The collective tax was paid from the tax on kosher meat, the expenses of the institutions (talmud torah, hekdesh, cemetery) were covered by the remainder.
The center of the guild was in Jassy, and its head was named staroste ("senior"; Heb. In Bucharest, this function was carried out by the representative of the hakham bashi.
From the beginning of the 18th century, the Moldavian rulers granted special charters to attract Jews.
While still in Poland they were told about the advantages offered (exemption from taxes, ground for prayer houses, ritual baths, and cemeteries).
In 1719, a hakham bashi, Bezalel Cohen, was first appointed for Walachia and Moldavia by the suzerain, the sultan.
As they were foreign subjects they asked their consuls to intercede and, in 1819, the prince of Moldavia decided that the hakham bashi should have jurisdiction only over "native" Jews.
Because of strife among the diverse groups of Jews and their complaints to the authorities, the hakham bashi system was abolished in 1834.
Among the privileges offered was the right to be represented on the local council.
In some cases they undertook to attract other Jews from over the borders.