They Who Put Their Trust in Princes

Court Jews: An Historical Vignette

By DR. ERNEST PHILLIP

(Standard Feature Syndicate)

MISS JOAN GILBERT

The engagement is announced
of Joan Elayne Gilbert, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene M. Gil-
bert of Miami Beach, Fla., to Dr.
Paul S. Glassman, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Martin Glassman of
Mendota Ave. A June 19 wed-
ding is planned.

Work Begins on

Israel's Biggest
Passenger Liner

The economic life of medieval
Jewry was overshadowed and
cramped by endless restrictions
and disabilities.
There were exceptions, of
course. Many Jews, who were
engaged in a flourishing export-
import trade, acquired large for-
tunes. When the art of printing
was invented, the Jews soon
learned and mastered the new
craft. Jews also were among the
pioneers in the tobacco industry.
The Court Jews were special
favorites of the rulers and as
such won exemptions from the
usual disabilities. They flourish-
ed in the 17th and 18th centu-
ries, especially in Germany and
Atistria. They were permitted to
own houses, -,to carry on any
trade, they we l l
exempt from
"Jew taxes" and from wearing
the yellow badge.
A wealthy Jew, Jacob Bas-
sexi, was one of-the financiers
of -ate,,Thirty,)Years War and
the first-Jew' to be raised to
nobility. He was awarded the
title "Von Treunberg."
Simon Wertheimer served as
banker during the many years
of fighting waged against France,
Turkey and Spain.
When, in 1670, the Jews were
expelled from Vienna under the
rule of bigoted Maria Theresa
(1640-1680), the Great Elector
picked from the refugees the
most wealthy ones and invited
them to settle in his capital,
which had been "Judenrein" for
more than 100 years.
Samuel Oppenheimer's glory
and miserable ending is a typi-
cal example of the fate of a
Court Jew. A few years after
the Jews had been expelled
from Vienna on the ground
that they were harmful to
Christianity, the emperor in-
vited Oppenheimer to settle in
the Austrian capital. At that
time, Austria was engaged in
many costly wars against Tur-

key. A highly efficient Oppen-
heimer provided all the sup-
plies for the army. His follow-
ers built up a new Jewish

A giant gantry crane in
Franc e's largest shipyard
(Chantiers d' I'Atlantique)
section of what will be Israel's
biggest and fastest passenger
line r, the S/S SHALOM
(peace) of the Zim Israel
Navigation Co. Ltd., of Haifa.
Construction of the 23,000
gross ton, 629-foot luxury
liner began on April 2nd and
she is expected to be ready
for service by October, 1963.
The 22-knot SHALOM will
operate between New York and
Israel, via Mediterranean ports
and on world-wide cruises.
Fully air conditioned, she will
accommodate 1,115 passengers
in two clacses, all in state-
rooms with private facilities.
Other features include three
swimming pools, a gymnasium,
steam baths, tennis courts, a
400-seat movie theater, syna-
gogue, inter-denomination
chapel, closed circuit television
and radios in every cabin.

Father of Yiddish Opera
Abraham Goldfaden, a He-
brew and Yiddish poet and play-
wright who emigrated to the
United States from Russia in
1887, is considered to be the
father of the Yiddish opera. He
composed the music and libret-
tos for more than 30 works.

UJA's Cash Drive
at Halfway Mark

community which soon flourish-
ed, for Samuel Oppenheimer
was the scion of a prominent
Jewish family. Leading church-
men, angered by his success,
stirred hatred and envy up
against him. Their attempts,
however, were in vain, for the
emperor knew only too well
that he would not find any
Gentile willing to lend millions
to him and take such great
risks.
In 1701, a riot was staged near
Oppenheimer's palatial mansion,
which was set afire. Was it a
mere accident that all Oppen-
heimer's records stating the im-
mense debt of the emperor were
destroyed?
A few days later, the church-
men acting for the emperor call-
ed upon Oppenheimer asking
him to produce his records show-
ing the sums he had lent to the
Austrian emperor. As this could
not be done, the emperor's rec-
ords proved that Oppenheimer
was not only "overpaid" but
owed him sizable sums. All the
services Oppenheimer had ren-
dered were forgotten. He was
thrown into jail and his family
left penniless.
Joseph Suess Oppenheimer,
a distant relative of Samuel
Oppenheimer shared a similar
fate a generation later.
He was born in Heidelberg, in
1698, the son of Issachar Suess-
kind Oppenheimer, - a singer and
player in a wandering troupe.
After his father's early death, the
boy lived with an uncle. Joseph
showed little inclination for
study, but had a marked leaning
for business. He obtained em-
ployment in large Jewish com-
mercial houses in Frankfurt-on-
the-Main, Amsterdam, Prague
and Vienna, gaining a deep in-
sight into the life of nobility.
In 1732, he became acquainted
with Prince Carl Alexander of
Wuerttenberg and two years

