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Economic and Social Aspects of the Jewish Life
2.1 economic Aspects One of the Jews’ main source of income was the near-by military base, the well known fortress of Modlin. Jews were took part in the economic related activities on the base as contractors, suppliers, workers, etc. Near by Warsaw, with its ever increasing commercial and industrial momentum, drew the young generation from the provincial pattern of Nowy Dwor into modern, urban way of life. One economic & cultural institution which made Nowy Dwor quite famous was the Jewish printing shop. It attracted rabbis, authors, book-sellers, paper merchants and so on. In time the enterprising owner had achieved a prominent place in the history of the Jewish book in Poland during the 18th century. In the whole Jewish world of eastern Europe Nowy Dwor assumed a special distinction.
2.2 Social Aspects The majority of Jews were never fortunate enough to enjoy a comfortable income, let alone life of plenty. Only a limited number may have attained a secure economic position. Those were the relatively few who engaged in commerce, owned businesses and buil dings or worked as contractors and had access to the military base in Modlin. For many of the Jews life was less fortunate. Their business was to buy small quantities of agricultural products for delivery to Warsaw. This was particularly true during Worl d war I period -the years of impoverishment but also during earlier times. The beginning of the century saw panorama of transformations within the social structure and milieu of the Jewish community resulting from the fermentation, protests, revolts, enthusiasm and disappointment around the year 1905. The so called "new times" did not turn out to be what the progressive and enlightened people had envisaged. These intellectuals created only an insistent urge to change existing conditions on the part of the young who left the Bet Midrash and eventually became the Jewish working c lass of Nowy Dwor. One may trace the beginning of the Zionist activities to the said period. In those troubled days of pogroms, Jews in Nowy Dwor received the Zionist speakers like Biblical prophets. At the same time people became imbued with the love for Yiddish word and b ooks. A new generation of Yiddish-oriented folk-intellectuals appeared on the scene. They were dedicated to the proposition of social progress and the cultural development of the youth. Some of them became radical political activists. Some of these intell ectuals even joined the revolutionary movements of 1905 including secret meetings, strikes and the like prompted by idealism, hope and youthful fervor. For some the defeat had left no alternative but to go to America and/or other countries. For some the d eteriorating personal-economic situation was the reason for the emigration to the USA. These times also saw the emancipation process of women picking up its pace. Many of the women of Now Door became embroideresses (one of the important occupations in town) and they were drawn into social actions, strikes and more as a part of the newly for med working class. The social agitation among, and the aspirations of, the Jewish masses found their expression in political organizations. One such organization was the socialist party the "Bund" which, already, by 1905 had a very important position in the social life of N owy Dwor. The Zionist idea had gradually pervaded the Jewish community, particularly the youth for whom the Zionist groups in town organized variety of educational and recreational activities. In time the Zionist programs gained strength and Aliyah (emigration) of Jews from Nowy Dwor to Israel became a fact. As in all Jewish towns in Poland the wish and hope to move to Palestine became a dominant factor which influenced the social, political and cultural spheres of Jewish life. Some of the Zionist socialistic organ izations were: Poale Zion, Freiheit, Halutz and Ha-Oved. The newly established (in the early 1930s) Hebrew school "Tarbut" soon became a center for Zionist activities and one of the most prominent institution in the community. This school and the Yiddish School constituted a solid educational foundation for the Jewish upbringing of the young in Nowy Dwor. The children of the Tarbut school were imbued with and dedicated to the Zionist idea of Jewish rebirth in Israel (Palestine at the time) and dreamed about living in their own home country. However for many of these children and the grownups the dream never came true. This vibrant Jewish community (like many others), all its classes, groups, organizations and institutions; all its material and spiritual possessions disappeared at one time in fire and smoke. The above constitute a monument to this community.
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