Israhel of Halle

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Israhel von Halle (born in Halle ; died in Braunschweig at the end of 1480 ), also called Israhel von Brunswiek , Israhel von Brunßwig or Israhel de Allemannia , was a Jewish businessman, money dealer and pawnbroker. He is one of the most important Brunswick entrepreneurs of the 15th century.

life and work

The Jewish merchant Israhel, who was born in Halle, left his hometown with his wife Sara and son Elkanah in the early 1450s. The Italian penitential preacher Capistrano (1386–1456) preached there in October 1452 , calling on the city's population to repentance and repentance. He denounced the mortal sin of greed , which is particularly evident in money transactions, one of the Jews' important sources of income. As a result, the council expelled the Jews from the city.

From Halle to Braunschweig

Israhel can be traced back to Braunschweig in 1457, where he was under the protection of the city. In addition to money and pawn shops, he also traded in copper . Until about 1463 he maintained business relationships as far as Magdeburg , Halle, Mansfeld and Zerbst , later the focus was on the Braunschweig and Goslar area .

Litigation

Israel's debtors included the archbishop of Magdeburg , the dukes of Braunschweig-Lüneburg and other nobles as well as several cities and their citizens. The city of Braunschweig stood on his side in various legal disputes and supported him in two major lawsuits from 1461 to 1463 against the Count of Mansfeld and his guarantors, the cities of Eisleben , Hettstedt and Querfurt . An inner-city process before the Common Council between Israhel and a debtor, the Braunschweig patrician Hinrik Swalenberch, has been handed down. Swalenberch's received pawn list from July 1475 served as evidence. 38 letters from a period of around thirty years are preserved in the city's letter book, documenting the council's efforts in favor of Israel. In the last decade of Israel's life, the council was also among his debtors.

Jewish community

The tax payments of the Braunschweig Jews to the city council were paid directly by Israhel and the wealthy Jew Sale, who thus appeared as the only taxpayers, through a contract since 1462. They were given the right to determine and claim the tax share of their Jewish fellow citizens. Between 1469 and 1480 there were disputes between Israhel and Sale, in which Israel's brother Isaak, a Magdeburg rabbi , was involved.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Hans-Heinrich Ebeling: The Jews in Braunschweig. Legal, social and economic history from the beginnings of the Jewish community to emancipation (1282–1848). in: Braunschweig workpieces. Volume 65, Braunschweig 1987, p. 501.
  2. ↑ Werner Friday: Hall 806-1806. Halle 2006, p. 77.
  3. ↑ Cord Meckseper (ed.): City in change. Exhibition catalog Volume 1, Stuttgart 1985, p. 507.
personal data
SURNAME Israhel of Halle
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Jewish businessman, money and pawnbroker
DATE OF BIRTH 15th century
PLACE OF BIRTH Halle (Saale)
DATE OF DEATH 1480
Place of death Braunschweig