Jewish Taverns in the Vilkaviskis area
The stereotypical, three-tier feudal society in the 16th through to the 18th centuries in Poland-Lithuania Commonwealth was not inclusive of all states and ways of life. Among the excluded were Jews – not peasants and not granted full civil rights, distinctive at first sight and maintaining their otherness.
Their special status translated to the economy: their fate connected them to noble landowners by the idea of a lease, called an arenda – the Jews would lease and operate facilities such as mills or distilleries. And an arenda was also central to the idea of a tavern (karczma).
In front of the inn” by Józef Brandt. Photo: National Library / Polona.
In her investigations Dr. Ruth Leiserowitz discovered a list of Jewish taverns in the Vilkaviskis area
From this list I placed the taverns on a map of the area
For an interesting background see this U-Tube clip Lives of Tavernkeeping Jews in 18th & 19th Century Poland, featuring Prof. Glenn Dynner