Prince Scarlat Calimah, in 1818. But the very known story of this statle, described with many details by the writter Marius Mircu, who recently celebrated 90 birthdays in Israel ( many more !), started long time before 1818. at the begining of the 17th century. A Jewish woman, Leloaia, owned an inn, a very primitive place named in Romanian " han ". Probably her real name was Leia. This inn was the only house on the left bank of the Bahlui river, tributary of the Prut river, closed to Iasi. The Bahlui river flows through Iasi also, in the old Jewish quarters, Podul Ros ( the red bridge) and Targu Cucului ( cuckoo's town ). Iasi is south of Podul Iloaiei.On the right bank of Bahlui vis a vis from the inn, there were a few huts, place were the mail carriage stationed. To ease the comunication between the mail carriage and the inn, Leloaia initiated the construction of a bridge, named after her, Podul Leloaiei. Certainly, this bridge developped the area by attracting people, being an important crossroad between Bessarabia (later Russia) and Moldavia. The story goes on, mentioning that a group of Jews, suggested to Constantin Palade, the boyard and the owner of the estate, to open a market town by a decree from the Prince Calimah. In 1818 the place became a market town named Podul Iloaiei. It is specified in the Decree that the Jews are allowed to have butcheries, paying for every animal sacrified a tax for the town. Also they are allowed to bake and sell bread and bagels, free of any tax, to have 2 schools, 2 places for hahams, a ritual bath and a cemetery, far from the market town. For these establishments the Jews " don't have to be bothered for taxes ". The statle started to grow and to be very productive, esspecially for the boyard and the Jews.

Near Podul Iloaiei, appeared an other statle on the estate of the boyard Sarban Negel, named 16. Scobantani, which tried to compete with Podul Iloaiei. Thens of Jews signed a paper of understanding in 1824 with Negel to live in the new place and to be exempt of any taxes for 5 years. After that the taxes were very competitives with Podul Iloaiei, and Negel approved that the Jews can sell kosher products, meat, bread, wine, to everybody, even to the gentiles. Than Podul Iloaiei, improved the taxes for Jews by far and Scobantani started to be bypassed by Jews in favor of Podul Iloaiei. A new tentative of Negel, in 1839, to improve the conditions of the Jewish people was without succes. Podul Iloaiei defeated Scobantani in the fight of attracting more Jews.

Under the Prince Ionita Sturza other statlech were founded in northern Moldavia, some of them mentioned before and 17. Buhusi, near Bacau, !8. Saveni, in Dorohoi County, 19. Frumusica, in Botosani County, 20. Sculeni, near Iasi, 21. Caiutu, in Bacau County, 22. Draguseni, between Galati and Barlad.

The author doesn't have all the Ordinances or Decrees for the foundation of all the statlech, but, in general, the model is like the decree for the founding of Bucecea.

In 1834, when the Prince Mihai Sturza became the leader of Moldavia, there were 40 market towns, biger and smaller. During his reign, were founded in the Tutova County (Barlad being the capital )23. Murgenii, 24. Plopana, 25. Puesti and 26. Pungesti. In the Covurlui County ( Galati the capital ), 27. Beresti, 28. Foltesti, 29 Pechea and 30. Rogojeni. In Vaslui County ( capital-Vaslui ), 31. Cadaesti and 32. Negresti. In Putna County ( Focsani-capital ), 33. Domnesti. In Tecuci County ( Tecuci-capital ), 34. Podul Turcului ( The origin of my paternal family). In Bacau county (Bacau-capital ) 35. Tg. Glodurile and 36. Valea Rea. In Falciu County ( Husi-capital ), 37 Docolina, 38. Raducaneni and 39. Urdesti. In Iasi County ( Iasi-capital ), 39. Bivolari and 40. Poeni. In Dorohoi County ( Dorohoi-capital ) 41. Darabani. In Neamt County ( Piatra Neamt-capital ) 42. Bozieni.

There are some informations regarding these Statlech, but we have to be very cautious in interpretation, because some mistakes were discovered.

