Metadata: Portuguese-Jewish Congregation in Hamburg
Collection
- Country:
- Germany
- Holding institution:
- Hamburg State Archive
- Holding institution (official language):
- Staatsarchiv Hamburg
- Postal address:
- Kattunbleiche 19, 22041 Hamburg
- Phone number:
- +49 (0)40 428313212
- Web address:
- www.hamburg.de/staatsarchiv
- Reference number:
- 522-1_
- Title:
- Portuguese-Jewish Congregation in Hamburg
- Title (official language):
- Portugiesisch-Jüdische Gemeinde in Hamburg
- Creator/accumulator:
- Portuguese-Jewish Congregation in Hamburg
- Date(s):
- 1641/1937
- Language:
- German
- Hebrew
- Yiddish
- Extent:
- the total extent of registry 131-1 I is 70.9 metres; no individual details are available.
- Type of material:
- Textual material
- Physical condition:
- good
- Scope and content:
- The files on the Portuguese-Jewish Congregation in Hamburg are divided into three sub-categories. In the series on organisation and general administration, in addition to the minute books, there are files on the relationship with the Ashkenazi communities in Hamburg, files on the privilege of establishing a branch in Glückstadt and the involvement with this congregation and the reference files of individuals. The other two categories are civil status and burials, here the cemetery in Königsstraße in Altona is the main content of the files, but there is also a volume about the cemetery in Hamburg-Ohlsdorf and various cemeteries in northern Germany.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- In the last third of the 16th century, Hamburg was a refuge for so-called New Christians (cristãos novos, conversos, marranos) from the Iberian Peninsula. These Portuguese were the first Jews to settle in Hamburg. In 1595, seven Portuguese families were already resident in Hamburg, 1609 there were 98 people. After the end of the ceasefire between Spain and the Netherlands, other Portuguese moved their residence from Amsterdam to Hamburg and Glückstadt. The Portuguese who settled in Hamburg came as Catholics since they or their ancestors had been forced to convert; some of them returned to Judaism once they had come to Hamburg. In 1612, the Hamburg Council concluded a contract with the "Portuguese nation": provided that the Portuguese acted obediently and fulfilled financial obligations, they were granted a residence permit but remained "strangers". The top executive of the congregation was the ma'amad, which was made up by wealthy families. Especially persons with a large fortune or a diplomatic status were used as mediators with the Hamburg authorities. Increasing anti-Jewish sentiment and a revival of the Dutch Iberian trade led to an exodus of poorer members of the congregation in particular. At the end of the 17th century, a restrictive taxation policy led to a considerable emigration to Amsterdam. In addition, internal quarrels resulted in the establishment of a congregation in Altona, which remained dependent on the congregation in Hamburg (see 522-1_Portugiesische Judengemeinde in Altona). In the early 19th century, the congregation experienced immigration from the Ottoman Empire, the Netherlands, Denmark and Portugal, as well as South America and North Africa. However, the congregation’s influence diminished as members died, married Ashkenazi spouses or left the congregation. The remaining members tried to compensate for their weakened position with a reserved attitude towards the High German Jews, the so-called tudescos, and maintained contacts with other Sephardic congregations, especially in Amsterdam and Curaçao. The congregation was abolished at the end of the 19th century.
- Access points: persons/families:
- Bormann, Daniel
- Cassuto, Isaac
- Cassuto, Leon
- Meldola, Eljasib
- Pimentel, Alfonso Dias
- Pimentel, Isaac
- System of arrangement:
- The material is arranged in thematic order.
- Finding aids:
- Overview, finding aid.
- Links to finding aids:
- https://recherche.staatsarchiv.hamburg.de/ScopeQuery5.2/detail.aspx?ID=1108399
- Yerusha Network member:
- Institute for the History of German Jews
- Author of the description:
- Esther Yen