Mstislavl

District town in the government of Moghilef, Russia. A Jewish community existed here in the sixteenth century. There is reason to believe that the community was poor; for the synagogal decorations, consisting of a silver crown and two engraved tablets with silver bells, were pawned with a Christian (1639). In 1897 the Mstislavl Jews numbered about 5,600 in a total population of 8,467. They included 950 artisans and 112 day-laborers. The Jewish children are given instruction in the Talmud Torah; and 75 attend the city school. There are organizations in Mstislavl for the visitation of the sick and for affording pecuniary assistance to the needy.

Bibliography:

  * Regesty, i., No. 827, St. Petersburg, 1899.



H. R. S. J.