Yalkut Volhin was a short-lived publication printed in Jerusalem which compiled reminiscences, reports, etc. from survivors from Volhynia Gubernia. Article translated from the Hebrew by Shifra Stein with minor changes by Howard Freedman.

Shumsk was situated between the cities of Kremenets and Ostrog , and there is no doubt but that their influence was great in many ways on the development of Shumsk. The history of Shumsk began about 200 years ago with with the decline of the nearby community of Rachmanov, on the side of the river Vilia, which passed between Rachmanov and Shumsk. In those days many of the rich Poles, owners of estates, used to rent out their saloons, lands, and estates to the Jews. At that time, many Jews and non-Jews earned their livelihood by working at a brick factory that was owned by Reb David Batt of Rachmanov, which was near the village Tserenka, close to Rachmanov. It is possible that the name "Batt" (beyz, aleph, tet) was derived from a Ukrainian word for "father," which was coined by the non-Jews, who looked upon Reb David as a supportive paternal figure.

In 1745 Reb David Batt acquired from Lord Shumsky a parcel of land rich in yellow clay, which was good for the manufacture of bricks and rooftiles, and he transferred his factory away from Tzerenka. The people of Rachmanov were thus forced to get their feet soaked by crossing the river Vilia to reach their jobs at Reb David's establishment. As time went on, they began to build homes near the factory. And as a result, stores were also opened up and a social life began to develop. Thus, Rachmanov was discarded. and a new town was built nearby, named Shumsk. Reb David was the first and primary moving cause of this. Others have said that many of the people of Rachmanov left and came to Shumsk because of an epidemic that killed many in Rachmanov.

Reb David took charge of his factory and also of the new town. He became the head of the new community, and took care of it in many ways. The Jews called him Reb David Shumsker, after Poretz (Lord) Shumsk, the original owner of the land. His offspring were called by the same name, and the bricks made in his factory had the Hebrew initials Dalet and Shin imprinted upon them. While dedicating great care to the building of the community, he organized its public institutions and was its administrator and chief. He built 3 rows of stores, a small synagogue, a house for visitors, a small hospital, a bathhouse, etc. All of the communal undertakings were under his sponsorship, and connected with his name.

As time went on, and once a non-Jewish population was also concentrated in the town and a local government was established, Rob David started to build a large synagogue (made of bricks) on an elevated spot in the center of town. When the representative of the Russian government saw that the new synagogue would tower above the Christian church, he ordered that the construction be stopped. However, Rob David did not rest, nor did he remain quiet. Since he was respected in the government, he convinced the representative, and they agreed that in order to be able to continue with the buildIng of the synagogue, Reb David would build a high brick wall around the Christian churchyard. Reb David built the wall with bricks from his factory, and he was allowed to complete the synagogue.

An underground tunnel led the entire length of the market square from the synagogue to Reb David's house. The reason for this tunnel in not known. There were legends telling about fortunes hidden in side storerooms of the tunnel, which was partially caved in and filled with earth over the years.

According to the golden engraving on the western wall of the synagogue, the building was completed in 1780. In 1896 the renowned cantor Yossele Rosenblatt conducted services in this synagogue. The beautiful building made a great impression on all who saw it. It was very well designed. About 173 years have passed since then. It is not known what has happened to this holy place. According to some people who were saved, they believe that the building was hit, but not destroyed. The people who prayed there, the righteous and hard workers, the Zionists and Pioneers, drank the cup of bitterness to its end at the hands of the Nazis. There were only a few of them left alive.

We don't know how and for what reason the lives of our holy ones were ended.