Portugiesische Judengemeinde in Altona
Item
Country
DE
Name of institution (English)
Hamburg State Archive
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
deu
Contact information: postal address
Kattunbleiche 19, 22041 Hamburg
Contact information: phone number
0049 (0)40 428313200
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
office-staatsarchiv@hamburg.de
Reference number
522-1
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Portuguese-Jewish Congregation in Altona
Title (official language of the state)
Portugiesische Judengemeinde in Altona
Language of title
deu
Creator / accumulator
Portugiesische Judengemeinde in Altona
Date(s)
1703/1939
Language(s)
deu
heb
yid
Extent
17 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Good
Scope and content
The Portuguese-Jewish congregation in Altona fonds contains two small series - Protokollbücher (minute books) and Personenstand (vital records) - and several separate files. The Protokollbücher (1009) includes two minute books of the Jewish congregation of Altona from 1723 to 1879. The Personenstand comprise registers of ketubot from 1771 to 1879 (1010a), births from 1769 to 1877 (1010b) and burials from 1769 to 1885 (1010c), as well as a file of a registry office in Altona with copies of vital records of the Jewish community from 1893 to 1939 (1010d).
Furthermore, the collection includes the following files:
1011: Balance book of the building fund for the synagogue, 1782-1802.
1012: Cash book for several funds of the congregation of Altona, 1783-1801.
1013: Minute Book of the Association for the Promotion of Religious Life, Assistance in Cases of Inheritance, etc. (Hesed Nehemet), 1774-1786.
1014: Disputes with the Portuguese Jewish community in Hamburg concerning the cemetery in Altona and the renewal of the community statutes, 1740-1826.
1015: Will of Abraham Sumbel, 1913-1916.
1015b: Trial against the Portuguese Jew Matias Juda Mamias Fidanque for trading in bakery, 1773.
1020: Notes for halakhic discussions and responses, among others. 2 volumes, 1806-1835.
1021: Collection of documents of different provenance, 18th and 19th centuries.
Furthermore, the collection includes the following files:
1011: Balance book of the building fund for the synagogue, 1782-1802.
1012: Cash book for several funds of the congregation of Altona, 1783-1801.
1013: Minute Book of the Association for the Promotion of Religious Life, Assistance in Cases of Inheritance, etc. (Hesed Nehemet), 1774-1786.
1014: Disputes with the Portuguese Jewish community in Hamburg concerning the cemetery in Altona and the renewal of the community statutes, 1740-1826.
1015: Will of Abraham Sumbel, 1913-1916.
1015b: Trial against the Portuguese Jew Matias Juda Mamias Fidanque for trading in bakery, 1773.
1020: Notes for halakhic discussions and responses, among others. 2 volumes, 1806-1835.
1021: Collection of documents of different provenance, 18th and 19th centuries.
Archival history
The Portugiesische Judengemeinde in Altona fonds is part of the Jüdische Gemeinden (Jewish communities) collection, which brings together the records of the Jewish congregations of Hamburg, Altona and Wandsbek.
In December 1937, the Jewish congregations of Hamburg and Altona were forcibly merged into a unified congregation, the Jüdischen Religionsverband Hamburg (Jewish Religious Association of Hamburg). This was incorporated into the Reichsvereinigung der Juden in Deutschland (Reich Association of Jews in Germany) in 1942.
In 1959, as a result of a settlement between Hamburg and the Jewish Trust Corporation for Germany, the collections of the Jewish congregations of Altona, Hamburg and Wandsbek were divided between the Staatsachiv and The Jewish Historical General Archives in Jerusalem. Each archive owns about half of the documents in the original, the other half as microfilm copies.
In December 1937, the Jewish congregations of Hamburg and Altona were forcibly merged into a unified congregation, the Jüdischen Religionsverband Hamburg (Jewish Religious Association of Hamburg). This was incorporated into the Reichsvereinigung der Juden in Deutschland (Reich Association of Jews in Germany) in 1942.
In 1959, as a result of a settlement between Hamburg and the Jewish Trust Corporation for Germany, the collections of the Jewish congregations of Altona, Hamburg and Wandsbek were divided between the Staatsachiv and The Jewish Historical General Archives in Jerusalem. Each archive owns about half of the documents in the original, the other half as microfilm copies.
Administrative / Biographical history
In the last third of the 16th century, Hamburg was a refuge for the so-called New Christians (conversos) from the Iberian Peninsula. These Portuguese were the first Jews to settle in Hamburg. In 1595, seven Portuguese families were already resident in Hamburg; in 1609, there were 98 people. After the end of the ceasefire between Spain and the Netherlands, other Portuguese moved their residence from Amsterdam to Hamburg and Glückstadt. The Portuguese who settled in Hamburg came as Catholics since they or their ancestors had been forced to convert; some of them returned to Judaism once they arrived in Hamburg. In 1612, the Hamburg Council concluded a contract with the "Portuguese nation": provided that the Portuguese acted obediently and fulfilled financial obligations, they were granted a residence permit but remained "strangers". The top executive of the congregation was the Mahamad, which was made up of wealthy families. Especially people with a large fortune or a diplomatic status were used as mediators with the Hamburg authorities. Increasing anti-Jewish sentiment and a revival of the Dutch Iberian trade led to an exodus of poorer members of the congregation in particular. At the end of the 17th century, a restrictive taxation policy led to significant emigration to Amsterdam. In addition, internal quarrels resulted in the establishment of a congregation in Altona, which remained dependent on the congregation in Hamburg (see 522-1_Portugiesische Judengemeinde in Altona). In the early 19th century, the congregation experienced immigration from the Ottoman Empire, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Portugal, as well as South America and North Africa. However, the congregation’s influence diminished as members died, married Ashkenazi spouses, or left the congregation. The remaining members tried to compensate for their weakened position with a reserved attitude towards the High German Jews, the so-called "tudescos", and maintained contacts with other Sephardic congregations, especially in Amsterdam and Curaçao. The congregation was abolished at the end of the 19th century.
Access points: locations
Access points: corporate bodies
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The material is arranged in thematic order.
Access, restrictions
Unrestricted
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Additions by Carla Vieira, 2022
Linked resources
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Staatsarchiv Hamburg | Collections (official language of the state) |