The Story of the Jews of Humenne

By David Friedmann

Chapter 2:

Humenne existed in the year 1300. The Drugeth

family emigrated from Italy and had possession of the

community. Johann Drugeth governed in 1322. In 1323

King Robert Karoly had possession. Humenne gave a gift to

Pholop Drugeth. At that time Humenne was the central

point of the state border area.

The city of Humenne is located in the north of Theil des

Zemplener district just on the border with Austria, 50

kilometers to the Polish border. It is located in a romantic,

naturally beautiful charming panorama of green woods and

surrounding valley. Along the city is a clean, winding brook

that quietly flows behind the city into the fish-rich Labor River.

The surrounding area is also considered fairly fertile. It was

determined that this beautiful area would be the main and

central point of the whole area.

The name Humenne originates from the shape and

layout of the area. The word "Humont" is of Slavic origin and

means a horse harness, which is worn around the horses

neck. The harness is oval in form the same way

Humenne is located in a valley surrounded by mountains. A

second version states that Humenne comes from the

Ukranian word "Humen" which means the monks of the Greek

Catholic monasteries.

The citizens of Humenne worked in agriculture

and small handi-crafts, but mostly in the trade which thrived because of

the town's geographic location. Humenne was the

central point from Poland where all kinds of business deals

developed. The businessmen made trips to southern Hungary

and took various products such as wine, oil, fruit,

spirits, etc. Polish businessmen came and took thes articles to

Poland. Wine made a great and lively turnover.

Laut Notiz, the Pressburger (Bratislava) King gave a permit for the

export of wine in 1637 for 3,091 barrels yearly. That these

trades were negotiated by Jews was understood. We have

proof of Jewish habitation in Humenne from the 1700's because of a

contract between a Christian widow, Arva Szivi Maria as homeowner and

the renter, Moses Jacob, a Jew. This contract was translated from

Hungarian as follows: "The widow acknowledges to everyone

who deserves to know that in the town of Humenne next to the

Parish House within two business locations to the Jew,

Moses Jacob, three (one after the other) years for fifty

Hungarian Gulden as yearly rent for the lease, with the

understanding that, in case of my death, my heirs cannot

change the lease with the before names Jew. This irrevocable

contract starts on Michaelmas Day and ends Michaelmas Day

after the end of three years. As the owner and the lessee we

are both obligated six months before the end of the contract

to concel or to renew. The rent is to be paid on year in

advance and this contract is authorized. Signed Sept 20,

1743 Arva Szivi Maria." This contract acknowledges that

before this, some Jews lived in Humenne since it is a

renewal of a previous contract.

<p>At that time Humenne was an organized community and

had a synagogue which had a straw roof. It got to be too

small. The Jewish community built a beautiful building in

1792 (5552). About the first straw covered synagogue it

was told that the Catholic Church which in those days was on

Main Street on the left side of the brook, went up in flames.

The usable material of the ruined Church was bought by

the Jews from the landowner, Graf (count) Csaky for two

Groschen per carload and was used to build the first Synagogue.

<p>In the year 1809 on Cholhamoed-Pesach, the Jewish

community under the President, Moritz Propper and Chief

Rabbi R.Jacob Spira, as an organized cultural community

decided that all resolutions of the board be regulated

by a protocol and an election of the board was held. The

contract, which is written in German, can be found in the

city archives."