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"Sometimes an appeal to the zamek was based on the need to enlist its enforcement capabilities. The case of Michel Abusiewicz of Satanów, which was heard by the zamek court there on February 5, 1730, is one such instance. Michel owed several hundred złoty to creditors, who were pressing him for repayment. A fellow Jew, Melech Markowicz, offered Michel 800 zł. for the rights to Michel's home and store. Out of desperation, Michel jumped at the proposal "in one moment" without seeking other offers or even conferring with his wife. Michel and Melech went to the rabbi and concluded the deal. Meanwhile, "at almost the same time," Michel's wife was working on a deal of her own. Their neighbor Naftuly, who had long desired to expand his home by annexing Michel's, offered Michel's wife 2000 zł. for their home. This would cover their debts and leave them enough money to buy a smaller place. Clearly Naftuly's offer was more attractive than Melech's/ As soon as Michel's wife informed him of her agreement with Naftuly, he took Naftuly to the rabbinic court, 800 zł. in hand, and sought to repay Mellech, annulling his deal with the latter. Melech refused, however, and Michel appealed to the zamek.
The zamek court considered Michel's hasty actions and his failure to confer with his wife, which, according to the zamek, was required by Jewish law. In addition Naftuly's offer was clearly advantageous and Melech had not yet taken possession of the house. Inview of all this the zamek court decided in Michel's and Naftuly's favor, forcing Melech to accept his 800 zł. in return"

from Rosman, M. J., The Lords' Jews: Magnate-Jewish Relations in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the Eighteenth Century, Cambridge Mass., 1991.

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November 2016

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