In Hildburghausen Jews already lived in the Middle Ages, shortly after the place received the town charter since 1324. In 1331 Jewish inhabitants of the town are mentioned for the first time. In 1349 the persecution of Jews in the plague period also affects the Jews in Hildburghausen. In 1367 Gottschalk von Hildburghausen is mentioned in Erfurt. Around 1388 Jud Gutkind was financier of the counts of Henneberg. In 1404 Count Heinrich V. was indebted to Gutkind with 160 gulden. In 1412 Wilhelm I still had a debt of 350 gulden to pay.