The Jews of Bârsana earned their livelihoods primarily from agriculture, which was very well developed. A few Jews became wealthy. A significant proportion of the Jews of the village earned their livelihood from sheep raising and milk production. Other Jews were occupied in commerce. As the natives of the community recollect, the Jews of Birsanif (Yiddish) owned six shops, two taverns, and three butcher shops. One of the wealthy Jews in Birsanif and Maramureș was Reb Yosef Yechezkel Kahana. He was the son of Reb Yehuda Kahana (the son-in-law of the author of Mareh Yechezkel), and his mother was the daughter of Reb Yosef Aryeh Kahana of Sziget. He owned large tracts of land. He was a candidate to receive a title of nobility from Kaiser Franz-Josef, but he declined the title since the ceremony involved wearing a cross. Nevertheless, he was called Reb Yezhezkel Baron by everyone.