General Józef Wybicki 
Junior High School
Number 24 in Lodz


         European citizens in my city,
the citizens of my city in Europe.  

Liceo Scientifico "Pitagora" Rende, Italy

  
 

Jews / German / Polish / other nationalities /

 

art and culture / sportsmen / writers and poets / musicians / scientists / businessmen / others /
 

HOME

JEWS

 

 
  Jews:

Izrael Kalmanowicz Poznanski

     He was born on 25 August, 1833 in Aleksandrow near Lodz as the youngest son of Kalman Poznanski. A year later, the Poznanskis moved to Lodz. Izrael went to the Germano-Russian Real County School and did his weaving apprenticeship later on.

    In 1851, married Leonia Hertz, daughter of the clerk of Jewish hospitals in Warsaw. Izrael K. Poznanski was in trade - owned two shops (in Lodz and Warsaw), established I. K. Poznanski department store. In the 1850s he took up fabrics manufacturing. Initially, this business was based on weavers' work provided as a service, to be developed into a small workshop equipped with manual looms.
    In 1861, Poznanski's workshop, boasting 50 weaving mills, manufactured approximately 110 thousand metres of fabrics per year and employed nearly 70 workers. In 1865, I. K. Poznanski entered into the Lodz City Merchandisers Association. A year later, he started to work for Karol Scheibler's company. However, he was gradually setting out to accomplish his greatest project - the construction of a great factory.
    From 1871, Poznanski began to buy out the green fields between Ogrodowa, Stodolniana (now: Zachodnia) and Podrzeczna Streets. This is where in 1872 the factory's first department was set in motion - the weaving mill, equipped with 200 English-made mechanical looms. Apart from his expanding business, Izrael K. Poznanski owned numerous land allotments and real properties. In the early 20th century the Poznanskis' property was worth an estimated amount of 12 of million roubles.

    Izrael Kalmanowicz Poznanski created an industrial empire, was leader of the Jewish Commune in Lodz, member of the Prayer House Watch and the Synagogue Committee, co-founder and president of the Lodz Jewish Charity Association. Donated land to establish the Jewish cemetery in Bracka Street, covered the construction costs of a hospital (now Ludwik Rydygier No. 2 Municipal Hospital). His financial support helped to build the now non-existent synagogue in Spacerowa Street (now Kosciuszki Ave.) and Alexander Nevsky orthodox church. Izrael K. Poznanski was a member and president of the City of Lodz Credit Society, member of the Tax Board at the Provincial Tax Office, shareholder in the Discount Bank of Warsaw, member of the Stock Exchange Assembly, honorary member of the Factory Masters Union of Lodz, councillor and honorary citizen of Lodz. Knight of the order of St. Stanislav and order of St. Anna. Izrael K. Poznanski died on 29 April, 1900 in Lodz. He was burried at the Jewish cemetery in Bracka Street in Lodz.

His family's palaces are now home to the Museum of History of Lodz, Museum of Art and Music Academy.