Ephraim Fishel

Ephraim Fishel arrived with his family from Bohemia to Cracow during the second half of the 15th century. After initial friction with earlier-established Cracow Jews, the Fishel family took a leading place in the community, and Ephraim prospered from commercial dealings with the Polish nobility. By 1475 Ephraim had died and his extensive business had been taken over by his sons. Of his four sons, Moses and Stephan were most prominent. Moses was principally engaged in the lease of customs duties and other royal revenues, while his wife, Rachel, was independently engaged in moneylending to the Polish kings. Stephan was ennobled and took the name Powidzki. His descendants owned large landed estates in the 18th century.