Pinkas of the Ohavei Torah Poalei Tzedek Society – St. Petersburg – 1867-1925

Pinkas of the Ohavei Torah Poalei Tzedek Society – St. Petersburg – 1867-1925
Pinkas of the Ohavei Torah Poalei Tzedek society in St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg, Kislev 1867 – Kislev 1925.
The title page and regulations at the beginning of the Pinkas were written in 1867. The rest of the Pinkas, which contains records of the society's elections of administrators, was written over the course of several decades, until 1925 (the last election recorded in this Pinkas).
The society was founded by members of the working class, from the Jewish community of St. Petersburg, who united with the purpose of establishing classes and study sessions on Shabbat – studying the halachot from Chayei Adam and listening to lectures on the weekly Torah portion, delivered by the rabbi of the community.
In the introduction of the Pinkas, the society's mission is delineated: "We, the undersigned, residents of the royal city, St. Petersburg, with the grace of His Majesty, who opened the gates of inner Russia before us, to settle wherever we wish… to work in any profession… yet… we are anguished when we contemplate our low situation in terms of our worship of G-d, since we fade away like shadows under the burden of work, day and night… and instead of like every Jewish city… where on Shabbat… they gather in each city in different groups, to study and hear from the orators, and we are lacking all this… and we consulted together, to make one society whose purpose will be to study together every Shabbat, as stated in the regulations on verso, and this is the name we gave it – Ohavei Torah Poalei Tzedek society…". The study program of the society is outlined in the regulations: "Whoever joins the society, must be a good and productive member, and committed to coming every Shabbat, to study Chayei Adam, and attend the lecture on Chumash with Rashi and Alshech, and on an ethics book, delivered by the rabbi who will teach the group, at the hours indicated below…".
Further in the Pinkas: the names of the members and administrators, with "Names of members of the Poalei Tzedek society who donated for a Torah scroll"; signed election records for the administrators "who were voted in by ballot" in Av 1868; similar election records from the years: 1870-1879, 1885, 1887, 1890-1895, 1900, 1906 and 1909 (some of the records are signed).
At the end of the Pinkas, two calligraphic leaves in colored ink with the list of administrators elected on Hoshana Rabba 1922 and Rosh Chodesh Kislev 1925. Interesting and unique item, documenting the activities of the Jewish communities in Russia under the Bolshevik rule.
[17] leaves. 27 written pages. 34 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Almost half of leaf [7] cut out and lacking. Marginal wear to final leaf (repaired). Original leather binding, with name of society lettered on front board. New spine.