In 1518 King Sigismund, at the request of influential Jews of Brest, appointed a commission to verify the solutions Brestskago Zamkovago court (where Jews were judged Brest). Into the hands of the commission brothers Michael and Yitzchak, residents of Brest, petitioned for a sentence imposed by the Court on the Castle blind Aaron, accused of deliberately blinding Loshitsa Christian and sprinkling salt on the wounds. According to the laws of Magdeburg, Aaron was sentenced to amputation, hands. Commission refused asylum had not provided guarantees and confirmed the sentence.

In 1527 the King of the Jews of Brest-issued the following privileges:

Two years later, Brest Jews are again to the king: Christians are not obliged royal decree. City boss does not give Jews a portion of the proceeds of the imported goods to the city. King orders strictly fulfill its requirement referring to the fact and philosophy that this income on various urban needs, at which all without distinction as to take part, as an example, for the construction and repairs of bridges, the cobbled streets, a weapon on {46 }help impoverished after the fire, which is what the Jews have no claim, because they are on a par with Christians all duties, yes, perhaps even more than the Christians, the Jews specially applicable taxes, why they rightly should have their part in the revenues.

But this order has not helped. All proceeds from the importation of the goods in Brest and from driving cattle Christians were taken currently. Jews claimed that they have the privilege and income from Alexander.

But this did miss. The king told to present this letter. Jews did not bring. Showed deception and Jews lost.

In 1533 Sigmund ordered:

As seen here, the hatred of Jews in Lithuania formed on the basis of Brest (specifically). We must assume that some flourishing state Brest Jews (more than before, than anywhere else) filed envy and hatred of Christians. Most Jews engaged in trade, which has always been some amount of money, large or small whether. Own or someone else's, but saw the money. Brest lived compared with other Lithuanian cities (where there were many Jews), luxurious, for the time, life. As the money market as a center of trade, the stock exchange and the freight station of foreign goods  /1/ Brest Mytnaya book recorded all smuggled via Brest western states in Vilna (and Lithuania), Russia and other parts of the east, the goods and paid for them duties. Brest and other merchants carry wines from Hungary, fish and malvasia from Poland, nuts and other colonial goods from Italy (and other places), iron products, tissue, etc. (Extract from this book Mytnaya, see Monuments of Old Russian, Batiushkov 1874. Petersburg, Issue 6, p4.) , to Brest flocked famous and influential people, specialists. Money and precious dresses (especially the last on holidays) sparkled and conspicuous. Most of the same Christian - authorities, administration, clergy, artisans, working proletariat, (most of whom were Christians without some work, as often worked in the port, etc.) and small landowners, all of these, spending more than their allowed revenues began to take profits Jewish different straight and curved paths, and not without various fraud and forgery. Encountering the same in this respect, rebuffed by the privileges {47} Sigmund did a lot of good, especially the Lithuanian Jews of Brest. More he did for the last Brest after fires. He then freed Brest residents for ten years from a forward of cart and postage; gave many other benefits and prolongations different Brest Jews. And you can not say that it was quite good without any system whatsoever.

Sigmund undoubtedly known pursued political goals: the autonomous freedom of all social groups, which, however, is too extended, leaving no place for community, connectedness and harmony so necessary in public life backplane. Instead convergence hearts caused more break. Anyway, started antagonism could not be hampered due to the autonomy of the Jews. Both lived vmesge enemy, had common interests, and it is difficult to live in harmony groups, so close to the soil material, economic, so cohesive, touching, and spiritually as far as the opposite. Large force of one group, large, liberty and security word great chances of winning increase the hatred, envy other group. Autonomous individual is not bound neither by the general law (court), neither social life nor common group interests, nor religion. Each lived their separate, isolated life, each addressed otdelnok king only on behalf of his group, and only in their own interests, often to the detriment of other autonomous groups. But all that live together, almost blended. The neighborhood is not only unsatisfied but discontented, inflated, and explosive. Jews encountering hatred and persecution from the other (Christian) groups, often bored king their requests for protective manifestos. But, however, the Jews more and more, not accustomed to rely on friendship and spiritual convergence and mixing them with the neighbors, and the royal favor and protection, often forgetting all other considerations, especially regarding hostel Christians forget that angry with strong neighbors hard to live in the most {48} best protective sheets and good writing on paper, Privileges Kings patrons. The notion that the government is the people and the government is an expression of the total forces and inclinations of the people, the notion that there is but the government does not express all this, it is, it may be the case in Poland, where freedom is not consistent, that government gets jolt from other places that are not considered with the people, this concept was alien to them. They saw in the King almighty hand, and his only sufficient privileges. They were considered more enforceable than the commandments of God...

Yuzefovich.

The children were particularly Michael Juzefovicha royal mercy. Kobrin Archimandrite accuses David Mikhailovich of stealing jewelry from Kobrin Saints Orthodox Church (Russian). But fate intervened king himself personally wanting to disassemble the case and his (1525). Witnesses claimed Archimandrite and showed that the theft was committed by David. Last, presented a copy of the court verdict on the Gniezno these thieves who did not mention his name (David). King gave him a verdict declaring David guilty. Not intervene here king, maybe it would have ended differently..

Second son, Michael, Abrashka, impoverished after the fire, the king gave land in nearby Brest (Kumyashits and Kosice) to their eternal possession, without chinshevoy and other charges to the owner. Gave him a lot of other benefits.

