2024-03-29T07:20:06Z
https://keydocuments.net/oai
oai:jgo:source-2.en
2016-09-22T00:00:00Z
en
King Christian IV of Denmark, etc., in his capacity as Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, and Dithmarschen, grants the Ashkenazi Jews in Altona a Letter of Protection and confirms the privileges individually listed [“General Privilege”]
https://dx.doi.org/10.23691/jgo:source-2.en.v1
Christian IV
Institute for the History of the German Jews
Online Ressource
Numerous handwritten copies of this document have been preserved in
the State Archives of Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg in addition to
contemporary printed versions and excerpts from the 17th and 18th
centuries. This alone testifies to its significance. Both the official
original of this “General Privilege”—which would have been given
to the Jewish congregation in Altona and its legal successor, the
“triple congregation” of Altona, Hamburg, and
Wandsbek Dreigemeinde formed in 1671—and the official record as an
entry in the registry of the district of Pinneberg are no longer
existant.
The articles—eleven altogether—ensure the following rights, among
others: the congregation was to be allowed to worship in their
synagogue according to the Jewish tradition and to bury their dead in
their cemetery in keeping with their customs. Those who perform ritual
duties within the community like rabbis, cantors, and beadles were
exempted from the protection money because it was implicitly assumed
that they could not practice a commercial trade. Similarly, the
children of those who paid the protection money were exempted from
payment as long as they resided in their father’s house, even if
they were married. The Jews were permitted to participate in
commercial trade and in the kosher slaughter of animals. They were
permitted to lend money or act as pawnbrokers at a rate of 27%
interest per week—more than twice the previous limit. The sale of
pawned items was permitted after a period of one year, provided that
they met certain conditions and notified the Vogt [bailiff] in
Ottensen. Further legal limitations applied to what they could accept
as a deposit. It was important, however, that they were permitted to
amicably resolve minor differences before the rabbinical court without
the involvement of the Vogt from Ottensen. Their right to exert
punishments, however, was quite limited; the only significant
disciplinary method at their disposal was the threat of
excommunication. In addition, according to article ten they were
obligated to maintain the peace, which included the punctual payment
of the protection money (at Easter). Finally, it was not permitted to
lodge foreign Jews (i.e. from outside the community) for longer than
fourteen days.
2016-09-22