The economic situation of the Jews of this era was extremely difficult, to say the least. Very few people made what could be called a comfortable income -maybe five families in a small village. Some people didn't even have wood to burn the fire in the winter. On some Shabbos mornings, women went around asking homeowners to donate some of their challah for the poor people. The level of support now is amazing. In Warsaw alone, there was: a Jewish hospital, an Orthodox old age home, several Jewish orphanages, a free kitchen for the poor, and special shelters. Chevrah Mevakrim visited the sick in hospitals or homes to raise their spirits when their relatives weren't in; "Gut Shabbos Yiddelach" was an organization to distribute food to the needy. If one could not afford to go to the mikva, an organization called "Tabi" would give you a free certificate. Ahavas Torah VeYiras Shomayim was an organization run around a cabinet in a shul. Each willing person would contribute bread, and between Minchah and Maariv the bread would be distributed. Generally, Jews were big in the trade unions, they were also common in commerce, and handicrafts. Only 4.3% of the Polish Jewish population was agricultural.