N. Tzukerman
1715 "CHEVRA
KADISHA" AMMENDMENTS
1715 Pruzhany
Chevra Kadisha amendments , conforms oldest preserved Statute of this
congregation. But the date doesn't coincide with year of Congregation's establishment , and we imagine that
together with missing Protocols of Pinkas, also got lost older amendments. The
amendments that we bring next come from year 1715, and we consider they are
additional modifications of those that existed previously. These changes were
made after several years, and according to the tradition every seven years, but
generally this period was not preserved. The statute that we will mention
later, translated from Hebrew, consists
on 18 points (the quantity 18 was always conserved in all amendments; TN 18 is
written in Hebrew as the word "life" or "Chai", considering
we are talking of a burial society ), determining Administrator's
responsibilities and those of
congregation members.
1715 AMMENDMENTS
01 |
It is duty of
whole Congregation, for those who are here, those who are not, and those who
are in a trip, to fast in the eve of
first day of the month of Kislev. Those that remain here should meet for: to
ask " Forgiveness " (it is a prayer), to praye according to Jewish
laws, collective fast, distribute what poor need, and at evening prepare a
meal, as it is traditional in Congregations in all Saint Communities. |
02 |
If occasionally
there was a very serious sick person, merciful G-d protects us, in agony state, the Administrators will
make a draw in the whole Congregation, and two people that are drawn will be
with the sick person, that is to say, they take turns every hour. If one of
them was in an emergency or a limit situation, and was him impossible to
attend the sick person, his words won't be enough, and he should be presented
before the Administrators to declare and to justify, until his words are
convincing, and in his place will be sent another person. This will be worth
only one single time. If G-d doesn't
allow it, this happens to one of the members of the Chevra Kadisha, 10 people
should attend his illness and behave properly. |
03 |
It is also
Administrator's duty to pay due attention to the precept of consoling
relatives of deceased, and they should be attended at least by three members. |
04 |
If one of the
members disappears, G-d doesn't allow it, all members should pray seven days
of bereavement, the sacred Torah rolls will be in deceased's house, and even
in Shabbat will be prayed there. |
05 |
The person that
does not take in charge his duties of in three opportunities, when it happens
- D-s doesn't allow it - the death of somebody, and after the Serviceman
informed him and he didn't attend, it is worthy of being expelled of the
Chevra Kadisha, without any more justification. |
06 |
The
Administrator should be present during Saint Surveillance, when coffin is
prepared, and through the Serviceman he should inform all members of the
Chevra Kadisha that they should attend obligatorily. Who doesn't go, will
given the first time a fine of two Polish groshen, and if he transgresses for
a second time, will be of six groshen. If it is summoned a third time and he
doesn't go, will be punished with the exclusion of Chevra Kadisha at least
four weeks. The Administrator will register his non attendance, the first
time, second and third time, and then will be applied him the trial up mentioned. |
07 |
If it happened
something, G-d doesn't allow it, and members are present in the place, no any
member could be absent of the city, and if it is an emergency, they should be
presented to the Administrators to be justified, and his words should be convincing. |
08 |
People should
not behave frivolous in the cemetery,
and the person that transgresses will give a fine of six Polish groshen. |
09 |
The
Administrator will watch over that all Chevra Kadisha members don't go away immediately from the cemetery after having covered the grave.
Will await not less than six people related with the Chevra Kadisha that the
Administrator will designate. Who doesn't accept, will pay a fine of ten
groshen Who pays the
fine because of mentioned before, will be registered, and the Administrator
will have the responsibility to claim
that amount and to register absentees. The collectors designated will be controlled and they should write
down the quantity of collected money, surrendering fair bills to the
Administrator and Accounts Reviewers. |
10 |
About what was
registered in amendment 2: if it happens, G-d doesn't allow it, the death of
one of Chevra Kadihsa members .... people should behave in the way registered
in amendments 3 and 4, and also (after the death) all members of the Chevra
Kadisha should go to the cemetery and ask forgiveness to the deceased next to
his tomb |
11 |
If it happened,
merciful G-d protects us, and some of the members were not in charge of his duties
at least in two opportunities (as for preparing the grave, dress the
deceased, etc.) but completed one of the two precepts , he is considered for
good. |
12 |
Administrators
will not be in their position less than three years (according to last
amendment). If happens the case he was reelected again to be the appropriate
person, he occupies the position the fourth year, seventh, and this way
forever. |
13 |
Administrator is
allowed to make cash expenditures only for two guilden, without consent of
Accounts Reviewers .Designated people will register all incomes and
expenditures in cash and guarantees
for small or big elements . |
14 |
Since the day
amendments up mentioned were
accepted, was decided that everybody, big and small, old and young, will have same responsibility in
fulfill mentioned precept, and nobody
is entitled of saying : "I was named before". All are of the same
level. When G-d wants, when making arbitration, card of each one will be
deposited in the urn. About sepulcher
payment , as was remembered in previous amendment, if it was not paid since
one year or more, the Administrator will explain the situation to three
members of the Chevra Kadisha so they
are in charge of the issue with him, and the person that does not pay will be
treated as it is indicated in previous amendments. |
15 |
Referees will
not be more than three and they should not name themselves. Only two of them
will be Administrators. If the three already carried out last year that
position, they cannot be reelected. Will be done a draw among them, and two
they will be Administrators, plus two
Chevra Kadisha members . Independently of Administrators, will be designated
three Accounts Reviewers - and also inspectors - to control the execution of registered amendments, and two people to
claim fines. |
16 |
The person who
has the audacity of opening his mouth against the honor of members to
humiliate them, the Administrators will gather all members to consider
punishment they deserve, and will be registered in Pinkas what majority
decided. All men, members
here present, we tust in G-d, and we register the name of each one according
to his hierarchy. Those that come close to us to collaborate in our
activities, their opinion will be respected. The amendments
inspectors , and those that claim
fines, are forced to claim all notes debts, lease rights, and guarantees.
