ZELAZOWSKA, CATHERINE:

Polish convert to Judaism; born in 1460; martyred at Cracow in 1540. She was the widow of an alderman of Cracow; and at the time when, influenced by the Bible, Polish Christendom was divided into different sects, she followed the example of the daughter of Nicholas Radzi will and embraced Judaism. Peter Gamrat, Bishop of Cracow, condemned her to be burned, and, though eighty years old, she went gladly to meet a martyr's death.

Bibliography:
  • Grätz, Gesch. 3d ed., ix. 454;
  • Sternberg, Gesch. der Juden in Polen, p. 56.
J. M. Sel.
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