Jewish Life in the Princely County of Schwarzenberg (Jüdisches Leben in der gefürsteten Grafschaft Schwarzenberg)
Author : Wolfgang Wüst
Abstract :
In the Princely County of Schwarzenberg in Franconia, which included the offices (Kameralämter) of Geiselwind, Marktbreit, Michelbach, Scheinfeld, Seehaus, and Wässerndorf, the religious composition of the population had stabilized as follows by the end of the Holy Roman Empire, based on reliable regional and demographic statistics: 4,691 Protestants, 4,009 Catholics, and 447 Jews. The number of Jewish residents, who were concentrated particularly in the municipalities of Scheinfeld, Hüttenheim, and Marktbreit, but also in Burgambach, Dornheim, Geiselwind, Großlangheim, Krautostheim, Nenzenheim, Schnodsenbach and Weigenheim, may seem small in comparison to the two Christian communities. On the other hand, by regional standards, the country had quite significant, mostly Orthodox Jewish communities since the 17th century. Thus, it is inappropriate to view the Jewish history of the early modern period in parts of Middle Franconia – also in Lower Franconia – generally through the lens of a minority. Protection fees and Jewish taxes helped consolidate the financial budget. However, the privileges of protection were never explicitly motivated by tax considerations, as payment deferrals were commonplace. Typical of the situation until 1806 was furthermore the close proximity of Jewish and Christian settlers in the villages and cities of the region. The daily contact between these two distinct cultures brought both advantages and disadvantages. Problems arose, for example, as a result of the divergence between Jewish and Christian holidays and days of mourning.
Keywords :
County of Schwarzenberg, Franconia, Jewish daily life, Jewish-Christian tensions, Jews, Catholics, Protestants, Privileges, Scheinfeld, Marktbreit, Holy Roman Empire.
