PÍSEK, CONTRIBUTION TO THE HISTORY OF JEWS IN THE CZECH COUNTRYSIDE

SPECIAL EDITION OF THE CZECH JEWISH CALENDAR, 1931

Jaroslav Rokycana

I. From 1327 to 1760

The name Písek can be found in historical documents in different variations depending on the language in use in Bohemia at the time. One can find the variations Piesek, Pissek, but also Pieseck. Therefore, it is no surprise that Hebrew documents are also not consistent when it comes to the spelling of the name. The history of the beginning of Jewish settlements in the neighbourhood of Písek goes back to the Middle Ages. Even the oldest topographical names of the county show a name which is still in use and that is of one of the highest mountains in the Písek region (515 m) called The Jewish Peak. (2). The oldest part of the town is undoubtedly the castle. The chronicler Hájek z Libočan mentions this castle and claims that the Templars used to reside there. In fact a cross in the shape of a templar cross was found in the former castle chapel, and the present coat of arms of the town is the moon and the star resembling the Templar sign. (2). This order became known in the history of Jews in Bohemia for its attempts to promote education, religious tolerance and culture so one cannot rule out a possibility that the first Jewish colonists came to Písek Castle together with the Templars.

The ruling of Jan of Luxemburg (1327) ordered all market holders coming from Austria to the Plzen Region, Prague or Kutná Hora to go via Písek, and not to take any other route. This was extremely important for the development of trade, and thus for the settlement of Jews. Písek citizens were also freed from paying taxes in Vodňany, Týn n. Vltavou, Březnice, Mirovice, Volyně, Strakonice and Netolice. The so-called ´Golden Path´ or the ´Passau Road´, the remnants of which we can still see today, branched in three directions in the 15th century: Prachatice, Záblatensko and Vimperk. All three roads met at Bavorov and from there on only one route continued all the way to Prague. The principal importance of the privileges granted to the town was to do with the salt trade which is directly mentioned in the Royal Document of 2.7.1348 issued by the King Charles IV. In 1348 a salt warehouse was established in Písek and in 1362 the town was granted the privilege to build the biggest wheat store in Bohemia (2). There are not many old documents preserved in the archives of the town of Písek, so unfortunately we do not have any evidence of the fact that Jews lived in Písek Castle. Nearly all old documents disintegrated in the dark and humid archive rooms (3). Nevertheless, it is more likely that there was a Jewish settlement in nearby Mirotice where they were granted the right to have a cemetery. It is not till 1420 that we read that some Jews were expelled from a house (we do not know which one) which had been given to them to live in, and that the house was given to a man called Pešek from the suburbs. We have evidence that Jews were residing here before this date as a note from 1392 was preserved stating that Aleš of Vickovice owed 1800 groschen to Písek Jews and "when later Vickovice was sold and came into the ownership of Ondřej of Kestřany, he was supposed to pay off this debt but he didn't". (3) In 1397 a Jew, Mark, had a house in Písek. We have very little information about Jewish people from 1397 till the 17th century. In 1497 a Jew Majer Hořovský resided in Písek. This historical period is remembered by a derelict cemetery, the so-called "Jewish graveyard". This is the name of a field past Šobrovna on the east facing slope. In 1732 this field was sold by Norbert Fišer to Tomáš Kříž for 12 golden pieces. Prof. Sedláček was unable to establish if this field was really used for burials. Nevertheless, the name and the east facing location would support this assumption. During the Hussite wars in 1424 Jews were expelled from Písek and their dwellings were given away (1) but they soon came back. We have no records about their return to the town and the town archive lost many records due to the order of 31.10.1547 by King Ferdinand when he ordered his commissars to take all records and historical documents stored in Písek and to dispatch them to him. Many documents from the 16th century were lost in this way (3). In 1610 a Royal Decree was proclaimed in Písek which prevented all Jews and Jewesses from wearing silver and golden garments, chains and pearls on penalty of 50 Rhenish guilders or 8 days in prison. This order shows, according to M. Grunwald (1), that there were Jewish people living in Písek and that they must have accumulated a lot of wealth if a ban on showing their wealth was issued. Písek Jews were reminded again of this decree 90 years later in 1701 when it was made even more severe.

The census of 1690 in Písek shows that there were 893 people living there, out of which 10 were Jewish: 2 men, 2 female and 6 children. (2) These two families ran no businesses as shown by their begging letters where the municipal administration itself confirmed that there was no income from "Jewish trading".

The negative attitude of Písek citizens against their Jewish neighbours, but also the tenacity of Jews in protecting their homes, is shown by archive documents stored in Písek archives: In 1654 Písek Jews submitted a begging letter to the under-chamberlain in Prague stating: "We, poor people in need, are humbly informing you that we have been residing in the town of Písek for many years and always have lived in peace minding our small businesses to avoid harming and wronging our neighbours and to avoid any complaints they might have. This has lasted many years until now, so now we do not know why the burgomaster and local gentlemen are against us renting our neighbours´ rooms. This is the reason why we are humbly begging you, as our merciful lord and protector; to take us under your merciful protection and to order the burgomaster and the gentlemen through your decree to let us reside here in God's will and be merciful to us. With our humble regards we are giving ourselves to your merciful protection and resolution, your obedient and poor Jews in need residing in the town of Písek."

In 1657 the town councillors objected in their letter to the Imperial Justice of Peace against Jews living in Písek and they invited the J.P. to "protect the municipality in accordance with its precious duties instead of protecting the heathens which can mend their ways only through God and nobody else". In 1661 the Jewess Ochsová should have been expelled from the town but she pleaded for time as she was expecting a family. "It has been already four weeks since she was supposed to deliver, but she has not done so yet, carrying that little heathen under her false heart."

In 1669 the following Jews remained in Písek: "Marek Kavka born in Prague who had a leather, feather and other goods business, five male children and three female; Marek Žabka and his brother Jakub and their sister Salomena. Marek married Ester from Prague and was a glass craftsman, and his son, Heřman, a single man, was also in the glass and fur business. He had three sons and six daughters. Jacob, his brother, earned his living by peddling in villages; he had four sons and one daughter. Salomena, their sister, was married to Beneš, a Jew born in the German Realm. He was an invalid and lived and put aside things that other people brought to him. All in all, the Jews numbered four males and four females." They lived together as they had no money to buy their own dwellings. In 1692 the local citizens put a strong case to the magistrates to not have these few Jews residing in the town. Some of the elder councillors sent a crude reply to the magistrate where they emphasized the fact that they did not wish for the son of Mark the Jew to be accepted in the town. After a sharp exchange of letters the magistrate became intimidated and did as the applicants wished (on the 6.6) but he also reproached the burghers "not to do this again and not to appeal to the magistrates". (3)

Based on the insufficient archive records of Jews in Písek, Prof. Sedláček reckons that there were no Jews permanently residing in Písek in the 16th and 17th centuries, although perhaps some non-resident Jews might have stayed there for a while or come to the markets. There were no Jews in the town before 1618. This assumption proved incorrect and hasty as shown by a record of 1497 (4): "Písek Town Councilors writing to České Budějovice: We are at your service and we are sending this matter for your careful attention, dear lords, friends and neighbours! The Jew delivering this letter asked us to write to you to enquire why he was taken prisoner or who for. We are sending him to you who might deem him guilty though he is ready to plead his innocence before His Highness against anyone who might want to complain about him. Ex Piesk f. VI. Die s.Fabiani martzri ano XCVII. The Burgomaster and town councillors of Piesek. For the careful attention of the Burgomaster and town councillors of České Budějovice, our dear friends and neighbours." (4).

In about 1620 the Jew Jakub Žabka came to Písek from nearby Mirotice. The arrival of the first resident Jew of the town is commented upon by Prof. Sedláček in the following way: "because the town had been pillaged and one could purchase property fairly easily". But it was not till 1632 that he registered with the sheriff and asked to remain in the town; he had two sons and a daughter. In 1639 another Jew came to town, Abraham of Prague, who married off his two daughters here, and as according to the law he could have his son-in-law living with him for a year, so there were already five Jewish families living in the town in around 1650. Five years later it seems that one of the families must have left as in 1655 there were only four families living in Písek. (3) These families lived there in peace and as they said about themselves in their begging letters they had "poor small businesses" which is, as explained by Sedláček, feather, leather, second-hand and other peddler goods. They were found burdensome by their neighbours, certainly for economic and competitive reasons - as shown by complaint letters - and not for religious reasons, as explained by Sedláček although priests were inflaming the hatred as much as they could. When the Jews were finally, after much effort by their neighbours, nearly expelled from the town in 1650, the under-chamberlain took them under his protection and banned this expulsion saying that some of the Jews in Písek had been residing here since Huerta so they cannot be expelled from the town without a Royal and Chamberlain's approval. This protection does not cover Jews who "sneaked into the town without permission" and who can be expelled without any qualms. (3)

