MZ-11-O

The author of this religious treatise is Rabbi Natan Landau (1840-1906), who was the head of the Rabbinical Court in Oświęcim. The seal of his son, Leser, also an Oświęcim rabbi, is visible on the card. The Lesers were a family with rabbinical traditions, whose members held extremely important positions in the life of the local Jewish community. Rabbi Leser Landau (1868-1938) held the prestigious position of rabbinical assessor in the Jewish Community of Oświęcim for 21 years. Both rabbis were also associated with the Religious-Humanitarian Association Kowea Itim La-Torah (Hebrew for marking time in the Torah), founded in 1902. The association had several dozen members, and its president for many years was Moses Henoch Guttman, and later Moses David Landau. From 1905, the association had its own synagogue under the same name on Żydowska Street in Oświęcim. The building, which no longer exists, was located below the Great Synagogue, to the left of the mikvah (i.e. ritual bath). Next to it, at the entrance to the women’s section, was a two-story building for klei kodesh, or religious functionaries of the community. Natan Landau and his family lived on the second floor and, after his death, his son Leser. The second floor was occupied by Alter Steiner, the longtime shamash (Hebrew for servant, usher) of the Great Synagogue. Just before the outbreak of World War II, there was also a cheder there, run by Szlomke Rath. A rabbi (Hebrew, my master, teacher) is a spiritual leader of the Jewish community, a religious authority in the field of Mosaic Law, certified (smicha) to fulfill this role. A rabbi performs judicial functions, oversees school teaching, administers weddings and places curses (cherem). He is appointed and dismissed by the members of the community.