Grandson Michael known Dr. Joseph Moiseevich. Four sons Michael, David, Abrashka, Nehemiah and Passover, known to us only by the documents of judicial acts. They sued with each and all, or better, each and every with them suing for misappropriation of slaves, and Nehemiah Abrashka (plaintiff-Andrew Christian; Yuzefovich denied and were acquitted) for assigning collateral Sapieha (Lithuanian Chancellor) on payment of the last debt (Abrashka accused said {49} that maybe his brother - Pesach got the money, but he (Abrash) not received); Abrashka demanded from Vilna tradesman (Christian) Voynolovicha: return, forgotten, father Michael, and mistakenly left in his hotel bills and documents. Voynolovich said that handed all enter the city, which is now gone. The Royal Court decided that Voynolovich obliged to find Vojta, take his notes and documents and to give the plaintiff.

Why, they had so much to sue, even at such a dirty business, but we have-not surprising, who could have as many haters as many enemies as a rich man, a Jew, a representative of autonomous Jews, a favorite of the king, the tax collector, the lender, the proud and somewhat despot. If, could not vent his anger on him personally, then at least for his children.

It may be added that the good deeds of Michael, little or nothing is known. He, despite his position, which actually takes it one collecting taxes, as other hassle just was not there, and does not care about improvements for the Jews (on the best device), he himself did not make such a hassle . But even though a single lesson, but could not do much good, could try to buy love, at least, their fellow Jews. There is always room for improvement. Proud royal mercy, his dignity, support against the will of the Jews, assessing the post - bringing honor, nobility, wealth, almost kingdom in small format, not forgetting, perhaps, that it's all thanks to his brother, the minister baptized Abram, he became a despot, a landowner peasants. So were his ill-behaved children.

We also understand why, despite the efforts of the Jews, Michael is not lost his place and did not resign, and was ready to sacrifice the interests of the Jews for their own personal gain. It happens all too often. It was then, when the terms are not seen dignitaries, the poor, in the position which come to be afraid of, it was then fighting for themselves and increase the enslavement of others. Take force myself wealth. More surprisingly, they want to take him by force, and the glory that does not really can not be voluntary. And only by blinding the eyes of the people, leaving them in the darkness of spiritual and mental can try to convince myself glory.

Mendel Frank did not want to give way, despite the desire of the Jews. And he thought little of Jewish autonomy, and did not think that it is not necessary to concede, because the other will not be better. He thought only of himself. But all this led the king to believe that such {50} despotic, autonomy in the face of a ruler-representative-shtadlona and executor can not satisfy neither the Jews nor the king himself, which should not be a witness of so many squabbles, so many vile denunciations. Maybe the king and did not think about the elected representatives, and perhaps thought, but thought that we should not be limited to one representative at least elected, as this unity excites a lot of envy in the election and causes a lot of unrest, the country is upset, intrigue, splits groups on both sides and eventually falls. One representative may also be more oppressive mood, more independent and more proud. Another thing, a lot of choice of representatives, there is no such terrible disputes; everyone can get now or after. And the main thing is pre Seymovoy representation more deliberate acts and not so self-serving.

So the king was convinced and decided to destroy the dignity of the autocratic chief rabbi and replace it with the institution of Great Council (Congress) elected the most Jewish scholars and rabbis from all over Lithuania and Poland, to discuss general Jewish community and its needs and affairs of taxes and duties, make decisions, authorize a delegate or delegates to the congresses, submitted to the king, etc.

But the chief rabbinate continued to exist, but only managed to religious affairs, and not taxes, etc. secular affairs. Thus we find the chief rabbi of Brest 100 years Yudu Levu Elenberg.

And again, even greater separation of Jews from Christians, and litigation and national governance and taxes, military service and education of children, except longtime differences in language, religion, employment, public services and so on. In short, the state within a state. This is not the autonomy of language and freeman natsionalnago development.

And Congress established the 4-countries. At certain times gathered in Lublin or Yaroslav. Attended by rabbis main communities, which have created a lot of good. People meekly performed their orders and orders as orders of his highly revered elect commissioners. Elections were universal. But involved only lighter, more conscious, more activity, other people on them located. Qualification was not the same, no.

Kings also confirmed the decisions of the Congress saw in them, and the honesty and intelligence, and remediation of Jewish interests.

The main communities were considered: Poznan, Krakow, Lublin, {51} Brest and Lviv (Lemberg). Since 1623 Lithuania separated from Congress Poland, established through the efforts of Brest Rabbi Meir Vala individual, for Lithuania, Congresses (community leaders Brest, Grodno and Pinsk). Lithuanian rabbis considered it a humiliation to obey Polish rabbi (as well as the Polish - Lithuanian) and previous congresses are often not present.

Hard to please.

Interestingly, the major cities were the same as those which were diocese (non-Jewish faiths) as if counter-diocese. Political objectives of one diocese was put rebuff - other, that for this purpose any diocese Catholic, Orthodox and reform. But what Jewish diocese without political goals ? Diocesan centers should be attracted to everything that contributes to all kinds of all-round development, not only in his diocese. These diocesan centers and Jews found more space and more conditions for their development. Had to be Jewish resistance when they were religious disputes with the Jews debate and dialogues. It was necessary to expose people to the Jews and the other bishops equivalent.