In June 1650 a list of all Jews residing in Písek without the permission of the Royal House was drawn up. This list was delivered to the under-chamberlain who issued a decree that these Jews are given up to the day of St Havel to move out of the town. This expulsion affected all Jews who had not lived in Písek before 1618. The powerful connections of Prague Jews were of help as their representatives successfully intervened and after the intervention a decree was issued on 24. 12. 1650 which prohibited the Písek inhabitants to expel Jews from the town forcibly. The town council was not inhibited by this ban and under the pretext that "Jews were giving money to their neighbours to maintain an eternal position in the town and to get some solid footing in the town" (3) they forbade people to rent flats to Jews. The Jews complained to the under-chamberlain in this respect (1654): "We, poor people in need, are humbly informing you that we have been residing in the town of Písek for many years and always have lived in peace minding our small businesses to avoid harming and wronging our neighbours and to avoid any complaints they might have. This has lasted many years till now, so now we do not know why the burgomaster and local gentlemen are against us renting our neighbours´ rooms. This is the reason why we are humbly begging you, as our merciful lord and protector, to take us under your merciful protection and to order the burgomaster and the gentlemen through your decree to let us reside here in God´s will and be merciful to us. With our humble regards we are giving ourselves to your merciful protection and resolution, yours obedient and poor Jews in need residing in the town of Písek." (1) We know that they remained in Písek from records from 1655 showing that Mrs Alžběta Dejmová from Mitrovice let her house number 75 to Jews. Another complaint was dispatched to the under-chamberlain who then ordered eviction for next year (1656). The complaint has an irritated undertone and the author is clearly not frightened of reproaching the Imperial Justice of Peace "whose precious duty it should be to protect the municipality and not the heathens which only the God himself can mend and nobody else". (1) The Justice of Peace probably satisfied this sharp request as Jews immediately sent a petition pleading for "a more suitable time to move out when God grants us warmth in spring" and not to move out in the harsh winter months. (3) It is possible, says Sedláček, that the Žabka family moved out for some time, but in 1658 Abraham and his sons-in-law were still asking for permission to remain in Písek. In 1657 there were "more than ten pairs of children" in Písek. Jakub Žabka and his 2 sons, Beneš, his son-in-law, and Abraham were accepted by the town in 1641 but only to run their business as long as it pleased the burgomaster and the council. (3)

As before the Prague fellow-believers tried to help their village brethren in their plight. Nevertheless, the Royal Office could not have granted their application as it was bound by a parliamentary resolution stating than Jews may reside in the towns in the countryside only till 1618. Their attempts were also futile as the town council in Písek could easily prove that Abraham´s sons-in-law live in the town without a permit and that they had "sneaked into the town". The application filed by the Prague Jewish elders was indeed turned down by the Royal Office in 1660 on the grounds that it could not find any means of making the municipality tolerate Jews in the town. When it came to the worst, Jews found help and protection elsewhere. They submitted themselves under the protection of Jan Václav Běšín of Běšiny and Strážovice who bought the previously mentioned house no. 75 (the so-called Liclmann House) and as he was a nobleman he did not care about the decrees and protests made by the town council. The council complained to the under-chamberlain and Jews had to prove how they came to the town and how long they had been living there. So the Jews remained in Písek till the time when the King made a decision. These proofs were presented by the following Jews: Marek Kavka - Abraham' s son-in-law who moved out of Prague - evidence that he had been living here since 1646, then Marek Žabka (a native from Mikulov), a glassmaker who came to Písek during the Thirty Years´ War, then Jakub, his brother and one unnamed Jew, altogether 4 men and 4 women, and 5 boys and 3 girls. (3) After the compilation of this list the Jews in Písek lived in relative peace for seven years till 1669. In 1669 they were ordered to move out within six weeks. Nevertheless it seems that the order was not put into practice as at the end of the year the families still lived in Písek in two houses; in one of them they lived with Christians and in the other one they lived together. (3) According to the Jewish census of 1669 the following Jews remained in Písek: "Marek Kavka, born in Prague, who has a business with wheat, leather, feathers and other goods for purchase, he has five male children and three female. Marek Žabka and his brother Jacob and their sister Salomena. Marek married Ester from Prague and he is a glassmaker, and his son Heřman, single, dealing in glass and fur. He has three sons and six daughters. Jacob, his brother, earns his living by peddling in villages; he has four sons and one daughter. Salomena, their sister, was married to Beneš, a Jew born in the German Realm. He is an invalid and lives and puts aside things that other people bring to him. All in all, the Jews number four males and four females. They lived together as they had no money to buy their own dwellings." (1) We can come across Beneš, the Jew, in an entry in a book of the councillors´ office in Písek of 20 September 1646. The book also features an interesting entry about a Jew from Vodňany called Mandl Prückh (Pryck - Brück). He was accused of buying clothes and arms from soldiers from the Mortalovský Regiment. The plaintiff was a knight Bedřich Wolf from Běšín. Prückh was put in prison and despite pleas made by his wife he remained in prison for over a year. His wife wanted to bail him out and offered a friend who would go to prison in exchange for her husband. The matter dragged on till 1648 and it could not have been judicially as "in these very dangerous times and army clatter no justice can be done in human matters through courts". The case went on and it probably ended up in favour of Prückh "as his was a just cause". (3) On 14 May 1658 Abraham, the Jew (Marek Kavka´s son-in-law) filed an application on his and his son-in-law's behalf to be accepted into the community and they wanted "a contract to be made as they want to contribute something to the community". The application was granted only partially: Abraham was allowed to stay, but his son-in-law could stay only till the end of the year. Whilst the local resident Jews had to encounter such problems, we can see that at the same time, not only in the same town but also in the same house, (Liclmannovský House) a strange Jew settles down. In 1661 a Jew from Tábor, Isák, rented a room and a cellar for the rent of 10 Rheinish guilders. We have also evidence that Jews turned to the town council to demand justice in "recovering debts" as proved by an application made by Abraham in 1663. A year later Marek Kavka made an application on behalf of his son-in-law Jáchym to extend the residence permit for another year and offers a security of 300 guilders. The application was not granted. (3).

Twice in the history of Jews in Bohemia Písek played an important part, namely in 1673 and 1727 when the provincial convention of Jews took place in Písek to discuss distribution of specific contributions and the so-called pardon taxes. The first meeting in 1673 born the official title of "Judische Quotenvernehmung" and it was attended by 1-3 delegates from each bigger Jewish community which then granted the power of attorney to 3 people to levy taxes. A translation of the power of attorney dates from Sunday, 23. abu 1673 and it is signed by the following trustees: Markus Samuel, Sušice, Lazar Wotitz from Lanzendorf, David Jakob from Kasejovice. These three trustees agreed on one candidate and nominated Marek Samuel. A document in Czech regarding this matter dated 5 June 1673 with the seal of Geršon from Kasejovice can be found in the archives of the town of Písek. "An act made in the above mentioned Royal Town of Písek on 5 June 1673." In 1677 the town council agreed that there is going to be a fine of 3 kreutzers payable by every non-resident Jew. Jews from villages must have been used to this system of "fines" fairly regularly as we can see that in 1680 "Jews remained in the town for a payment, namely: Marek Kavka with his wife Lidmila and children Mojžíš, Lebl, Izrahel, and Mařena, and Beneš Ochs with his wife Salomena and their children Heřman and Rozina, and Marek Žabka with his wife Ester and their daughter Rozina." (3) In 1684 Písek got its first "protected" Jew ("Schutzjude"). In this year, on 5 March, the under-chamberlain's office ordered the town to accept Marek Kavka and his son Lebl into the town's protection. Kavka was obliged to live morally, not to carry out local crafts, not to deliver foreign beers, to obey town orders and to duly pay the protective tax. This tax was fixed in 1690 to be: "a gulden per man, 30 kreutzers per woman and 15 kreutzers per child". Marek Kavka paid 30 kreutzers, and his wife 15 kreutzers. The entire Jewish tax for that year accounted to 5 guldens and 15 kreutzers. (3) The advantage secured by the father was further strengthened by his son Lebl who presented himself at the town council in 1691 with a certificate from the army captain J. M. Angermann confirming that Lebl told him about a revolt that was being prepared by the soldiers. Lebl was worried that soldiers might become vengeful. "Lebl earned a lot of credit by this", says Prof. Sedláček, "because the rebels would have set the town on fire". The certificate was presented to the town with an application for the burnt-out area where a house storing municipal salt used to stand. Under any other circumstances Kavka would not have been successful with his application as the town council wanted to turn it down, and also it was asking the under-chamberlain to have all Jews expelled form the town. But the council did not have its way and the under-chamberlain ordered the council to issue a decree which enabled Lebl Kavka to rent the house within the Castle with a room upstairs and downstairs for the rent of 10 guldens without any further obligations. (3) Prof. Dr. Sedláček comments further on this situation: "Soldiers have either found out about this, or Lebl was very frightened of them. He did not spend much time in Písek the following year and the County Sheriff ordered the council, on Lebl´s request, to keep a protective hand over him." It is likely that Lebl must have exerted a lot of effort to have this order issued, and the Emperor himself, Leopold, got involved in this matter. The decree was published in the Jüdisches Zentralbl. by dr. M. Grünwald (III. - 1848) but the original has never been returned to the descendants of Lebl Kavka (still residing in Písek). (5) Even the letting of the house that had been burnt out for more than thirty years caused a lot of discussion before it was let to Kavka. The local dean pressed the council to have the following remark put into the decree: "Im Falle aber gedachter Judt der Brandstelle theilhaftig werden will, wann mit den seinigen den Judischen Glauben ablegen und den allein seelig machenden, christlichen Katholischen glauben durch die h. Taufe emphangen wird, solche Brandstellle wird ihm als Christen vergnügt werden" (1) It is to Kavka´s credit that he did not accept this immoral deal. Although the conversion of Jews was not an exception at that time as we know from Prof. Dr. Sedláček (3) that in 1694 there was a Jew in Písek whose name or place of origin we do not know who wanted to be christened. But the town council ordered not to believe him.

