1. Temerl Bergson was a Polish Jewish businesswoman.
11 Facts About Temerl Bergson
1. 2.
Temerl Bergson was a supporter of Jews living in Warsaw and patroness of the Hasidic movement in Poland.
3.
Temerl Bergson was renowned for her largesse in her philanthropy toward Polish Hasidic leaders and tzadikim, and was said to have "distributed money like ashes".
4.
Temerl Bergson had a sister who married Rabbi Moshe Simcha of Opoczno.
5.
Temerl Bergson was married at a young age to Jacob Jacobson, a Warsaw merchant; they had one son, Hirsch, before Jacobson died.
6.
Temerl Bergson gave generously to Jewish causes and was known as the "Rothschild of Polish Jewry".
7.
Temerl Bergson was one of the few Jews permitted to deal in real estate.
8.
Temerl Bergson hired the latter two tzadikim to help manage her business interests.
9.
Temerl Bergson's philanthropy extended to non-Hasidic Polish Jews as well; she was praised by one mitnagid as "the Polish Hasidah".
10.
Temerl Bergson used her standing to influence the authorities to favor the Hasidim during the "anti-Hasidic investigations" of 1824 that were promulgated by members of the Haskalah.
11.
Temerl and Berek Bergson were both religious Jews; despite his wealth and government connections, Berek retained his beard, payot, and traditional dress.