Zwei neuerschlossene Dokumente zur Frühgeschichte der Juden in Eslohe

Abstract

In the chronicle of the Catholic parish of Eslohe in Westphalia there are two Hebrew manuscripts that have not yet been edited or researched. Both provide a glimpse on religious life in a small Ashkenazi Jewish community at the end of the 18^th century. One manuscript, dated March 9, 1800, contains the answer written by a certain Simon ben Eljakum on behalf of Joseph Friedländer from Padberg to a request from Jacob Zander from Eslohe regarding the creation of a mikveh, i. e. a ritual immersion bath. The second Hebrew manuscript, dated September 2, 1796, contains the text of a Hebrew eulogy that begins with a song that is sung in Jewish homes on Friday evening after dinner and begins with the Hebrew words zamah nafschi l'elohim (= my soul thirsts for God). Both manuscripts are examined and commented on here for the first time. In the appendix follows a complete transcription of both Hebrew (and partly also Yiddish) texts as well as a translation into German.