In 1693 two Písek Jews kept the local courts very occupied. Lebl Kavka brought a suit against another Jewish man Hirc Latz; Lebl must have been in the good books of the provincial Jewish deputies as (after the first hearing) they decided in his favour. But Latz was not such an easy defendant and the court decision did not put him off. He appealed against the decision to (1) the "Burgermeister und Rath der Stadt Piszeck" and pleaded for justice and his rights. He was probably granted both as Lebl Kavka´s case was turned down. Lebl appealed again and here he was helped greatly by the fact that he had revealed the army revolt: Lebl was freed from all taxes for the rest of his life and the local council was ordered to favour him in any further cases of bringing a suit against debtors. Since the Písek town hall owed him 300 guldens, and he himself was also in considerable debt, he was asking the appeal court to spare him from seizure of his property. (3)

The Latz family probably moved out of Písek whilst the Kavka family remained. The oldest "perochet" in the synagogue is from the year of the process (1698)(I) and its title reads in translation as follows: "A voluntary gift made by the highly esteemed Mr Lebl, son of the noble rabbi Maier Kavka whose devout memory be blessed, and his wife Mrs Gitl, the daughter of the noble Mojžíš Weil whose creator be saved! (5) 458" =1698.

As had been already mentioned in 1610 there was a strict ban on wearing valuable clothes adorned with gold for all Jews. This ban was renewed in 1701 in Písek and made even stricter: "Esteemed magistrates, dear friends! As of the year 1610 all Jews and Jewesses were banned to embroider and hem their clothes with silver or gold, just like they were prohibited from wearing gold and pearl necklaces under the fine of fifty Rheunish guilders or eight day in prison for those who could not pay the fine. We have been receiving news that Jews of both sexes are again daring to wear garments embroidered in silver, and also chains and pearls covering thus their Jewish collars, and becoming undistinguishable from Christians which enables them to have their roguish ways. Therefore we would like to enforce this ban. Prague Castle, 11 July 1701." (1)

Lebl Kavka went on having his business in Písek and despite the ban from the Town Council he kept on giving credit to people who could not pay for goods as we learn from his complaint against František Neubauer, a burgher who owned him 109 golden pieces for goods. Neubauer promised to pay him the price plus interest within two years. He wanted to mortgage his field and register the debt in the books waiving all his legal claims. When it came to the appeal court he made the excuse of having a very small salary bringing in only 70 golden pieces for his clerkship work, claiming that due to his debts and the ban on brewing he was bankrupt. Therefore he was pleading to be released from the Jewish debt which would go anyway to the public treasury. (3

There had not been a year without some new Jews attempting to settle in Písek but the authorities always prevented them. It was quite common that the Council threatened the local burghers to deprive them of the right to brew beer and others of their privileges should they provide accommodation to Jews in their houses. In 1708 the Jew Abraham Lazar moved to Písek and started living in the council house but as there was some disorderly conduct, he was evicted. (3) In 1714 the well known court official from Vienna Šimšon Wertheimer applied on behalf of his brother-in-law Izrael Abraham and his brother. He wanted them to reside in Písek as "is clerks" but even this powerful man did not manage to enforce his will; on the contrary, the governors ordered the Town Council not to tolerate any other Jews, only the Kavka family. In 1715 Lebl Kavka died and his son Marek informed the Council that he intended to stay on in Písek. (3)

In 1716 a Prague Jew Aron Berles asked the Town Council if he could commute to Písek, to keep a shopkeeper's store there and to trade there "helping his mother-in-law Regina Ochsová". The Council did not grant this application and justified its rejection in the following way: "the Jewish race is harmful causing the destruction of poor craftsmen, and it should be eradicated and not allowed to reproduce. If this application were to be granted the Royal order would be violated as only the Jewish family of Kavkas can be tolerated in town. Finally, this application cannot be granted as if he started selling the delivered goods and the poor craftsmen had no means of paying him, this would only bring work to us." The community agreed unanimously that the applicant "should go back where he came from as he had not business here." His mother-in-law Regina Ochsová was ordered not to have any strange Jews staying with her or she, herself, would be expelled from the town. (3) Aron Berles was not put off by his failure in this matter and sought out the help of the Under-chamberlain, despite this his second application of 11 February was also turned down and his mother-in-law was threatened with eviction should she let him stay in her place again. (3)

In 1719 only one Jewish family remained in Písek, the family of Marek Kavka who resided in house no. 112 (on the left hand side of the Town Hall, the corner house). This old house was built onto the castle walls. Eventually, a town prison was established in this house and Kavka moved to the neighbouring house no. 11 where he stayed and carried on his business till army barracks were built there.

So far the numerous decisions regarding the eviction of Jews were covering the true reason for their eviction, the fear of competition, but in 1720 this reason was brought to light directly in a dispute between Christian merchants. They complained about Milpergr who was selling spices and other merchandise in pounds although this was standard practice. They also applied for the eviction of Jews who presented a competition to them. Apart from the Kavkas, Rozina Ochsová and her son and Heřman Žabka and his son lived in the town.

The latter two were given a three month period to collect their debts and then they were to move out of the town. The period passed and the Jews stayed on in Písek; supposedly they applied to court for a permit to extend their stay as they wanted to carry on with their businesses, and they were waiting for a decision to be taken. It was again their Christian competitors, merchants A. Chvojka and Jan Havel who complained to the vice-regent that Jews caused great damage to them and to other burghers, preventing them from making a living. Despite this complaint nothing changed. (3) A year later, in 1721, the two merchants were complaining again. Apparently, "the time came when Jews did not only reside in Písek, but also reproduced here, since the authorities tolerated this and did not obey the Royal, vice-regent's, nor even their own orders." Therefore, they wanted to apply for a decree which would stop craftsmen causing obstacles to tradesmen and which would tolerate only a few Jews in the town. (3)

Not far away from Kavka´s shop the Town Council built a small wooden building. It was located by the fortification walls and there was only one small room inside. This tiny building was rented to Kavka by the Council which allowed him to have a small prayer room there. The local dean V. Bezděka would not tolerate this sanctuary and persuaded the Council to cancel this arrangement (2. 5. 1722). The building was to be repaired properly and rented to some poor Christian. The intention did not come true, and the dean had to remind the Council regularly, asking them if "the building was still to be considered a synagogue or a Jewish school, and if that was indeed the case when was it going to stop?" In November 1722 the Council responded that the building was used for this purpose but as Jews had always had prayer rooms in the town, the Council could not prevent them from carrying out their religious duties, but the Jews were not to allow any strange Jews to join them. (3)

In 1723 (26. 5.) a new decree was issued regarding Jews preventing all non-resident Jews to come to the town apart from specified public markets. If a strange Jew came to town outside these days to deal with his goods, he was to be punished by a jail sentence. In 1723 the following Jews were tolerated in Písek: (3) Rozina Ochsová, widow (moved to Písek in 1660), her son Berle and his wife Aléna and their children Rachel (8), Abraham (6), Hatzkerl (4 months old); further there was the Klein - Markovská family, also since 1660, comprising of Hatzkerl (also called "Hačkole"), a glassmaker, a widower, his son Šalamoun and his wife Buneta and their children, Ester (8), Heřman (6), Samek (2). (3) This small community had no cemetery in Písek and took their dead to nearby Mirotice, we will discuss this village later, and to Lokšany (Březnice), Volyně and Strakonice. We have no pictures of the old synagogue mentioned earlier. The only part that has been preserved is the courtyard loggia which was the entrance to the female part of the building. But we have a memorable object from 1725 (5486) preserved in the town museum: a precious perochet in "memory of the husband and wife Mordechaj and Šendl Luriovi" which proves the devoutness and self-sacrifice of these poor, ´tolerated´ Jews.

Apart from the above mentioned decree from 1723 the town council issued a new ´procedural decree´ in 1727 allowing Jews to enter the town only on Tuesdays and Fridays so that they could buy goods here for their need. "If they wanted to come to the town on any other day, they would be obliged to pay a toll of one Kreutzer." The toll collector was recommended to inspect things delivered to the town by Jews, and there was a notice to that effect on the gate. (3)

In 1727 a convention of delegates from Jewish communities in the Práchen County took place in Písek. The convention was chaired by the J.P. on the order of the Royal Office and it was convened in order to compile the so called "Pardonsteuer". In the same year a map of the town of Písek was put together and the houses inhabited by Jews were marked out. This was done to establish if there would be any danger in case of religious processions as the Jewish houses were 772 ells from the parish church. (3). Jews were probably doing really badly at this time as in 1740 they could not pay a surcharge to the Under-chamberlain's office, as we are reminded by Dr Sedláček. The following year the highest court office invited the Town Council to ask for some favours which would be beneficial to the town. The Council asked for several things. The fourth one on the list read as follows: (3) "------ to move Jews from the public road and streets near the Prague Gate (from communal shops in houses no. 111 and 112), where the processions and funerals with the altar sacrament pass through, to some other parts or suburbs, as the community is obliged to have only the Kavka clan in the town, and not anyone else, and if others were refused their applications the reselling and craft trade would be prevented."