We know about Bivolari that in 1838 were at least 59 Jewish families, all of them were tax exempt, because none of them are mentioned in 1839 list of the village's tribute, therefore they came in the last 5 years. According to the Geographical Dictionary from Iasi, in 1885, from a total population of 1,206, over 1,000 were Jews.(In Bivolari)

About Bozieni, oficial datas mentioned that the market town was founded in 1840, by a high official, named " Logofat " ( a kind of baillif ) Lupu Bals, but in1838 there were already 20 Jewish families. Bals didn't offer to the Jews, what was written in the Decree and the Jewish poulation didn't increase rapidly. The cemetery was constructed in 1879, and the synagogue in 1881. The no. of Jews increased to 500 in 1890 ( 50% of the total population ) and in 1899, deccreased to 350 souls.

In the Geographical Dictionary of the Dorohoi County, Darabani was founded on the estate of the " Big Bailiff " and General Teodor C. Balus around 1836. But the Decree came in 6/21/1837. The General was helped by a Jew, Leiba Ghersin Darabaner, a very known man in the area, who attracted a lot of Jews in Darabani. The Jews came to Darabani not only for Leiba, but because this statle was a main crossroad for the merchants from Moldavia going to Bucovina. Personally, I visited Darabani many times, because I had an aunt ( Amalia Moscovici nee Spodhaim married with Moisa Moscovici ) there. She died in Israel, and 2 or now 3 generations of her family are in Israel. In 1838 were 150 Jewish families in Darabani. The number increased to a few thousands before the WWII., but is not mentioned any figure.

And now Podu Turcului, near Tecuci, where my paternal great grand father , Sloima Zalman and his wife, Leia Vainingher Zalman from Stanisesti, a village ab. 20 Km. north, made their home around 1840. He bought a mill, where later, his son, my granfather Herscu Zalman, worked hard. In 1864 Herscu married my grandmother Seindle Rabinovici, daughter of Barlader Ruff. They made their first home in Podul-Turcului. Shloima, was very happy, having a rabbi as an inlaw. The statle was big, 3,000 people.My father told me jokingly that in Podul Turcului were 2900 Jews and 100 Gentiles. He was not far from the truth. Again, contradictions when the statle was founded. Considering the history of my family, who were not the first Jews in town, probably the Decree was sign between 1830-40, by the Prince Ionita Sturza.

Radauti- Dorohoi and not Radauti-Bucovina, probably was created around 1800., there is no Decree available. The estate was owned by the Grand Bailiff and Knite Costache Sandu Sturza, during the reign of Mihai Sturza. After 1812, when Moldavia lost Bessarabia to Russia, many Jews from the lost territory came in Radauti. The exact number of Jews is unknown because there are no statistical data.

About Raducaneni we don't know to much. We know that in 1846, 2 Jews, Srul Aronovici and Aron Mendelovici, colected taxes from 36-37 Jews, a total of 2,260 lei. Until the WWII, the Jews constituted the majority of the population.

Despite the fact that we know more informations about Beresti and Poeni, however are contradictions. The founding of Beresti seems to be by some in 1844, by others in 1838, and others in 1842. Also, the owner of the town could be a priest, Dimitrie Suceveanu or a boyard named Dimitrie Iamandi. From a letter signed by Dimitrie Iamandi and some Jews, among other standard rules and regulations, it is stipulated that is not allowed for merchants not living in this statle for 3 years, to sell products which exist to other shops in town and which are older than 3 years. For instance a newcomer merchant, or o merchant from an other town was not allowed to sell bagels, if in the town was already a bakery making and selling bagels. Is an unusual way to stifle the competition. To the founding of this statle a man named Leibovici, the father of Pascal Leibovici, who died in 1899, was very.industrious and useful.

Poeni was founded on the estate of Alexandru Bals, by the Prince Mihai Sturza's Decree, in 1837. The convention was standard, except for the fact that the Jews should open a business in a year and to start to pay tribute to Bals, after 2 years. Except for the first 29 Jewish families, which were at the beginning in the statle, there are no others figures mentioned.

For Codaiesti, in 1838 were 45 Jewish families and in1885 from a total of 765 habitants, 515 were Jews.

Docolina was founded by 7 Jewish families in 1838. In 1892 were only 20 Jewish families and 2 Christian families. The statle didn't thrive.

