The Council of Lithuanian Jews 1623-1764

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The Council of Lithuanian Jews (Lithuanian Vaad) served as the central representative body for Jews in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 1623 to 1764, influencing all aspects of Jewish community life. It played a vital role in advocating for its members at diets and dietines (nobility legislative assemblies), as well as in the courts of the King and significant magnates, and even in non-Jewish legal systems. This book explores the Council’s initiatives within the broader context of contemporary Jewish societal dynamics, highlighting the distinct identity of Lithuanian Jewry as a cohesive estate that transcended local affiliations. Anna Michałowska-Mycielska, a historian at the Institute of History, Warsaw University, specializes in the history and culture of Jews in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the 16th to 18th centuries. Her previous works include studies on Jewish community governance and social control in Poznań and Swarzędz, as well as various source collections related to Jewish life and legislative matters in the region. Her research contributes significantly to understanding the complexities of Jewish existence and governance in historical Lithuania.