The time periods we have covered so far have not been mentioned once in the Matzner (2) history of Jews in Písek! The first mention comes from 1742 when he quotes the chronicle kept by dean Ledecký where he mentions the battle of hussars and infantry with the French garrison residing in Písek at that time: "The soldiers were joined by some inhabitants of the town and started plundering the Jewish shops taking away whatever they could carry. It served them right as the Jews were siding with the French against the Queen and worked as spies." The notion of Jews siding with the French and serving as spies had been proven wrong but yet Matzner likes to remind us of it again and again. The fact that plundering did not stop in the Jewish shops but spread onto the houses and property of the local burghers, and that eventually also the cloister and the churches were plundered, is described by the chronicler with less prejudice and colour: "There was no order in the town, only terror, hardly any obedience, tepid devoutness, only selfishness, revenge, suppressed justice, no unison, arguing magistrates, citizens arguing with the authorities and the unrest lasted till 1751." (2) Sedláček also mentions that around 1750 there was "no order in Písek" but does not mention plundering of Jewish shops or the "Jewish betrayal".

In 1738 the town rented a tobacconist's to Marek Kavka for an annual rent of 220 golden pieces. During war times when there was a garrison in the town, the tobacconist's was very profitable, but in 1730 the army left and the sales dropped. Therefore Kavka applied for some sort of a discount but the Under-chamberlain did not grant this application as there was no other way to pay the tax on tobacco. In 1750 the lease was extended for three more years for the amount of 418 golden pieces and 30 kreutzers which was to be paid in monthly instalments by Kavka. He later complained that people from more distant villages did not buy tobacco in his place, so the Council reduced his rent by 30 golden pieces and he was also promised that when the army left the town, the rent would be reduced by further 60 golden pieces. Kavka was to make sure that no other tobacco was delivered to the town and its surroundings and if he came across such a case he should ask for help at the burgomaster's office.

In 1757 the same contract was negotiated for 318 golden pieces and the amount of 51 ½ golden pieces for the villages was deducted from the rent (3).

In 1757 the town started buying up shops alongside the fortification walls in order to build barracks. One of these shops was owned by Lebl Kavka and his son Marek. As the house was used for storing tobacco and the owner always paid the town duly and on time, the town bought Kroupovský House (no. 146) on the way from the Main square to the Goats´ Square for 1050 golden pieces and let Kavka use it on condition that the house would be closed at all times when a procession passed by. Kavka paid the town 1088 golden pieces for the house and became the keeper of the house, not the owner. If he wanted to sell the house again, he would pick up his money at the Town Hall, and the buyer would deposit his money there. To keep the dean happy, the transaction included a fee of 4 golden pieces for him. (3)

During the construction of barracks more Jewish families were evicted. We learn this from Sedláček who mentions it in a throwaway comment like this: "Once Bernard Ochs and Rozina Ochová moved out, so the Arendators lost their income from the rent." This family probably never had an easy life in Klatovy. In 1743 Beneš Ochs applied for an approval to get married which was not granted till 1749 although his ancestors had lived in Písek for a long period of time. (3)

On 15 May 1745 the vice-regent published a decree which amended the eviction decree regarding the provincial Jews of 18. 7. 1744 issued by Maria Theresa. This decree states that : "Jews may be tolerated in our lands for another period of time till our gracious decision is issued." (6) The humble plea of several rich Prague Jewish families to remain in the country were turned down and the Empress added a handwritten note on the document: "Sollen weiters auf dem Land sich ausbreiten dürfen bis auf weitere Ordre." None of the Prague Jews came to settle to Písek at the time. The order from 1747 to compile a list of all Jewish families must be connected with this order regarding the stay of Jews in the countryside. The list was compiled in Písek by Dean Ledecký and his notification says that there were "in the Písek and Putim settlements 20 couples, 60 adults and 36 children". He added a note to this official notice: "Hebrew Gods help them reproduce in exchange for gifts they are given". (3) It seems that the Písek deans really had it in for the local Jews. We have become acquainted with the negative attitude of Dean Ledecký, but nor did his successor Šafařovic have a better attitude towards Jews. In 1750 he gave an unauthorised order to the J.P. to imprison the Jewess Esterka without giving any reason. The Town Council did not approve of this behaviour and expressed its displeasure as the ´dean had no right to give orders to the J.P.´. At the same time the Council ordered the J.P. not to arrest anyone if ordered by the dean unless he was ordered to do so by the Council. (3)

SOURCES

1. Dr. M. Grünwald: Jüd. Centralbl. VII. 1882-88
2. Prof. Jan Matzner: "Král. město Písek" 1898 (The Royal Town of Písek)
3. Prof. dr. Aug. Sedláčkek "Dějiny král. krajského města Písku nad Otavou" 3 parts, 1911 (The History of the Royal county town of Písek)
4. Václ. Šulc: "Archiv český", XXI. - 234 (The Czech Archive)
5. Comissary Council Weil, Písek, informed us that these documents are probably still held by Max Grünwald, the son of M. Grünwald
6. The Annual of the Association of the History of Jews in Bohemia, 1929

II. From 1760 to 1929

My last year's Chronicle of Písek Jews 19) concluded with the depiction of their relationship with the local authorities and clergy. The vice-regent's documents from the Czech Kingdom from 1651 show the following record shown in translation: "The record of Jewish elders regarding a Jewish child which was taken away from the Jew Perman from Mirotice by the Písek mayor for an outstanding debt." Taking someone's child would seem to be a very unusual way of recovering debts!

In 1760 the County Administration Office issued an order to Jews to observe Catholic holidays and reminded them that they must not hire Christians to work for them and that they must observe the order to wear a yellow circle on their clothes. In regard to the order to observe holidays Prof A. Sedláček says: "Jews did not observe holidays since not even Christians did and they opened their shops." But he omits to mention that Jews quite certainly observed Saturdays and their holidays so the order to keep double Sabbaths (I think I would say Sabbaths here - it's clearer) and holidays must have caused them damage and made earning their living harder.

In 1764 a new price tariff for tobacco was published. Marek Kavka did not have any very good quality tobacco for sale. He had only smoking tobacco in rolls and leaves, then he had some special leaf tobacco, approx. 173 pounds. He seemed to have stored far more snuff tobacco (for example 7 barrels of the "ordinary" type), altogether 736 pounds. Better quality tobacco was sold in boxes, for example Santaman, Tresexcellent, Spaniol and the purple Rappé. The sale brought in only 220 gold pieces, but the tax was twice as high so we can see that the tax was not allocated properly. 8) In 1774 there was unrest in Písek because of the "unjust management of the brewery" 8) and the consequent increase in prices for beer. In 1776 a list of all businessmen was made. We can see that there were "17 landlords and 9 winemakers" classed as businessmen and producers. Not even one Jew in Písek made his living by making and selling spirits. So it was not the Jew who was to be blamed for the unrest taking place the previous year because of the prices as there was no participation in practising usury and distillery as stated by Dr Jan Herben. 7)

In 1783 the government issued an order regarding the number of Jewish families in Bohemia which could not be exceeded. The effect of this governmental order can be seen in Písek in 1758: In this year the county administration allowed Karel Ochs to marry as the number of Jewish families was not exceeded 8)

At the end of the 18th century the local rabbi was R. Baruch Muneles who resided in Březnice and who got a positive mention in the work by R. Jecheskel Landau "Node bi Jehuda". Geršon Löbl was the teacher in Písek till 1786 and his successor was R. Jehuda Kohen, the great grandfather of the later mayor of the town, dr. Izrael Kohn. The descendents of this respectable family still live in Písek.

Despite the incomplete records in the register of protected Jews, e.g. "Schutzjuden" we have regular records since 1758 which were made compulsory by law by Joseph II. These records were made by rabbi Muneles.

Important records were preserved, the so-called"Zeugniszettel", issued on order of the Emperor Joseph II, and this is their translation:
I. Place: Písek, county: Práchen. "I, up till now called Mojžíš Samuel, come from the family …… will have the following surname in future: Mojžíš and my family name will be … Abeles. The signature is in Hebrew but the handwriting is so illegible that dr. Grünwald made a handwritten note saying that this "Moses does not deserve his respectable name".
II. Place: the royal town of Pieseck (!) : "I, up till now called Perl, come from the family of …. will be called Kateřina and the family name of myself and my family will be Biglerin." This Kateřina Biglerin was in service at a different family which was expressly stated on the sheet of paper. The sheets of paper were signed by the provincial Jewish primate Joachim Popper and R. Barch Muneles, "the community rabbi with an office in Březnic".

