Zur Geschichte der Juden in Teltsch
On the History of Jews in Telč

Author(s): Michael Rachmuth
Subject(s): History, Cultural history, Jewish studies, Local History / Microhistory, Social history
Published by: CEEOL Digital Reproductions / Collections
Keywords: Jewish merchants; Christian merchants; Jewish tax;
Summary/Abstract: The history of the Jewish community in Telč (Moravia), which numbered 93 souls as late as 1921, has not yet been published, with the exception of a few short notes by Beringer and Janousek on the history of the city and the rule of Teltsch (Telč). And yet the history of this small Jewish community provides us with events of general interest. So the otherwise seldom found fact that in 1651 the city purchased from its landlord Wilhelm Count Slawata the establishment of a numerus clausus of only three Jewish families by obliging them to pay a Jewish tax (Židoplat) per 30 fl to be paid to the count's pension in two half-yearly installments. The trial of the brothers Josef and Moses Hesky, who were accused of fraudulent bankruptcy in 1667, is neither without general interest, since a case of magistrate justice against bankrupt Jews, if the believers were Christians, is presented here. Finally, we are also shown that Christian tradespeople repeatedly complained about the competition of the Jewish traders against the competition of Jewish merchants, not only the authorities and the state authorities, but also that the latter in their shops (as in a modern department store) peddle a larger number of different categories of commodities. Also interesting are the reasons which the Teltsch Jews cite for the fact that the Jewish trader does not specialize in a single type of commodity in his trade like the Christian one.

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