Jews as fences in early modern Poland and beyond: function, ideology, almost philanthropy and almost diplomacy in a complex society

Abstract

Jews were prominent among buyers and sellers of stolen goods (fences) in early modern Poland. This appears to have been a result of the economic niche they occupied and because of the view of Jewish law which was opposed to dealing in stolen goods but at the same time recognized that there was a legal basis for such trade. However, also Jews in Western and Central Europe played a central role in fencing. Even though the authorities could have repressed this trade in East and West, such ‘services’ rendered by moneylenders and dealers in used goods, who sometimes dabbled in the sale of stolen goods, were tolerated. What was unique to Poland was the rapid growth of the Jewish population, which probably caused an increase of Jewish fences and great concerns of the non-Jewish society in Poland for this activity of Jews.