In 1785 there were 12 Jewish families living in Písek:

1. Jakub with his wife Chaje (Kateřina) Kavka
2. Kalman (Karel) and Chela (Kehla) Ochs
3. Mojžíš Markus and his wife Dassil
4. Geršon Löbl, teacher (died on 8 August 1786 at the age of 58)
5. Gabriel Kohn and his wife Anna
6. Juda Kohn and his wife Anna
7. Josef and Kateřina Stein
8. Vít and Ester Ungar
9. Šalamoun and Anna Strauss
10. Ester Porkurátorová (according to the chairman of the Jewish community in Mirotice Mr. Leop. Bloch, the family Prokurátorová took on the name Löwy)
11. Jakub and Anna Karpeles
12. Adam Lederer, died in 1792 at the age of 90

Even in 1785 the Jewish community in Písek had no cemetery and buried their dead in nearby Mirotice. 1)

The religious movement of "Abrahamists" or "deists" 8) also had its followers in Písek. In 1791 the burgher Jozef Soucha was looking for followers amidst his Christian neighbours so eagerly that the County Administration Office became involved. The office ordered the local priest to provide catechism lessons for the followers of this heresy and to return them back to the pale of the Church. We do not know if the priest's efforts were successful. There is only a simple comment that he took the action required. 3)

Písek Jews have always paid attention to educating their youths. We do not know when the local Jewish school was established. It is mentioned indirectly in 1789 when Prof Dr Sedláček says that at that time a teacher and a kosher person Geršon Lebl and his son Juda Kohn were accepted into the protection of the town. One of the local Jews, Jakub Kavka, protested against the acceptance of this Jew on behalf of the "Jewish race" but his protest was turned down as it was "the right of the rabbi and the director of the Jewish Tax" (the so-called "Perdon-Steuer-Direktion") to elect the person carrying out kosher duties. 8) The Jewish school was attended by two Kavka children in 1789, but after the failure of his protest Kavka withdrew his children from the school and had them educated by a normal teacher. In 1795 the Town Council ordered Juda Kohn to start a Jewish Register (in the consequence of the Imperial order) and the entries were to be verified by the Dean. The extracts from the Register were delivered quarterly to the Town Hall.

As in other places also in Písek there was a dispute between Jews and the Butchers' Guild who did not like that Jews provided their own meat. The dispute was solved by the Town Hall by ordering Jews to buy their meat from the Butchers' Guild. 8)

In 1798 Karel Ochs asked for permission to establish a shop with goods measured by the ell. This application was opposed by five Christian merchants who claimed that Písek was far too small for so many tradesmen! The applicant should be happy that they let him trade with wool, feathers and leather as this is "Jewish trade". The complainant was supported by the Town Council who refused the application made by Ochs on the grounds that he did not have sufficient capital. Ochs probably did not know that since 1797 the operation of this type of business was not awarded by the council, but by the provincial government. In 1798 there were 6 Christian and 2 Jewish tradesmen in Písek as shown by the record of the Salt Office and Inspectorate in Plzen. 8)

In 1799 another list of Jews living in Písek was compiled showing also their occupation. 1. David Kavka, shop and potash making workshop, 2. Jakub Kavka, stone vessels and spirits, 3. Juda Kavka in Budy, potash making workshop, 4. Jakob Karpeles, worker in a potash making workshop, 5. Juda Kohn, wool, wine and second-hand goods, 6. Jakub Ochs, goods sold by the ell, 7. Karel Ochs, goods sold by the ell, 8. Naftali Hercl Ochs, spirits. 8)

In 1800 Marek Kavka, a native of Písek, but nevertheless classed as "a Jew from Strážov" asked the town council to be accepted in the town. He was a peddler and wanted to rent a house in Písek and to sell goods by the ell. As it could be expected all the Písek tradesmen protested against this and Kavka´s application was most probably turned down. Nevertheless, Kavka knew what to do: he rented a house with a garden from Veronika Furtová and secured a peddling licence for the whole of Bohemia from the County Office. This was disputed not only by all drapers but also by all Jews in Písek! Their main argument was the "secret renting" of Furt house. Their joint protest came to no avail. Marek Kavka kept on commuting to Písek where he saw to the business of the rented house, and in particular, to his business. Therefore, he was given an order by the Town Council to move out within three days. He was given a suspension of eight days. The house was then sold and it was bought by seven tradesmen, out of which 5 were Christians and 2 Jewish (David and Jakub Kavka). 8)

In 1804 Abraham Ochs died and Jude Kohn asked to be accepted for Abraham´s post of teacher. Although his father worked in Písek as a teacher for 45 years, he did not receive the post as he was domiciled in Strakonice. He was promised that no one would be appointed to the post but that it would be given to the husband of his daughter provided that he would look after the younger brothers and sisters of his wife. This resolution was deemed illegal and the provincial government enquired if there was not one single first-born Jew in Písek whose grandfather would still be alive. Then the County Office proposed Mojžíš Leb-Kavka but the provincial office did not want to appoint him and appointed Bernát Ochs. 8)

In 1809 there was a huge conscription and Marek Kavka was also called up. He exercised the right to send someone else in replacement covering the cost. During the war time the County Office confirmed that Písek Jews not only paid their war tax duly but also voluntary gifts and contributions. 3)

In 1810 Marek Kavka applied for a licence to sell wool and goods sold by the ell. This was his second application in this matter showing his great persistence. His previous application from ten years back was turned down and he was forced to move out of Písek. His renewed application was successful as the local Christian merchants did not sell by the ell and the only Jewish merchant selling these goods David Kavka had no goods for the common folk but only for rich burghers so the poorer folk had to buy goods at the market where the choice was not so big. The office was more inclined to grant licences in the difficult times probably because many tradesmen ceased their business. Only two out of five Christian merchants remained and they, apart from running a shop, were also tending to their fields. 3) In 1812 Kavka´s rent of the tobacco warehouse was terminated for no apparent reason. Prof Sedláček learnt that 80 bags of ordinary tobacco were handed over for official safekeeping. The tobacco was later sold for 1200 gold pieces. 8) Kavka also sold stamp paper. In 1812 a new textbook "B´ne Zion" by Herz - Homberg was introduced at the Jewish school in Písek. One textbook was bought for the Town Council (the Inspector), one for the teacher at the Jewish school and 4 for its 7 pupils. 9)

It seems that the situation got a bit better in around 1817 as the Christian merchants started fearing Jewish competition again. The Council turned down the application made by Karel Ochs to open a shop which would sell by the ell. The reason given was that he had a shop already and the new shop was not for himself but for his future son-in-law. 8)

Ing. Šurda, a future burgomaster, prepared special market regulations on the request of Písek Jews. 63 Jews used to come to Písek from Vodňany, Protivína, Nezdášov, Týn n. Vltavou, Mladějovice, Mirotice, Plíškovice, Kasejovice, Osek, Čkyně, Strakonic, Volyně etc. Each was given a place alongside the local Jews numbered 1 - 63 running in three rows. 8) In 1820 Barbora K, David Kavka´s widow, transferred the potash making workshop rented from the town to her relative Lazar Fürth who became her partner in a grocery store. The transfer was registered at a court in Prague. When Kavková died in 1821 and Fürth started running the business, the 6 local tradesmen were protesting so much that he had to leave the business and ask for a time period to sell out. The reason for this was because his domicile was Strakonice and he had no licence for trading in Písek. The provincial government gave Fürth one year to wind down the business. Fürth made a new application to be accepted by the town, and despite the great displeasure of all Christian competitors he was allowed to continue with his business! His warehouse was probably quite large as the estimate was 16.148 gold pieces. His debt amounted to 5.252 gold pieces. When he wanted to transfer the business onto his son-in-law Volfang Levinský , who was also residing in Písek, he was not allowed to transfer the licence in order "not to increase the already big number of tradesmen". Nevertheless, the provincial government granted Levinský his licence so Levinský started running the old shop in the barracks set up by Kavka. Also Heřman Kavka was granted a new licence for his grocery shop in 1820 by the provincial government. 8)

In 1820 the Jews were reprimanded by Dean Řídký about not keeping the register in order. The registrar Kohn proved that the register was kept duly and that there was no reason for this complaint. Printed sheets with columns were acquired for the register as stipulated by governmental orders.

We have already mentioned the oldest prayer room situated in the castle. In 1753 it was moved into a room at the Kroupovský House and a rent was paid to the town. Later on the Jewish community was allowed to turn the room into a school and had to pay a rent of 30 gold pieces. When the house burnt down in 1825 the Jews asked for permission to reconstruct the school and used it till 1832. 8)

The oldest contract of church seating comes from 1824. A regulation book was set up by Marek Kavka. The first seat was reserved for a noble guest, then for a representative of the Authorities and the County Rabbi. Then the order was as follows: Jakub ("the Patron"), Marek and Heřman Kavkas, Bernát and Karel Ochs. Bohumil Kohn, Marek Lurie, Mojžíš Skal (Drhovel domicile), Volf Kohn, E.S. Kavka, Volf Levinský, Šimon Kavka, G. Kohn, with the teacher and church servant at the far back. The seat no. 1 was occupied by Lazar Fürth, the collector of the pardon tax, unless some other, more respectable person came along. 3) When house number 146 burnt down in 1825, the Jews established a prayer room in another house, but the seat order was just the same. In the same year Písek Jews asked for the appointment of an experienced rabbi. Eva, Natan Kohn´s widow, asked on behalf of her son Samuel to wait with the appointment till her son passed exams before the regional rabbi in Plzeň. 3)

In 1827 the tax collector Lazar Fürth was elected the mayor of the Jewish community. The County Office did not approve of this choice as Fürth had no Písek domicile and did not pay his tax. The local Jews were not pleased with this decision as they viewed it as a hostile trick by Marek Kavka who was favoured by the office and was regarded by them as the representative of the Jewish community despite the fact that he had not been elected. The Jewish community protested against this decision and gave a copy of their appeal to Kavka. Kavka immediately compiled a document refuting all accusations against him. The County Office considered only Kavka´s letter and turned down the appeal made by the Jewish community. Kavka was appointed the mayor of the community without being recommended by the community. 3) In 1830 there were 8 foreign Jewish persons in Písek who were ordered to acquire a permit of their Lords to reside abroad. 3)

In 1830 we can find the following item 4 in the detailed list of the communal property: "regalie in Czech licence: to brew beer, distil spirits, export caustic potash, protective payment (from Jews), statutory labour and taxes."

