Charity box - K"K Botosani, Romania, late 18th century

Iron charity box. Romania, late 18th century. ...

Iron charity box. Romania, late 18th century.

Charity box for the entrance wall of the synagogue, the body of the box is made of iron, and on it is a Star of David. In the center of the Star of David appears the inscription "Belongs to the K"K of Botosani, named after the officer Rabbi Moshe Eliasconi, year of the Tikla P"K". On one side of the lid are traces of a hinge, and on the other side is a clasp for locking the box. Above the Star of David in the door is a groove surrounded by a slot for dropping coins.

Botosani was the second largest and most important Jewish community in Moldova. Over the years, the number of Jews of Botosani who were engaged in this trade increased, which aroused the opposition of the local Christian population, who demanded that the authorities ban Jews from this trade. However, by 1899, more than 75% of the city's merchants, and about 68% of its artisans, were Jewish.