Yehudis Halevi Jakubowicz

Yehudis Halevi Jakubowitz was a Polish banker and merchant. She led the company that provided supplies to the Prussian, French, and Russian armies. She also acted as a purveyor to the Prussian court and the court of the Duchy of Warsaw.

Yehudis Halevi Jakubowitz was born to a wealthy family in Frankfurt an der Oder and had received an excellent education. At the age 30 she married of Shmul Zbytkower, a successful army provisioner and merchant in Warsaw. Yehudis took an active part in her husband’s business, and using her contacts even expanded its scope. After Shmul’s death in 1801, she led the company alone, continuing to provide supplies to the Prussian, French, and Russian armies. Her company also acted as a purveyor to the Prussian court and the court of the Duchy of Warsaw.

In 1798 Yehudis received unrestricted rights of residence, trade, and manufacturing from the Prussian King Frederick William III (r. 1797 – 1840), and in 1815 the same privilege was granted to her by the Kingdom of Poland. The inventory of Jakubowicz’s estate totaled 2.5 million zlotys.