In 1921, there were 149 Jewish commercial businesses in Leszno, and by 1931 there were only 80. The economic crisis and the rise of anti-Jewish sentiment caused a further decline in their numbers. By the outbreak of the war, few had survived, and their owners were attempting to force them to leave the city by harassment. There were assaults and shop vandalism (D. Czwojdrak, Z dziejów ludności żydowskiej w południowo-zachodniej Wielkopolsce, Grabonóg 2004, pp. 121, 123, 136–137). Today, the only traces of Jewish commercial premises are archival documents, similar to the one presented here.
The receipt is in the shape of a vertical rectangle and was printed on smooth, now yellowed paper. The serration at the top edge indicates that it came from a block from which, once filled, further pages were torn out. The name of the town is given at the top edge and a space is left for the date of issue of the receipt. Below is the name of the shop and its address: "SALE OF MANUFAKTUR GOODS/ AND UNDERWEAR OF OWN MANUFACTURE/ L. FRENKEL/ LESZNO, 82 KOŚCIAŃSKA STREET" (ul. Kościańska 82). Underneath, the title of the document: "Receipt" and a dotted line, allowing the name of the contractor to be entered. At the bottom edge, the publishing address and the legal formula are placed: "Payable and challengeable in Leszno". In the columns, the names of the goods sold, their quantity and prices are handwritten.
The shop's owner, merchant Moszek Lejb Frenkel, was born on 17 August 1884. He arrived in Leszno in November 1921. Until the outbreak of World War II, he lived with his family at 82 Kościańska Street (ul. Kościańska 82), currently G. Narutowicza Street (ul. G. Narutowicza). He was married to Mala, née Mędzicka, with whom he had two sons, Bolesław and Jakub, and a daughter Edwarda (APL, Leszno City Files, file no. 1544, p. 34; Civil Registry Office Records of Leszno, Birth Register 1923, no. 268)
The commercial print shop in Leszno, where the receipt was printed, operated in the inter-war period. She was involved in the printing of ephemera and local press, including "Orędownik na powiat leszczyński" and "Głos Zachodni." Its office was located at 54 Osiecka Street (ul. Osiecka 54).
The receipt was handed over to the District Museum in Leszno in 1993 by a resident of Wschowa. It served as a bookmark in one of the books purchased on the antique market, dedicated to the history of Leszno and its region.
Dariusz Czwojdrak
