I visited the Rare Books section of the JTS in New York in Dec. 2009, to view an old manuscript from Kezmarok, Slovakia. I selected certain pages that I was interested in translating, on behalf of descendents who once lived there. These manuscripts are large books about the Jewish community, its synagogue, rabbis, and "important people."
One page has a spreadsheet with the list of shul officers, for each New Year, starting in year תרי״ט (1858/1859) and it would be nice to know just what their functions were. Some we can already guess. The column headings are as follows:
- ראש הקהל Rosh Hakal
- טובי הקהל א Tovei Hakal Rishon (or Aleph)
- טובי הקהל ב Tovei Hakal Sheni (or Bet)
- גובה Goveh
- גבאי א Gabay Rishon (or Aleph)
- גבאי ב Gabay Sheni (or Bet)
- מזכיר (Mazkir) — apparently, like today, no one likes to be the secretary and no name appears in this column!
אנשי שם קרואי מועד Anshei Shem Kruei Moed (reputable men who read for the holidays? announce the New Moon?)
- Does anyone know if there were any real guidelines to the functions of these men?
- Can anyone explain the title and function of a Parnas (פרנס)?