19th-century migrations
At the start of the 19th century Jews in town and villages held traditional jobs as consignment traders, laborers, stallkeepers, and merchants, or provided services to the Jewish community, for example as religious as teachers (melamed) or keepers of the ritual bath (mikvenik). As they moved to Łódź, many of them acquired skills that were better suited to the economic opportunities offered by this city. Many of them became weavers; some opened small textile businesses. The the textile industry also created the need for the services of professionals such as wool and cotton merchants, or wagoners who would provide local transport.