Hebrew Manuscript Signed by the rabbi and communal leaders of Dombrova certifying the financial status of a widower who wished to remarry. The signatories state that as guarantors, they assume the responsibility of payment of the dowry within three years.

(CHASSIDISM).

20th Cheshvan

Dombrova

1778

The government imposed “Familiant Laws” to ensure that Jewish couples would have financial means to sustain themselves at least during the first year of marriage. The leaders of the community had to officially guarantee and vouch for the financial status of the groom. The document here states that the groom is in possession of 1500 (gold thalers) and the bride has a dowry of 600 (gold thalers). The reasoning behind the law was in fact an attempt by the State to limit the natural growth of the Jewish community. The document is signed by the esteemed R. Alexander Sender Meisels of Apta. Further important signatories are: Shlomo b. Yoseph Zev of Dombrova, Yekuthiel b. Chaim and Yechezkel b. Zev Wolf. Also signed here is Tzvi Hirsch b. Mordechai, father of R. Mordechai David Ungar of Dombrova who had been crowned as Rebbe by the renowned Chozeh of Lublin. Men as illustrious as R. Chaim Halberstam of Sanz and R. Shalom of Kaminka became his followers. (R. Mordechai David Ungar, son-in-law of the previous Bobover Rebbe, R. Naphtali Halberstam, is a direct descendent of R. Mordechai of Dombrova). The final signatory is R. Menachem Nachum of Rademishle.