The Jews of Stühlingen

9-6

Ralph

December 25, 2016

Although employees of the community were paid poorly, they nevertheless seemed to have had available funds at times:

¶ 2 Leave a comment on paragraph 2 0 Schmuli Jew, Callmelin’s son, has borrowed money from Jacob shul-singer [syna­gogue singer] Jew in order to pay a debt and set jewellery as pawn. Schmuli’s wife appears and says this is her property. Two Jewish elders, namely Seeligmännlein and Abrahamb, were questioned about the Jewish laws regarding property rights over a dowry. [R4831]

¶ 3 Leave a comment on paragraph 3 0 Although community personnel were generally exempt from protection tax, there were exceptions: Davit vorsinger (David the cantor) had to pay tax in 1712.32 Presumably he was taxed because he also engaged in commercial activities not generally permitted to tax-exempt community staff. In fact, commercial transactions of David the cantor are mentioned frequently between 1712 and 1736. In the Extractus summarius33 of April 25, 1739 the sum of 232.33 fl. is still owed to one “Daniel Vorsinger.” It is possible that the scribe misspelled the name. In 1726 David acted not only as cantor but also as beadle [R817]. On several occasions his son Schmuly is also mentioned [R2223]. In 1723 David also enacted a transaction of 237 fl. to provide a dowry for his daughter [R2355].

¶ 4 Leave a comment on paragraph 4 0 The Schulklopfer derives this designation from his primary role: he has to rise early and go from house to house waking the men for morning service at the synagogue by knocking (klopfen) on each door. But given the proximity of Jewish houses in Stühlingen, this was probably the least of his tasks around the synagogue; he most likely functioned more as a general gofer. In 1670 Hirschle the Schulklopfer was fined for verbal abuse [4213]. The former Schulklopfer Peter took a bible and the Torah scroll hostage in order to have his outstanding salary paid [R879]. He was succeeded by Judi the Schulklopfer [R93].

¶ 5 Leave a comment on paragraph 5 0  

32FFA, “Judenakte,” Politica, Amt Stühlingen, div. 1, litt. 0, 18, January 25, 1712.

33See ch. 8, p. 72