Jakob Lazar

Jacob Brüll, born 1749, was the son of Rabbi Lesel Brüll of Prossnitz, Moravia. As an adult, Jacob was commonly known in the community as "Jacob b. Lesel". When Jewish families were ordered to use official surnames in 1787, Jacob opted to assume "LASAR" [Lazar], not Brüll ; various entries in Prossnitz Jewish records also refer to him as "Jacob Lesel" and "Jacob Lasus".

A translation of Hebrew writing next to his name identifies him as “Yaakov, son of the rabbi, son of rabbi Tebl”. His paternal grandfather was Rabbi David (“Tebl”) Brüll (c1695-bef. 1768) of Rausnitz, then Prossnitz.

Jacob Lazar lived his entire life in Prossnitz [now Prostejov, Czech Republic], and, in the mid-1780s, was residing in household #42 in Prossnitz's Jewish section. By 1787, he was living in households #29-30 (also household #32), and later in life (by the early 1800s), in household #6. According to "Geschichte der Juden in Prossnitz" by Dr. Leopold Goldschmied, Jacob and another man, Aaron Charsap, were sent to the court at Vienna in 1797, "as representatives of the community." In Goldschmied's history, both men are referred to as "deputies of the chairman". The Goldschmied piece also includes an important footnote about Jacob: "Jakob Brüll = Jakob b. Rabbi Lesel, Inhaber der Familienstelle 159, starb als Jakob Lasar, 78 jahrig, im Jahre 1827." This passage has been translated as: "Jacob Brüll was Jacob ben Rabbi Lesel, possessor of familiant #159, and died as Jacob Lasar, age 78, in the year 1827."

According to Prossnitz Jewish records, Jacob Lazar died in household #6 on 21 October 1827, age 78. See: https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000141143588137