Mamornita, a small statle near Dorohoi, has contradictory dates about the founding : 1803 or 1838 ? The fact that the Decree of founding is signed by Constantin Moruzi, is contested. The statle had in 1838, 20 Jewish families, in 1885 50 Jewish families and 49 Gentile families.

Negresti, near Vaslui, has the same contradictions regarding the time of founding : 1814, 1835, 1836,1838 or 1839 ?. In the documents of Vaslui County is mentioned only the town of Vaslui. There is no Decree or letters, but we know only that the owner in 1845 was a woman, Eufrosina Rosat. In 1899 there were 787 Jews, the majority of the population from the statle.

Urdesti, again contradictions about the time of founding : 1838 or 1842 ?. Economical conditions were against the Jews. Only 5 Jewish families lived in this village' In 1894 all the Jews vanished, and the 27 Christian families remained in the village.

The same contradictions about the date of founding for Valea Rea or Ra, which in 1885 numbered 306 souls, over 250 being Jews.

There are no data for the other statlech, except for some statistical data from 1838 in the following places, concerning the Jews : Domnesti ( Putna County), 30 family heads. Foltesti ( Covurlui ) 4. Murgeni ( Tutova ) 50. Pechea ( Covurlui ) 12. Plopana 27, Puiesti 53 ( both in Tutova ). Pungesti (Vaslui ) 37. Tg. Glodurile ( Bacau ) 7. All of these numbers are family heads.

The foundations of the statlech and the calling of the Jews to populate these places are in contradiction with the legislation concerning the vagrancy of the Jews, during the reign of Mihai Sturza. This legislation sugested that the Jews came in Romania like some uninvited guests, who invaded the country by ilegal ways. This legislation tried to hide the calling of the Jews by the boyards, the only representatives of the public opinion. But the goal of this legislature was not to ban the entrance of the Jews in Romania, fact seen in the Decrees for the foundation of the statlech in which the Jews enjoyed special privileges. The real target of this legislation was an indirect way to squize money from the rich Jews and the Jewish Comunities, legislation which was invocated when Princes and their friends needed money. Caracteristic for Mihai Sturza is the fact that he founded Mihaileni, which has his name. (called first Vladeni and than Targul Nou).In this time he prepaired the vagrancy law only to obtain money from the wealthy Jews to pay his bills which secured his reign. But in the same time he offered special privileges for the Jews who came to live in Mihaileni. (1837) : a special ritual bath, supply with bread, meat and the other privileges like for everybody establishing their homes in Mihaileni. If he really considered the Jews being "vagabonds ", appears peculiar the privileges offered to them.

Sulita, became the property of Mihai Sturza between 1830-1840 and he knew how to develop this statle, by bringing Jews. From 100 Jewish family heads in 1831, this number increased to 195 heads in 1838, with 105 Jewish merchants and craftsmen and only 21 being Christians. In 1843, the town was destroyed by fire and the Jews wanted to leave. But Mihai Sturza, who wrote the vagrancy legislation against the Jews, asked them to stay and he helped them with money to reconstruct the statle.

Saveni, in 1838, numbered 23 Jewish merchants and craftsmen, versus 1 Christian.

Bucecea had in 1839, 26 Jewish merchants and craftsmen versus 14 Christians.

In Moinesti, in 1839, 78 versus 39. And the same proportion was in all the statlech.

It was very important for the owners of these statlech to keep the Jews and to attract others, for the florishing of their small town and for their pockets. For instance, Eufrosina Rosat, for Negresti, wrote a letter, signed by both Christians and Jews, that they are equal in rights and duties. Constantin Mavrocordat, the owner of Frumusica, closed an accord in 1844, with the Jewish merchants to bring new Jews in town, because the place didn't bring to much money for the boyard. From 14 Jewish families in 1831, the number increased to 47 families. To develop more this place, the owner closed a " convention " with the Jews, to give them the land to construct a Jewish school, a cemetery and a ritual bath, without any taxes. Also, the lumber necessary for the constructions will be donated by the owner. The Jews were like a medicine, necessary for the enrichment of the boyards and Princes. In the mean time, Mihai Sturza, in 1844, forgot the legislation against the Jews.

