[ON THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH ASPECTS IN THE REGULATIONS OF JEWISH TRADE UNIONS AND RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS IN EUROPE]

Trade unions (guilds) became an important socio-economic-religious institution in Jewish communities of Eastern Europe since the beginning of the modern era. These unions mainly regulated economic matters, but also functioned as religious organizations and regulated matters in this field. A somewhat similar phenomenon was that of religious-voluntary associations, whether founded for the purpose of engagement in specific religious-social-communal affairs such as the treatment of the deceased and sick, and whether for the purpose of engagement in specific religious-pietistic affairs. Like the trade unions, these associations also became common since the early modern era, in Europe and in the Mediterranean Basin, and regulated the membership terms and duties in detail. Despite the comprehensive regulation of various issues and problems, the records and documents of these unions (from the 16th to the 19th century) do not contain real evidence for dealing with questions of occupational medicine and preventive medicine in the areas of employee health. These findings are consistent with the general trends and developments in the awareness and regulation of these areas. Regarding the religious-voluntary associations: regulations dealing with Association members' health can be found in the regulations of the associations for the treatment of the deceased and sick, namely regulations dealing with the question of avoiding treatment of dangerous patients. This reflects awareness of the specific issue of avoiding highly contagious diseases rather than an actual approach to occupational medicine issues.