âThere is no history of Poland without the history of the Jews, and no history of the Jews without the history of Poland.â
(Jakub Goldberg, 1993)
âIn those principalities one still comes upon masses of Jews who are not disdained as much as in other such lands. They do not live here under pitiful conditions and do not engage in lowly pursuits ⦠But rather they possess land, engage in commerce, and devote themselves to medicine and astrology ⦠They possess considerable wealth and they are not only among the respectable citizens, but occasionally dominate them. They wear no special marks to distinguish themselves from Christians and are even permitted to wear swords and to go about armed. In general, they enjoy equal rights.â
(Antonio Maria Graziani, Bischof von Amelia und päpstlicher Nuntius in Venedig, im Jahr 1565, in: Polonsky, Antony: The Jews in Poland and Russia, Oxford-Portland 2010, S. 31.)
âThe new immigrants were entitled to own and sell land, were free to leave the city if they wished, and were given the right to build a synagogue and a âmikvehâ (ritual bath) and established a cementary. They could wear the same clothing as non-Jews and could freely engage in trade in ZamoÅÄ and in Poland subject only to the limitations of Polish law. They could also practice medicine and open pharmacies in ZamoÅÄ provided they passed an examination at the ZamoÅÄ Akademy, (â¦).â
(über die Juden in ZamoÅÄ: Polonsky, Antony, The Jews in Poland and Russia, Oxford-Portland 2010, S. 13.)