Most of the Hrubieszow Jews were engaged in commerce and trade. They traded mostly agricultural produce, and managed its transportation and accounts. They leased farms; traded in wheat and flour mills, lumber mills and wood.

Before the railway reached the town, carts transported goods and produce to the big cities, returning with goods and other commodities necessary for the town’s people. The

number of Jewish carters increased to the hundreds. Loading and uploading were handled by a group of Jewish porters.

Accountant Shmaryahu Mintz in his office, Hrubieszow1934

They also made a living of managing the agricultural commerce: accountants, agents and transportation

contractors.

1578- Abraham of Hrubieszow is granted the privilege to

produce wine.

1658- A trial between the Jews Jacob and Shlomo and the

Catholic church authorities about the lease of the flour

mills (The Arenda).

1932- There are 347 Jewish owned shops, and in 1937 –

333 Jewish owned shops .

Some historical facts of Jewish commerce life in Hrubieszow:

The commercial quarter of the town was divided into two main areas: the

modern area, where shops had a door and a display window. The owner sat

on one side of the counter, and on the other side the customers, mostly the

wealthy ones. The old commercial area was more popular with the farmers

and the general public. They were open in the front, the merchandise on

display, the owner sitting in front of his shop, looking for customers. The

shops were organized in rows, according to the type of goods on sale.

Customers usually came, accompanied by neighbors or acquaintances, who

advised them on the merchandise, its price, helped them haggle and even

convinced them to buy.

Beside their engagement in agriculture, they were also merchantsBeside their engagement in agriculture, they were also merchants..

Mr. Kraitzer and Moshe Rabinowitz at the entrance of their pharmacy. Hrubieszow 1927

Jewish women had an important share in providing for their families:

they were seamstresses, knitters, embroiderers, peddlers and merchants, shopkeepers, producers of vinegar and beverages, bakers of Hallas and cakes,

stuffing geese and involved in charity and benevolent works.

Benjamin Hobel (sitting 2nd left) at the family's goldsmith workshop

The Kwasowicer workshop The soap factory

Jewish women had an important share in providing for their families:

they were seamstresses, knitters, embroiderers, peddlers and merchants, shopkeepers, producers of vinegar and beverages, bakers of Hallas and cakes,

stuffing geese and involved in charity and benevolent works.

Sarale Miller’s tailoring workshop

Rachel Frost with geese

Women volunteers at the Jewish hospital

There were also the teachers, rabbis, tutors, ritual slaughterers whose livelihood depended solely on the Jewish population.

There were also the academics: School teachers, physicians, apothecaries, engineers and lawyers, although they were not numerous.

 

 

The ritual slaughtere

Teacher Eliezer Polushko

Hrubieszow, as district town, was also a center for recruiting young men to the army.

The drafting order included Jewish young men.

Some joined the Czar’s army or the Polish army respectively. Many tried to avoid military service by ransom, affliction or other means.

Mothers lit candles and asked for the Rabbi’s blessing to exempt their sons from this fate.

The new recruits swore allegiance to the army in the synagogue in presence of their families.

Some of Hrubieszow Jews also served as soldiers in the army

Israel Dimenstein leaving to join the Polish Army, 1926

Jewish soldiers in the Czarist armyWalking in the streets of Hrubieszow, 1935.Rozka and Reizel Essig, with cousin Itzhak Miller, soldier in the Polish army.

The hospital was sponsored by donations and by the income from the Jewish public bath-house. The first physician was Dr. Zvi Hirsch Goldschmidt (his grandson was Dr. Henryk Goldschmidt, better known as Janusz Korczak)

The Jewish hospital was founded in the mid 19th century.