The French July revolution of 1831 met with great interest in Bohemia. A Jew Kajetán Steiner, a lithographer from Daliměřice near Mladá Boleslav, spent some time in France. On his return he was talking to people in a pub in Sušice saying that if the French came to Bohemia, Czech peasants would join them, and so would he. He thought that the French lived now like princes whilst they lived like slaves. The Emperor would lose his crown. Because of the talk like this he was arrested and taken to the criminal court in Písek. He was not found guilty but he was sent to Rohozce. There were also rumours that there were French in the Tábor region and that they were distributed thalers with the following inscription:

"Sat on a drum
Looking at Bohemia
No harm to the common folk
No pardon to the lords and clergy." 8)

Touching concern was shown by Písek county doctor in 1832 at the time of cholera. He informed the Jews in his ward that it was not advisable to fast at Jomkipur. Heřman Kavka informed his community accordingly and collected a fee for dispensation from each member. 3) These were probably voluntary gifts as the money was used to buy Passover bread and wine for the Jewish poor, and the remaining 4 gold pieces were given by Kavka to the Town Hall for the "poor Christians".

The municipal potash making workshop was rented to Lazar Fürth for 3200 gold pieces. In 1832 Fürth offered to pay a higher rent of 50 gold pieces more if he was going to be given a licence for distilling spirits for the period of six years. The potash making workshop was kept till 1837 when he was compensated by the town for the withdrawal from the contract. The workshop was demolished and there is a municipal park at its place nowadays. 3)

In July 1831 the County Office of the town of Písek prohibited entry of Polish Jews to Bohemia. The reason was the cholera epidemic and Jews, especially from Poland, were blamed for spreading it. 3)

In 1836 a ceremonial coronation of the King Ferdinand took place in Prague. Písek publisher Jozef Vetterl published a pretty picture of the county retinue dispatched to the coronation. The Jewish community also purchased a copy of this picture (for 1 golden piece and 30 kreutzers).

In 1837 a heated discussion took place in the Council about the issue of making exceptions when granting citizenship rights. Burgomaster Siebr made a long, but excellent speech in defence of Jews saying that although there were some Jews of very low moral values, there is a great number of the just ones and there is no reason why these should be suffering for the bad one. Therefore it is only humane and just to give these well meaning Jews the same rights as enjoyed by other citizens. This measure is not harmful, and if proved wrong the citizenship could always be taken away from the unsuitable person. 3) In 1841 the council accepted several Jewish families into the town, namely: M. Frisch from Nezdášov, Jakub Sachs (the father of the well respected doctor Šimon Sachs), bought house no. 39, J. Wind (future successor of M. Kohn´s shop), Jos. Hahn and Seligman Bloch. The latter one rented the post of the lamplighter from the town. 3)

We can see that in 1845 Jews started to acquire agricultural buildings. L. Eisner from Volyně bought some grazing fields in auction from 2741 gold pieces. The burghers protested against this sale saying that "only burghers had the right to graze". But there was a different problem, as pointed out by Prof Sedláček. According to the court patent of 1842 Jews were allowed to acquire domicile land only if they themselves cultivated the land or used the help of other Jews. On these grounds the County Office cancelled this purchase as they established that Eisner did not cultivate the lands himself and rented the barn out. Eisner appealed to the Provincial Government but to no avail; he also had to withdraw from buying more land by Sezemice when the authorities came up with a different reason why he could not buy the land. 3)

The constitution ceremonies of 18. IV. 1849 were spectacular in Písek. The town was lit in the evening and the Town Hall had a constitutional flag made. The cloth (red and white) was purchased from Samuel Kohn for 2 gold pieces and 40 kreutzers. 3) Even after 1849 the movement of Jews was restricted. It was not unusual for a Jewish stranger to be caught during the frequent "general visits" in Písek and sent back to his domicile town or village. This was the case in 1835 with Jáchym Adler from Bor (a settlement near Březnice where one of the houses is still called "At the Jew"). When this happened again he was fined 5 gold pieces and sent home. In 1851 he was caught for the third time but on application he was allowed to stay in Písek for 20 days. He was not happy with this decision and appealed to the district administration that turned his appeal down and ordered him to move out of Písek within 48 hours. As he did not comply with this deadline he was sent to Bor on 11. 4. and when even this did not work the gendarmes were given orders to keep an eye on him and to prevent him from entering Písek. 3) Also later on Jews had problems establishing new shops as Jakub Kohn from Nezdášov found out for himself when in 1851 he bought a house no. 185b) and wanted to have a stone shop in Písek, not only his peddler's licence. Because he was renting rooms to the gendarmes in his house, he managed to have his eviction postponed. Later he went to Prague and appealed at the Ministry. We do not know the result of this appeal but judging by the fact that the descendants of Jakub Kohn still live in Písek, the matter probably turned out favourably. 3)

In 1825 an important convention took place in Prague, the so-called "Noblenversammlung" and a book of protocols was published. 10) The book had an appendix listing all Jewish communities in Bohemia. It is quite interesting that the Písek community was not listed but Písek Jews were added to Mirotice entry: 15 families with 90 members, 1 synagogue. Písek belonged to Březnice "Kreisrabbinat" of r. Menach Mendl Polák. There was also another authorised rabbi, r. David Kohn in Kasejovice. Around Březnice there were synagogues in Mirotice, Rakovice, Strážovice, Orlík, Mirovice, Zálužany, Zbenice, Březnice, Drahenice, Lažany, Kasejovice. In all these villages and other smaller villages (where there are no Jews residing today) in 1852 there was only a scarce population of Jewish families, from 1 to 5 families, only the following villages had more families:

During Dr Kohn´s office and thanks to his work Písek received a new, modern status. On his intervention Písek was given a train connection and grammar schools. Only once the fact that Dr Kohn was a Jew presented an issue and that was in 1854 when a priest should have been appointed to the parish church in Putim. The priest objected that a Jew should not participate in the meetings. The Town Council consulted Jičín where there was a similar case and an answer was received that "Jewish members abstained from voting when they were electing the new priest." 8) The role of Dr Izrael Kohn in the Jewish community will be discussed later when talking about the administration of the community and the construction of the synagogue that were initiated by Dr Kohn. Dr Izrael Kohn died in Písek on 2 March 1874 and he was buried at the Jewish cemetery in Mirotice. The inscription on his grave reads as follows: 1)

"This is a place of rest for the wonderful Israel,
a priest of the highest God,
a true Eškol Hakofér,
a scholar and expert on the Script
popular with the Town Council
the people and the court."

A number of important Jewish doctors have worked in Písek since 1855 and Prof Dr Sedláček remembers some of them with deep respect: Mojžíš Klepetář, doctor, born 1910 in a doctors´ family. A native from Kosová Hora. Passed his medicine exams in Prague in 1835. Worked as a doctor in Mirotice and later on in the manor house in Čimelice. During his practice he carried out a so-called caesarean section. His patient was the forester's wife in Budy and during this difficult operation he was assisted by the shepherd. He worked in Písek since 1855, e.g. for 13 years, and his reputation was excellent. He was loved by the poor who he treated free of charge, even providing medicine for them. He died of a heart complaint on 27. 7. 1868 in Písek and he was buried in Mirotice.

Heřman Löwy, doctor, born in 1818, exams passed in 1836, worked as a doctor in Radomyšl from 1842 to 1860, retired to Písek.

MUDr. Šimon Sachs, a native from Písek, appointed by the town council as the doctor for the poor in 1871; worked as a senior consultant in the district hospital for years. Retired to Plzen where shortly after moving there died on 29. 10. 1907. Buried in Písek.

MUDr. Robert Kohn, born on 5. 7. 1868 in Brno, studied at the grammar school in Písek. Graduated in 1893 in Vienna, worked in Domažlice and from 1897 in Písek. Takes credit for the working of the "Otavan" association. A deputy of the town doctor since 1904, appointed the town doctor in 1910. Worked as a doctor at the district hospital from 1899 and in 1907 became the mayor of the Jewish religious community.

MUDr. Emil Fröhlich, born on 16. 11. 1870 in Pečičky near Příbram, graduated in Prague in 1901, worked as an external and secondary doctor in all hospitals and since 1902 in Prague maternity hospital; then in the Moravská-Ostravská hospital and in Vítkovice. In 1904 he came to Písek and worked as a GP, he became a doctor for health insurance company and the tobacco factory in Písek in 1909.

