Isaac ben Nathman Nachmanovich

Isaac ben Nathman is the first-known member of the Nacmanovich family of Lvov, Poland. For many years, Isaac was among the leaders of the Lvov Jewish community, and is first mentioned in 1565 as dayyan of the community. In 1589 he was parnas of the Council of the Four Lands, and the next year he and his son Mordecai paid the first installment of a tax in its behalf.

Isaac’s high position in the community was attained through his diversified activities as a spice merchant and tax farmer. Part of his undertakings was the lease of an important customs station in Sniatyń, in the Lvov region, and the rights to the lease of the state revenues in the city of Lvov and the sub-district. Much of his wealth was attained through large-scale moneylending against pledges of real estate and valuables.

In 1581 he acquired a plot of municipal land where he built a magnificent synagogue in Gothic style at his own expense after the plans of an Italian architect. The synagogue became known as the “Turei Zahav” synagogue. After Isaac’s death, his son Nahman took over his affairs.