Elias Meyer

Elias Meyer (* 1718 ; † 1798 ) was a resident of Einbeck in the 18th century and founder of the modern Jewish community in this city.

In 1745 Elias Meyer was led from Moringen to Einbeck. During the Seven Years' War (1756–1763) he became one of the wealthiest citizens of Einbeck through supplies to the military. As a protective Jew , he was allowed to trade in silk and cotton goods, but he was dependent on the fact that he and his family members were issued a new letter of protection every ten years.

family

Elias Meyer had the following sons:

• Bernhard Elias Meyer (from 1808: Bernhard Meyersfeld), pawnbroker
• Hirsch Elias Meyer (from 1808: Hirsch Meyersberg), tobacco manufacturer
• Jacob Elias Meyer (from 1808: Jacob Meyerstein), businessman. He took over his father's license to trade in silk and cotton goods.

Prayer room at the Benser Tor

In 1764 Elias Meyer had received permission to purchase a house at Benser Tor, which he and his family moved into. The emerging Jewish community of Einbeck gathered around the Meyer family and for decades used a room in their house as a prayer room. With the growth of the community, however, this room became too small, and the community applied to the government in Hanover to purchase a house on Baustraße that it wanted to use as a synagogue. Elias Meyer agreed to donate the necessary funds. This is what was later called the Old Synagogue of Einbeck.

Mikveh at the Benser Tor

In 1767 Elias Meyer had a private mikveh built for his family members . The Jewish bath house was located "on the bridge in front of the Benserthore on the right hand side." It was built directly onto the die tower of the city fortifications. The following year, the city council approved that all Jewish community members could use this ritual bath.

Judenkirchhofsfeld

On January 18, 1787, Elias Meyer applied to be allowed to surround the cemetery, known as the Judenkirchhofsfeld , located far outside the city, with a hedge and a moat to preserve the peace of the dead. This cemetery has been owned by Jews since time immemorial, and yet the herders would not respect it, and even pigs would dig up the graves.

literature

• Susanne Gerdes: Jews in Einbeck in the 19th century. In: Elke Heege (Ed.): Lost, but not forgotten. Jewish life in Einbeck. Isensee, Oldenburg 1998, pp. 17-72, ISBN 3-89598-562-7 .
• Werner Prieß: Integrated into the bundle of life. Jewish cemeteries in the city of Einbeck. In: Elke Heege (Ed.): Lost, but not forgotten. Jewish life in Einbeck. Isensee, Oldenburg 1998, pp. 73-89, ISBN 3-89598-562-7 .