Leipziger, Wolf Michel Cohn

  General Notes:

Sora Rochel [Sura Ruchla] nee Cohn was a daughter of Fiszel Moskowicz Cohn and his wife Golda, daughter of Josek. She was born circa 1784 (although her age varies on records) and she died on July 31, 1850 [22 Av 5610]. She is buried in the Warsa w Jewish Cemetery (sector 9, row 2, number 38). This date of her death is on her tombstone and is also given in Etz Avot, written by Yeshoshua Cohn, her grandson (son of her son Rabbi Eleazar Cohn). After her husband's death she continued the fa mily business and acted herself as a merchant and money changer.

She was married to Wolf Michel Cohn (a.k.a. Leipziger) born circa 1775, Krakow; died June 29, 1826, Warsaw (This date of death is from his death record, which was reported on June 30, 1826. According to his tombstone - as described in the cemeter y database - he died on June 30, 1826). He is buried i the Warsaw Jewish Cemetery (sector 1, row 11, number 44). On his tombstone his name is geven as Zeev Wolf Katz, son of Michel Ha-Cohen. He is, in fact, buried nest to his father Yechiel mic hel Cohn (sector 1, row 11, number 45) who died six years after him. Yechiel Michel Cohn died on December 28, 1831 [24 Tevet 5592]. The information on this tombstone is illgeible but it does have the two hands symbol of the kohanim. We know fro m another source that Wolf Michel Cohn's father is buried next to him.

Wolf Michel Cohn (Leipziger) was born in Krakow. In his death record it staes that he was a native of Warsaw, but this appears to be a mistake. In the birth record of his daughter Estera (born 1825), which he reported himself in person, he state d that he was born in Krakow. Another source, the book Geza Yishai, also gives his place of birth as Krakow.

Wolf Michel Cohn (Leipziger) came from a rabbinic family. His father, Yechiel Michel, was a son of Rabbi Eleazar HaCohen of Lask, who was a son of Yechiel Michel, who was a son of Rabbi Eleazar Mochiach of Lask. They are believed to be descendan ts of the martyr Rabbi Yechiel Michel ben Eliezer of Nemirov who was killed during the Chmielnicki revolt and persecutions in 1648. They are also related to the family of Rabbi Shabbetai ben Meir HaCohen (the Shach) but not descended directly fro m him.

Wolf Michel Cohn's grandfather, Rabbi Eleazar, was a brother of Rabbi Samuel HaCohen of Lask, and Rabbi Abraham HaCohen of Lask. The latter was very ascetic and was regarded as a saint in his lifetime. He also collected funds in Europe for the J ews of the Holy Land, making Amsterdam his home base. He died in prison in Jerusalem, after suffering floggings by the Turkish authorities. He wrote several Kabbalistic works.

Wolf Michel Cohn was a very wealthy man and well known in the Jewish community of 19th century Warsaw. He was also known as Wolf (Velvele) Leipziger, because he used to travel to the fairs in Leipzig. He was a silk merchant, a banker, and operat or of a currency exchange house. He was a member of the Dozor Bozniczy [Synagogue Inspection Committee] which functioned as the governing body of the Jewish Community in Warsaw. He was part of a delegation of Jews which met with Napoleon in Wars aw in 1811. He was also a member fo a three man delegation which met with Tsar Alexander I after the defeat of Napoleon, in order to gain civic rights for the Jews.

Sora Rochel nee Cohn and Wolf Michel Cohn (Leipziger) were perhaps related to each other, but this is not known and cannot be verified from any sources or documents.

Wolf Michel Cohn (Leipziger) and Sora Rochel [Sura Ruchla] had 14 children at the time of Wolf's death. Their names are all given in his death record. the boys' names are given first followed by the girls' names. The boys all appear to be in or der of age beginning with the eldest girl.

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From another source: He is also known as Wolf Leipziger because he used to travel to the fairs in Leipzig. He was a wealthy silk merchant, banker, and owner of a currency exchange house. He was also a member of the Dozor Bozniczy [Synagogue Ins pection Committee] which functioned as the governing body of the Jewish community in Warsaw. He was one of a group of Jews who met Napoleon in 1811. He was a member of a three-man delegation which met with Tsar Alexander the First after the defe at of Napoleon in order to secure civic rights for the Jews.

Wolf married Sora Rochel Cohn, daughter of Fiszel Moskowicz Cohn and Golda. (Sora Rochel Cohn was born about 1784 and died on Jul 31, 1850.)