The constitution of the present Jewish community in Písek comes from 1855. In 1860 a denomination Jewish school 2) was founded in Písek with German being the teaching language. In 1861 a committee for the construction of a new synagogue in Písek was established and it was chaired by Adam Brath; the members of the committee were, apart from others, Jakub Spitz and "chevre gabbe" Jakub Sachs. Acting on the proposal of Mr Weiner, shares in the amounts of 50, 100 and 1000 gold pieces were issued which were to be redeemed in accordance with a lottery scheme. The Písek mayor of the time, Dr Izrael Kohn, a man so popular that he got elected several times by Písek citizens, set an example to his wealthy fellow believers: Being as "Kohan" the first one to be called to the torah (O Rošhašama!) he donated by the torah all his shares for the new synagogue amounting to several thousand gold pieces. His friends did not lag behind and all of them donated their shares, so at the end only a small part remained mostly smaller amounts of 50 gold pieces that were soon paid to their owners. The total cost of the new and very nice synagogue completed in 1870 amounted to a fairly considerable amount of money at that time 14.000 gold pieces. The synagogue is a memorial demonstrating the devotion and self-sacrifice of the members of the Jewish religious community. 11)

One of the oldest Písek associations is the Jewish burial association Chevra Kadiša. Its articles were approved only in 1876 2) but the association is undoubtedly much older. The chronological list compiled by Prof Matzner 2) lists it at the fifth place (the department of the Central Education Board is from 1883, The National Unity of the Šumava region is from 1884). When the "Civic centre" was established in 1857 and the PE organisation "Sokol" in 1867 many Písek Jews became members of these leading national associations (and in the following ones as well). This is proved by group pictures and diplomas that have survived till now. One of the very keen supporters of the Czech national movement was Emil Barth. He initiated the establishment of the Local department of National Czech-Jewish Unity in Písek in 1896 being supported by JUDr Ign. Arnstein, JUDr. Maxim Reiner and JUDr Jak. Scharf. This organisation soon became a powerful part of the regional Czech-Jewish movement. 12) Písek academics, Jews, played an important part in the life of Prague associations and a number of their chairmen and acting members came from Písek and its surroundings. 13) The resolution of 1. 12. 1893 made by the Jewish religious community (whose board was mostly formed by supporters and acting members of the National Czech-Jewish Unity) turned the German denominational school into a two class school where the teaching language was Czech.2) Up till then the school was private although with public rights as in the official statistics 14) form 1886 - 87 "Písek" is not listed at all, whilst in 1896 - 97 there were 44 students. This data is at variance with Prof Matzner´s data 2) that show that there were 21 children in the 1st class in 1896-97 and 28 children in the 2nd class, altogether 49 children. The school was kept by the Jewish religious community and the School Committee. There was a school administrator, a rabbi teaching religion and a Czech and Hebrew teacher. The last teacher was Mr Ig. Munk who moved to Prague after the school stopped working. The change from a German school to a Czech-Jewish school, the first and only school of that type in Bohemia, was welcomed by Karel Frank 15) in 1893 by the following words: "Písek Jews made a decisive step forward turning their school into a Czech school in 1892. A school where foundations, science and religion will be taught in Czech will produce people who will consider the Czech language to be their dear and only mother tongue even if the future brings in other tongues. There were always 16 - 20 Jewish male youths at Písek grammar school and the same number attended the local Secondary School. They are assimilated and no differences are made in terms of their nationality between them and their Christian colleagues. There were also no cases of denationalisation of Písek students at universities."

Even in 1902 the preaching in the synagogue was done in German. The German influence on Jews was not any deeper, or longer sustained than the German influence on the Christian community. As mentioned by Dr Sedláček, the father of Dr Julius and Dr Edvard Grégr, the experienced columnists and politicians, who came from the Czech town of Březhrad near Hradec Králové, used to spell his name Josef Gröger and only later under the "influence of his sons" he started signing himself "Grégr", but even then he used the title of "Forstmeister". Even in 1885 the burgomaster of Písek Gamish did not speak any Czech.

There was not much industry in Písek and the local councillors tried very hard to increase the industry in this poor region. At the meeting of the local councillors on 13. 7. 1893 it was approved, on the initiative of MP Max Hájek, that an application should be presented to the Ministry of Finance to have a tobacco factory built in Písek. The factory was built soon afterwards.3) The industry in Písek was initiated purely by its Jewish citizens; in 1879 Marek Spitz had a paper mill constructed and much contributed to the development of the town and the Czech society in Písek. In 1894 Josef Klein built a fez factory here and the Klein brothers built a shoe factory. Gabriel Werner founded a sweets factory in Písek.

As mentioned earlier Písek Jews buried their dead at the cemetery in Mirotice till 1879. The cemetery was founded more than 250 years ago. 1) The oldest legible year dates to 5407, e.g. 1647 and reads as follows: "This is a place of rest of Mrs Hendl, the daughter of Mr Läml from Sedlice. She died on 8. tebet 5407." - This family has been residing in Prague now for centuries. 1)

The oldest founding document of the Mirotice cemetery has not been preserved, but we have a German document from 1805 reading as follows:

"Today at the turn of the year (1805) a contract was concluded between Jan Winkler, a Mirotice citizen, and the Jewish community in Mirotice under the following conditions:

1. Jan Winkler sells a part of his land no. 203 adjacent to the Jewish cemetery for the agreed purchase price of 340 gold pieces.
2. The Jewish community paid this amount to the seller immediately and received a due receipt.
3. As the field is in Mirotice, the Jewish Community is obliged to pay for each funeral as follows: for a local person 40 kreutzers, for a child 20 kreutzers, for a stranger 48 kreutzers to the Mirotice revenue.
4. A cemetery wall and a road for pedestrians will be built. This contract will be incorporated in the town book of Mirotice. The contract is signed by the following persons:

So geshehen, Mirotiz am Hornung d. J. 1805
Anna Bluchin, Marcus Weisel, Mirotizer Judengemeinde-Vorsteher.
Salomon Pick.
Johann Winkler als Frkauffr, Vácslav Rohlíček, Jakub Rohlíček, required witnesses. Valentín Adres, Bürgermeister."

In 1818 Benedikt Vot, who was renting the tobacco production, died in Písek and was buried in Mirotice. Veit was the father of the famous preacher Veit from St Stephen's cathedral in Vienna. When Jews were accused of a ritual murder in 1840 he stood up in their defence. He lifted up the monstrance in front of the altar in the presence of thousands of people and made a sacred oath that accusing Jews of ritual murders and consuming blood was an impudent lie.

Jakub Kavka, a protected Jew, the son of Löbl Kavka, was also buried here in 1832. We have mentioned the tombstone of the mayor Dr Izrael Kohn. The following men also deserve a mention: Daniel Weil from Písek who died on 20. 2. 1875 at the age of 61 years. Adam Barth who was on the board of the Jewish community since 1827 and deserves credit for the foundation of the synagogue. The community awarded him an honorary church seat for the rest of his life. MUDr Šimon Sachs was the chairman of the Jewish religious community in Písek. He deserves credit for his work for the community and the founding of the new synagogue and the new cemetery in Písek. He was also awarded an honorary seat in the church. In 1884 Juda Kohn became the mayor of the Jewish community, Šalamoun Sachs became the cashier, Mořic Klein was the chair of the educational committee, Jakub Fantl was the secretary and the board had two more members: Isák Bloch and David Glaser. There were 70 Jewish families numbering 449 people in Písek that year!1)

Since we have mentioned the cemetery in Mirotice, we should also add that there was a private Jewish school where German was the official language in Mirotice and according to Kořán statistics 14) the school had 19 pupils in 1886 - 87 and there were no classes running in 1893 - 1894. 14) The new Jewish cemetery was founded in Písek in 1879 16) and it was situated at the Prague suburbs at the so called "na Pěníku". 2) If we cross the bridge spanning the Jiher Stream, known for its gold panning history, we climb a bit till the place called "Robinson" and on the left hand side we will see the Jewish cemetery in the fields. Even a long time after its foundation there were only German inscriptions at the cemetery. Following the discussions at the Association of Czech Jewish Academics, the first tombstone with a Czech inscription was raised at the funeral of a student called Abeles. Ever since then Czech inscriptions only were in use. 16) On the right hand side there is a road going to Čížová where there also used to be a small Jewish settlement. Also Rakovice (approx. 25 km from Písek) had a Jewish community which was under the protection of Josef Count Vratislav from Mitrovice (1817). Nowadays, both the synagogue and the cemetery are long forgotten and deserted. The list of "grants of the town of Písek" 2) shows that the oldest and also largest grant was the grant given by Mr Jakub Bloch for "20 poor children of the main school in Písek at the amount of 2000 gold pieces and the same amount of 2000 gold pieces was allocated for orphans of any religion".

The Písek parish belonged to the Strakonice presbytery and in 1898 the following numbers of inhabitants were accounted for in the Písek regions: 44 382 Catholics, 551 Jews, 64 believers in various Christianities. 2) In 1890 there were 10 478 Catholics (95.75%) and 408 Jews (3.68%) living in Písek.

