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Only edition of these novellae on Shulhan Arukh Hoshen Mishpat by R. Menasheh Eichenstein ben Issachar Berish (d. 1935). Although the title page describes it as part one a second volume, on the Torah, was not printed for forty years, in 1935. R. Eichenstein was av bet din in Zikov, then Berisha, and finally in Waretski. He lived for many years in Munkacs by his father. There is an approbation from his father-in-law R. Joshua Horowitz followed by an introduction from the author. Alfe Menasheh, which is set in two columns in rabbinic type, excepting headers and initial words, which are in square letters, is on the laws pertaining to dayyanim and adus.
Przemysl, the place of printing, is a city in Rzeszow province, S. E. Poland; after the partition of Poland, it passed to Austria (1772–1919), subsequently reverting to independent Poland. In 1939–40 the German-Soviet borderline ran through Przemysl. A Jewish community existed in the city by 1367. In 1542 some 18 Jewish families were living there. The community numbered 1,558 by 1775. A Jew of Przemysl, Moses (Moshko) Shmuhler, was sentenced to death in 1630 following a Host desecration libel. In 1638 the communities in the vicinity were ordered to pay their taxes through the Przemysl community, and from 1670 Przemysl became a leading community for the region of "Red Russia" within the framework of the Councils of the Lands. Przemysl Jewry was granted detailed charters of rights by King Sigismund II Augustus (March 29, 1559) and King Stephen BFthory (June 27, 1576) enabling the Jews to trade despite opposition from the municipality. The economic position of Przemysl Jewry declined in the 18th century and the community fell heavily into debt. When in 1772 the community passed to Austrian rule its autonomy was curtailed, and the Jews in Przemysl, like the rest of the Jews in the territories incorporated into Austria, came under the Austrian system of supervision limiting their numbers and marriages. Half of the members of the Przemysl city council were Jews. Among the heads of the Jewish community the most influential was Moshe Sheinbah, an active member of both the municipal and community councils before World War I. The Jewish population numbered c. 5,692 in 1870; 16,062 in 1910 (29.6% of the total population); 18,360 (38.3%) in 1921; and 17,300 (34.0%) in 1931. Wealthy Jews of Przemysl engaged in the wholesale commerce of wheat and timber; some were purveyors to the Austrian army garrison in the town. Jews also engaged in banking, small- and large-scale industry. and agriculture. A large section of the Jewish population was impoverished.
Among rabbis of Przemysl in the 19th century Samuel Heller and Isaac Judah Schmelkes were prominent. In 1875 the Yishuv Erez Israel organization was founded, and from 1897 many Jews in Przemysl joined Zionist organizations, prominent among them Aguddat Herzl. The Bund, Agudat Israel, and the Folkspartei were also active in Przemysl. H. Lieberman was active in organizing the Polish Socialist Party (P.P.S.). In World War I Przemysl was occupied for a short time in 1915 by the Russians. Many Jews then left the city and some were expelled by the Russians.
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