However the Prince Mihail Sturza, who some time didn't like the Jews, some times liked them, ( when he needed money ) was a smart man who forsaw that the Moldavian economy will go banckrupt without them. In 1844, Sturza sent to the Popular Council a law project to be approved, in order to ban the Jewish merchants to do business in the rural area and also to force all the Jews living in villages to move in statlech or towns in a period of 3months-1 year. The Council, being over zelous, attached an amendment to this law, baning the Jews to sell alcoholic beverages and food on the roads and even in statlech. They recommended that this law to take effect immediately and not in a year,when the Jews should live the villages. The author of this book. mentions that is not his business to explain the necesity of this law and amendment. This law went back to Sturza to be sign, but the Prince, the author of the Vagrancy Law against the Jews and other small harassing rules and regulations against them, didn't sign the Amendment, explaining to the Popular Council :

- The majority of the statlech are populated with Jewish merchants, because the Romanians are agricultors. If the Jews will be ban to sell alcoholic beverages and food they will leave this market towns,which will become uninhabitated. Will be unrealistic to forsee the moving of the agricultors in these statlech, because will not be enough people to work the land, in agriculture.

- In the same time, if the Jews will be ban to sell some products, they will ask the cancellation of the contracts to sell other products and will leave.

- The Project is limited only for the rural areas, and the economical results are not so important. But will be an economic catastrophy if the law will be extended for towns and cities.Therefore I ask you to revise the amendment.

And they did, by cancelling the Amendment.

From this short economic commentary, we can see the power of the Jewish economy in the 19th century, in Moldavia.

The author write that the law couldn't be maintain more than a few years, because was contrary to the boyards' interests and to the people.

After Sturza's abdication in 1850, other statlech were founded, where the Jews had the principal role, but the number of Gentiles was equal with the number of Jews. However the shops, the commerce, banks, craftsmen, etc were in Jewish hands. Among them, he mentioned 43. Ivesti. One of the reasons to found Ivesti is mentioned in a letter: "the multiplications of the market towns is an uncontested mean for the florishing of the commerce ". Ivesti is in the southern Moldavia.The number of Jews is debated, probably cca. 500. In Roman County : 44. Bacesti, with 474 Jews, 45. Bara, with 245 Jews, 46. Damienesti, with154 Jews, 47. Oniscani, with 80 Jews. Therefore there is an Onitcani in Bessarabia, mentioned as the first statle, around 1700, ( near the Nister river ) and a 2nd one, founded around 1850, but spelled Oniscani. Who knows ? May be is a third one !

In the Iasi County, new small statle appeared, 48. Dimache, 49. Tiganasi, called also Caminaresti and 50 Tibana, with cca. 70 Jews each.

In Falciu county, 51. Gugesti and 52. Hoceni, with 54 and 64 Jews, in 1859.

The last statle founded in Moldavia is 53. Dranceni, or Branza (cheese in English ! } by Mihail Kogalniceanu, famous stateman and antisemite, in 1862, on his estate.

"An economic history of the Romanian Principates was not written yet, to be able to evaluate the role played by the Jews who came from other countries as well as by the Jews found in the Principates for many centuries. The newcomers, founders of the statlech had an enormous contribution to the development of the agriculture, all the land which before was lost in fallow, again was ploughed. The revenues from the estates of the boyards increased tremendously, the statle became an important place for buying or selling a big variety of products. The export increased in geometrical proportion and the commerce started to develop due to the rich economy.

The craftsmen brought new advanced techniques for those times and many products was not imported any more from foreign countries, saving money used for other needs. But this people, when they asked for the equal rights with the Gentiles, the Government was afraid by the Jews, not to transform Romania in a Jewish state and treated them worse than a step son. ( Romanian bad word )

But it will come a time, when based on documents today not known yet, the impartial history will make justice, and will recognise the services brought by the Jews for the Romanian country".

=========

P.S.I tried to end this translation with the words of the author. Many commentaries can be made, but the extent of this translation doesn't leave the time and the space to go further. If the readers have questions, I am ready to respond to them, as much as possible.

Dr. Marcel Bratu