Official Attestation to the Age of a Jewish Girl, in lieu of a Birth Certificate.

(POLAND).

22nd May

Radzyn, Poland

1818

“Feiga Nisynovna, 18 years of age, was born to her parents Nissan and Rachom Srulovitz of Radzyn.” Manuscript in Polish with Hebrew signatures of two witnesses, Cal Chaimovitz and Shia Itzkovitz. Also signed by the town Mayor, I. Jalbrzykowski.

This document enabled Feiga to marry, as her age had been confirmed. Radzyn (Radzyń-Podlaski / Radin) is the district capital in the province of Lublin. Founded in 1468 it has been assumed that Jews lived in Radzyn from its foundation. In 1765 there were 537 Jews living there and 1,301 Jews (about 53% of the total population) by 1856. During World War I the general population decreased, but in 1921 there were still 2,895 Jews (59.7%) in Radzyn, and an estimated 3,000 on the eve of World War II. (JVL). Among the outstanding personalities of the community was R. Gershon Ḥanoch Leiner, founder of the Radzyn dynasty of Ḥasidim.