Prof. Sedláček also discusses various "Jewish houses" and their exchanges. 3) Viktoryn Šlehalík lived in house no. 105 in 1559. In 1848 it was Fr. Brunshofer, in 1849 Kateřina Levinská, in 1870 Anna Weissová and since 1879 Dr Šim. Sachs. Anna Šlehalíková lived in house no. 106 in 1592. In 1693 it was Martin Vrbenský who rebuilt the house in its present style. In 1849 it was Ondřej Brousil, in 1850 Leopold Brandejs, and now Hahn and Spitz families. The house was called "At the Golden Ship". House no. 14 in the Malé náměstí dates from 1407 and it has been owned by Šimon Eisner since 1864. House no. 36 dates from 1540 and since 1865 it has been owned by the Kohns. House no. 39 dates from 1547 and it has been owned by the Sachs family since 1849. House no. 146 (called Tlápovský) is from 1563 and it has been the property of the Písek town since 1753 and it was renamed "the community house of Kroupovský". In 1753 the town gave it to Marek Kavka to be used for his "tobacco business". The Kavka family lived in this house, although they became its legal owners only in 1845. House no. 99 was bought by Vácslav Kubka in 1532. In 1862 Samson Weil became the owner of the house. House no. 78 was bought by the steward Matouš whose ancestors became known as Šafářovic. The present director of the National Theatre comes from this family. In 1868 the Jewish community bought this house and established a synagogue there. House no. 56 was bought by Vavřinec Studnička in 1543; in 1853 Dr Israel Kohn bought the house and in 1876 it was bough by Anna Kohnová. House no. 45 was owned by Havel Srnce in 1424 and in 1851 by S. Bloch. House no. 22 ("Batíkovský") was owned by M. Houska in 1548, and in 1851 it was acquired by the Weil family. House no. 29 belonged to Lor. Edlman in 1609 and in 1620 it was burned down. It was rebuilt in 1655. In 1863 J. Lederer bought the house and in 1870 M. Munzer. In the same year the house was taken over by Ignác Kohn. House no. 34 was owned by Havel, the miller, in 1540 and in 1873 by Jh. Kohn. 3) Marek Spitz, a respectable citizen, deserves a special mention for his work for the Jewish community in Písek. He was a member of the town hall who appointed him a member of the Municipal Saving Bank in 1889 and 1981 and in 1894 he was a member of the committee for managing personal sureties in the Municipal theatre. He was also a member of the District Council, and sat on the board of the Municipal Brewery and other public institutions.

In 1879 Rosenfeld became the local teacher. During 1841 till 1893 teacher Jindřich Popper (the father of the Prague doctor and community elder Dr Max Popper) worked in Písek. He was married to the daughter of rabbi M. Klemperer from Tábor, the author of the publication "Zemach Tábor". The most famous Písek rabbi was Dr Mořic Grünwald 1), whose CV and picture can be found in the wonderful work "Juden und Judengem. Mährens" in the article by Dr H Flesch Konic (p. 568) 16). Dr Mořic Grünwald was born on 29 March 1853 in Uh. Ostré in Moravia and read Philology at Vienna University and Oriental Languages, Classical and Modern Languages at Leipzig University in 1873. he spent several years in Paris to improve his oriental languages. In 1877 he was given a post of supply teacher at the grammar school in České Budějovice. From 1878 - 1881 he taught at the theological seminary in Vratislav and in 1881 he was called to Bělovar to become a rabbi there. There he started publishing "Jüdisches Centralblatt" 1). In 1883 he was the rabbi in Písek and later in Mladá Boleslav. Since 1893 till his death on 10 June 1895 he was the main rabbi in Sofia. His father was the well known rabbi Jakub Grünwald from Bzence. 16). Dr. Grünwald was a keen promoter of the Association of Czech Academic Jews and he published articles in the "Jüdisches Centralblatt" which he started publishing during his stay in Písek. He also contributed historical articles to the Czech -Jewish calendar (for example in Issue 11 "The History of the Jewish Community in Mladá Boleslav", and issue 12 "Contribution to the History of the Jewish Community in Písek", both articles were translated from German by Max. Weisskopf). He was also a prolific correspondent as seen by his correspondence with some of the best known men of his time. I came across one of his letters in the XIII Issue of "Israelit. Gemeindeztg. (Lehrerbote)" from 1885 20). The letter was written by Sir Mojžíš Montefiore to the religious community in Písek and it was dated "Ramsgate, Thursday, 16th day of Omer, Year 5645 (16. IV. 1885)". Dr M. Grünwald commented the copy as follows: "the Hebrew original was kept in a golden frame in the synagogue in Písek". 21) Today nobody knows anything about this golden frame in the synagogue or about the fate of this, undoubtedly, very precious letter. Another important rabbi was Dr M. H. Friedländer 16). He worked here for more then 20 years and although he was a highly educated man, he did not learn enough Czech to be able to preach in the language (but again the mayor of the town at the time was a German and the "high" society would speak only German). But the Jewish community was forced to give him notice because of this fact. His departure (1902) was regretted for a long period of time as he was a very well educated man and they had to let him go. Dr Friedländer moved to Vienna where he died in 1915. 16) His successors are not worth a mention and over the last years the number of Jewish families in Písek got so low that the community cannot appoint its own rabbi. This seems to be the fate of so many Jewish communities in southern Bohemia.

The coexistence of Písek Jews and their Christian co-citizens was discussed in length in 1848 by the well known professor in Vienna Dr Šal. Ehrmann, a native from Ostrovce near Písek 28). He remembers in his study his own youth and friendship with the poet Adolf Heyduk and the painter Mikuláš Aleš and others. Another important figure of the local region was Prof Dr Alois Zucker who was born on 4 July 1842 in Čkyně and studied at the grammar school in Písek. He was an excellent barrister (for example in the case of Skrejšovský) and together with Prof Randa and Otta he was the pride of the Czech University in Prague. He wrote a number of publications and delivered a great number of lectures. Prof Zucker was the pillar of the Czech Jewish movement which he helped to form and for which he worked till his death (1. 10. 1906). From the young generation of Písek Jews we should mention, in particular, the poet and writer Richard Weiner, who works as an editor for the Lidové Noviny in Paris. His books are published by the Fr. Borový publishing house, in the "Aventin" etc. His work includes the following: "Bird", "Self-denial with a Smile", "Crossroads", "Many Nights", "Still Life with a Hobble Hat, Herbarium and Dice", "Indifferent Spectator", "Litice", "Grimace", "Barber", "Mesopotamia", "Fringes of Historical Days". His brother, Kamil Weiner, is the major of Czechoslovak Legions.

The brochure published at the occasion of the fifty years of "Sokol" in Písek 32) (1868 - 1918) mentions its oldest members:

• Brother M. Kohn since 1875
• Brother Em. Barth since 1877
• Brother Jindřich Ferda since 1870
• Brother Ad. Hahn senior since 1879
• Brother Ad. Hahn junior since 1883 and others

There is the following inscription underneath their picture "HONOUR TO THE FAITHFUL ONES"

Notes and Sources

1. Dr M Grünwald: Jüd. Centralblatt VII. 1882 - 1888
2. Prof Jan Matzner: "Král. Město Písek" (1898), ( The Royal Town of Písek) published "At the Occasion of the 50th anniversary of the rule of His Majesty the Emperor Frant. Josef I"
3. Prof Dr Aug Sedláček: Dějiny král. Krajského města Písku nad Otavou. 3 parts. (The history of the royal county town of Písek nad Otavou), published by the town of Písek 1911 - 1912. "Published in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the rule of His Majesty the Emperor Frant. Josef I."
4. Václav Šulc: Archív Český, XXI. - 234 (Czech Archive)
5. Com. Councilor Weil, Písek, informed us that these important document are kept by Max Grünwald, the son of Dr M. Grünwald
6. The annual of the Community for the History of Jews in Bohemia, 1929
7. Dr Jan Herben: Židé na horách Táborských (Jews in Tábor Hills). ("Besedy Času")
8. Prof Dr Ant Rezek: "Israelité čili Abrahamité". Czech - Jewish calendar, Issue IX 1889
9. Jar. Rokycana: "O vzniku židovského školství v Čechách." (About the History of Jewish schools in Bohemia) - "Rozvoj" 1928 -29
10. Albert kohn: Kreisrabb. zu Raudnitz: "Die Notablensversammlung der Israeliten Böhmens in Prag". Vienna 1852
11. Comment made by the Chair of the Jewish community in Písek, Mr M Platovský
12. Annual report of the Czech - Jewish national Unity from 1897. Emil Barth was appointed the acting secretary for the Association of Czech Academic Jews in Prague.
13. Jar. Rokycana: "Dějiny spolku č. Akad. Židů a akad. spolku Kapper" (manual) (The History of the Associaiton of Czech Academic Jews and the Academic association Kapper.
14. School Inspector J. J. Kořán: "Židovské školství v Čechách" (Jewish Schools in Bohemia), see Czech Jewish calendar 1886 - 87 and 1869 - 97
15. Karel Frank: "Písek", Czech Jewish Cal. 1893 - 94
16. H. Gold: "Juden un. Judengem. Mährens", Part: Dr H. Flesch, Kounice p. 270 and 568
17. Jar. Rokycana: "Březnice - Lokšany" in Czech Jewish Calendar and in "Jews and Jewish Communities in Bohemia"
18. Prof Dr T Jakobovits, librarian of the Jewish community in Prague: "Extracts from the vice-regents´ protocols from the Czech Kingdom 1651"
19. Czech - Jewish calendar, Issue 50, 1930 - 31
20. Isr. Gemeindezeitung ("Lehrerbote"), Issue XIII 1885
21. Dr Mor. Grünwald: "Gesch. d. jüd. Gemeinden Písek u. Mirotitz" in "Isr. Gem. Ztg.", XIII
22. 1868 - 1918, memorial document of the Písek Sokol at the celebration of 50 years of the association
23. Dr Oskar Donath: Böhm. Dorfjuden. Jüd. Buch. U. Kunstverl. Brno
    

File date: 4.2.2008