Bielgoraj

A district town in the government of Lublin, Russian Poland. According to the "Zuk ha-'Ittim," during the uprising of the Cossacks under Chmielnicki (1648-49), all the Jews of Bielgoraj were killed, among them Rabbi Hirsch, brother-in-law of the author of that work, and his brother Rabbi David. Its Jewish population in 1890 was 3,430, in a total population of 7,812. In the district there were 6,811 Jews in a total population of 88,667. The Jews possess one synagogue and three prayer-houses, a Hebrew school, and a hospital. A large number of the Jews of Bielgoraj are artisans.

Bibliography:

  * Zuk ha-'Ittim, Venice, 1556;
  * Regesty i Nadpisi, No. 924, St. Petersburg, 1899;
  * Entziklopedicheski Slovar, v., St. Petersburg, 1896.



H. R.