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A. Djorbala^[1] Havrilla is a Despicable Murderer

Ignatz (Yitzhak)^[2] Weissberger, a native of Sobrance^[3] who studied at the yeshiva in Ungvar^[4] and was known as a scholar who studied the Mishnah and commentaries day and night. After his marriage, he studied kosher butchery and was a schochet^[5] in the Ungvar district for several years. This livelihood was not easy and later he decided to move to Sečovce, which had a good reputation because the community members were merciful and benevolent. At the same time, Menachem Fried's family moved to a new house, and the house on Bačkovská St. was rented to Mr. Weissberger, who was in the business of transporting goods and various types of deliveries.

In his old age, he retired from all his work and dedicated his entire life to the study of Torah. The old Weissberger couple kept a Christian girl as a maid at their house. One terribly bitter evening at the end of 1924,^[6] a young man visited the girl and pursued her. The lady of the house objected to this and scolded her servant. In response, the young gentile violently attacked the elderly Mrs. Weissberger and strangled her. Her husband sat in his room engulfed in the study of Talmud. But upon hearing the cries for help, he rushed to the kitchen, where he too fell victim to murder. The murderer, Djorbala Havrilla, son of Andrei Havrilla, the drunkard son of a drunkard, and his lover, the servant girl, were arrested by the police after the bloodshed. The suspected murderer spent several months in jail and was sentenced to prison time. But, one of the district courts acquitted him due to lack of evidence. Therefore, a bloodthirsty devil was set free.

“Whoever sheds human blood, by human [hands] shall their blood be shed; for in the image of G-d has G-d made humankind.”^[7] Rashi interpreted: If there are witnesses you kill him. Why? Because in the image of G-d [made He man] and he has destroyed the Divine image (Genesis 9:6).^[8] This vile murderer and his evil lover, who did nothing to prevent the bloodshed of helpless elders, lost all their humanity. It is hard to imagine that there wasn't an atmosphere of antisemitism influencing the court's deliberation. This atmosphere apparently also had an effect on the verdict, arousing bewilderment and suspicion of prejudice on the part of the court. After all, the children of Noah were long ago commanded about protecting the blood of humanity and about bloodshed: Even animals are punished for the loss of a human soul, like an ox that gores a person to death shall be stoned (Exodus 21:28),^[9] all the more so when a human kills another human. This case shocked the community and the Jews of the region. At this time there was no rabbi of Sečovce, Rabbi Krauss left some years before to Nagybánya.^[10] Therefore, after this tragic case the leadership of the community quickly began to choose a spiritual leader who would awaken and encourage his flock. The head of the congregation at the time, Ignatz Schwartz, toiled to bring in Rabbi Klein, but disaster followed disaster. At the end of his first year of service he passed away.

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Rabbi Menachem Fried, who was involved in communal affairs, also served as the gabbai^[11] at the beit midrash, had pockets and a heart that were open to repaying kindness. After the tragic disaster that happened at his house, he no longer rented to a tenant, but was dedicated to the community in order to become a home for the needy.^[12] The house was furnished with a bed, chairs, a table, and a lamp and was used as a hotel for poor guests– beggars at the doors.^[13] Rabbi Leizer (Eliezar) Baum, a prominent figure in the community who was involved in charity, handled the maintenance of the house until the day came when he was deported to Poland in 5702-1942.

Translator's Footnotes:

1. Newspapers from the time state the murder's name as “Pal.” Return
2. Necrology records list the Weissberger husband's name as Jakob. Return
3. Evidence points to Jakob being born in Blatná Polianka, about 10 km SW of Sobrance. Return
4. Modern day Uzhhorod, Ukraine. Return
5. Kosher butcher Return
6. As stated in the local Hungarian-language newspaper during the trial, and in necrology records from Sečovce, Molly and Jakob Weissberger were murdered on November 22, 1926. Return
7. The Contemporary Torah: A Gender-sensitive Adaptation of the JPS Translation, trans. Jewish Publication Society (Philadelphia: JPS, 2006). Return
8. Translation adapted from: Pentateuch with Rashi's Commentary Translated into English, trans. Morris Rosenbaum & A.M. Silbermann (London: Shapiro, Valentine & Co, 1929). Return
9. Translation adapted from: The Contemporary Torah: A Gender-sensitive Adaptation of the JPS Translation, trans. Jewish Publication Society (Philadelphia: JPS, 2006). Return
10. Modern day Baia Mare, Romania. Return
11. Ran the financial affairs of, and served as a volunteer at the beit midrash. Return
12. “ Linat Tzedek,” literally meaning “charity lodgings.” Return
13. From Mishnah Ketubot (13:3), referring to wandering beggars. Return

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