Juden in Norderdithmarschen im Spiegel von Niederlassungsgesuchen des 19. Jahrhunderts
Description:... Pp. 14-19 discuss Jewish life in Norderdithmarschen in the 19th century, focusing on requests made by Jews for settlement between 1806-60. Distinguishes between earlier applications rooted in rhetoric of "Nathan der Weise" or Shylock, and those placed thirty years later by self-confident businessmen who thought their Jewish origin was not worth mentioning. The attitudes of the authorities fluctuated and antisemitism was sometimes seen only between the lines, e.g. one Jew received royal approval but local residents were not willing to rent him a house. In 1840 more than 100 residents of Heide signed a petition against a law of emancipation for Jews, and the law was rejected. Christian merchants pretended that they had to protect themselves from Jewish retail dealers whose religion taught hostility and disdain for other nations, and who could not be trusted. Notes that the Jews were no more than 5% of the general population.
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