They are also in charge of cemetery arrangements, new constructions, and
fences. |
17 |
The member of
the Chevra Kadisha that remained in his position during 18 years, when he
dies the family will be exempt of sepulcher payment . If a discussion arose
among members with regard to this issue, will proceed a public trial and
Accounts Reviewers will judge the culprit and they will liberate the innocent
. Who transgresses this amendment,
will be expelled unanimously of the Chevra Kadisha for the lapse of
six months. The defendant and the plaintiff are entitled to be presented
before a trial, together with all the members. |
18 |
From today and
during next four years, will not be accepted in our Chevra Kadisha other men
, and at the end of this period, only will be accepted with the consent of
all members. Nobody should
dare to speak about the honor of
another during the festivity of "Hoshana Raba" and "Simchat
Torah". In this festivities will be made a draw among Administrators, to
determine who will have the honor of
carrying Torah Sacred Rolls and who will be the follower. This will
be done only among three Administrators.
All amendments
(up mentioned) were registered from
the # 1 to # 18. We conclude with the help of G-d who will say us
"enough suffering" and in particular to all you, those who trust in
our G-d in life. 1715 |
According to
present amendments, it is not clear if the Chevra Kadisha had other functions
besides funerals and tasks linked to this issue. Is not mentioned in amendments
the objective bases of the Chevra Kadisha, and this explains that this Statute
is not certainly the first one and therefore here were completed, and they were
modifications of previous Statutes. We should also doubt, if in first registered statute, existed the cause
for which this Chevra Kadisha was established in Jewish settlements, according
to traditions accepted in previous times, brought by first Jews that emigrated
of other Communities and arrived to these lands. With time, happened
modifications dependent of local
conditions.
In later
amendment's are shown rules different from the genuine function. This way, was
accepted in 1730 that a distribution of money has to be done among the poor
during the eve of each festivity. In the paragraph A) we read:
The
Administrator of our Chevra Kadisha will distribute among poor people, in each
festivity, not less than three Polish guilden. He won't do it alone, but
accompanied by another Administrator, and of an Accounts Reviewer.
A similar
amendment is found in year 1778.
...His eyes will remain open to watch over
and to distribute money among the poor of the city, according to Administrators criteria.
This procedure as
it comes off, was not fulfilled , because some years later, in year 1890 (5650)
we find the following:
Years later we find amendments, in which is
cleared up the form of medicines distribution among sick people. In
amendments of the year 1744, paragraph 9 is stated:
The Administrator
of the "Service of Sick Persons Care" will see if he has first aid medicines, and will distribute them
among poor and sick people. If he has money surplus, will distribute it among poor and sick, because a sick person has
priority in receiving monetary support,
as for medicines help.
Regarding sick
persons attention, we find later
anamendment of year 1752.
9. The
Administrator of "Service of Sick Persons Care" will always have homemade medicines that
revive the body. Previous to fairs, he will go to Chevra Kadisha Administrator
and will give him the list with
necessary elements (that will be bought).
Of same year we
find an amendment about the source of economic means to assist sick
persons. In paragraph 8 we read:
All collected
by means of "money boxes" in a funeral, will be distributed by two
people this way: a third to the Administrator of the "Service of Sick
Persons Care", and the rest will be distributed according Administrators
criteria.
In an amendment of
1752, a mention is also made about money lending. In the paragraph 1 we
read:
...Referees
will name a person to maintain in his power the money of "money boxes". The Administrator
can offer this money as a loan when it would be necessary. ..Will be forbidden
use that money for another need....
In all amendments,
as we see, Chevra Kadisha takes the
responsibility of a series of
solidarity tasks. This was because in that time the Chevra Kadhisa was the only
religious institution (TN: Local
Kehila, after VML disappeared in 1761, was completely in functions opened
later). But later when Jewish
establishment grew, and other
solidarity help groups settled down independently, the Chevra Kadisha
gives up the different tasks and only carries out its specific functions.
A series of
amendments of the Chevra Kadisha were registered about the issue "Annual
Meal" that was carried out in
Kislev 28. Twice was regulated that
each member of the Chevra Kadisha should contribute a weekly groshen for that
meal. It is ignored if this was truly
done because years later is repeated
same amendment.
For annual meal
were invited all members of the Chevra
Kadisha, and also 12 people and three teachers. An amendment of 1721 treats
this issue:
...Will
be invited to the meal only members of the Chevra Kadisha. Also 12 people and
three teachers. The Administrators will clarify who are those 12 people and
three teachers.
Administrators
headed the Chevra Kadisha and they were elected by draw. In an urn were
placed cards, chord to the quantity of
men members of Chevra Kadisha that were entitled to participate in the draw (In
a series of amendments were given precise data of those who had this right). On
a certain quantity of cards, they made a sign and each man extracted a card.
Then referees gathered them in a remote room, and they chose the
Administrators.
Besides the
Administrators, they also chose Accounts Reviewers whose real work was to
control Administrators task.