Joseph Suess Oppenheimer,
1698 - 1738: copperplate made
shortly after his death.

later was appointed chief court
and war factor. Later he was
made imperial general and gov-
ernor of Servia. Oppenheimer
also became the keeper of the
prince's privy purse.
When the prince became the
Duke of Wuerttenberg, he was
surrounded by many opponents.
He appointed Oppenheimer his
confidential adviser, whose duty
was to assist in regulating the
finances of the household.
Oppenheimer undertook con-
trol of the mint guaranteeing the
duke a large increased revenue.
Oppenheimer's clever manage-
ment yielded unexpected profits
and the prince's confidence in
him increased. Through a mo-
nopoly of the printing of playing
cards introduced in 1735, the
Duke received a large sum an-
nually. But Oppenheimer's nu-
merous opponents started to
complain to the duke. Oppen-
heimer offered his resignation,
but the duke refused it.
On Feb. 12, 1737, the duke
openly declared that "the Privy
Council of Finance. Joseph Op-
penheimer, was a faithful servant
of the prince and of the state
and was intent in every way
upon the welfare of both, for
which he deserved the thanks of
all."
Oppenheimer, recognizing the
threatening danger, balanced his
accounts, submitted them to the
duke who declared them correct,
prepared to leave the country.
The duke invited him to spend
the last night with him"' Unfor-
tunately, the duke died during
the night and Oppenheimer had

to accompany the messenger to
Stuttgart to notify the duchess.
That night, all Jews in Stutt-
gart, including Oppenheimer,
were arrested. Oppenheimer was
tried and condemned to be hang-
ed. A pastor tried to convert him
to Christianity admonishing him
to repent. Oppenheimer however
declared: "I will die as a Jew,
I am suffering violence and in-
justice."
On Feb. 4, 1738, he was
hanged. His last words were
the "Shema Yisroel" while a
giant crowd laughed. Modern
historians call his death a
judicial murder.
Lion Feuchtwanger, in his
novel, "Power", describes the
historical background of the time
and the dramatic life of Jew
Suess.
Some years after his death, a
nephew of his, Samuel Werthei-
mer, became the wealthiest bank-
er in Austria-Hungary. A great
favorite of the Austrian court,
he was appointed chief rabbi of
Hungary. He often was appointed
leader in his community and as
such protected his Jewish breth-
ren against vicious attacks and
slanderous accusations.
Baron Diego d'Aguilar was a
favorite at the Vienna court and
organized the Austrian tobacco
monopoly. His great influence
and relentless endeavors furth-
ered the establishment of a Se-
phardic community in Vienna.
He also saved the Jews of Vienna
from expulsion by ruthless Em-
press Maria Theresa.
The preferred position granted
to a few individuals could
affect the had economic situation
of the great masses of Jews.
Therefore, a great number of
them left Germany and Austria
and turned to a land promising
a better future—Holland, where
they would enjoy comparative
freedom.

The 1962 Cash Drive of the
United Jewish Appeal to raise
$39,500,000 by June 11 is "well
past the half-way mark," Israel
D. Fink of Minneapolis, cash
chairman, announced.
Reporting that a total of
$21,500,000 had been raised to
date, Fink noted that the cur-
rent drive was running well
ahead of the 1961 cash income
during a comparable period.
Key leaders in community
collection campaigns through-
out the country have been in-
vited by Joseph Meyerhoff,
UJA General Chairman, to at-
tend the national cash meetin,
to be held June 11, at the Sa*
Hilton Hotel, New York.

•

Back after two successful years
in Europe

IRV FIELD

and his

ORCHESTRA

538-5395

BRIDAL CONSULTANT

Rosella will arrange or assist
in every phase of your wed-

ding.

Call TO 8-2680

Ext. 414

eric Bennett

QUALITY CANDIDS and
PORTRAITS, black & white
and NATURAL COLOR

8440 W. 6 Mile UN 2-5506

Back in Action!

SHELDON ROTH

And His Orchestra

Complete Entertainement
Service

D I 1 -2480

CAMP SHASHUA

Day-Camp of The
Sholem Aleichem Institute, 19350 Greenfield
For Children Ages 3 1 /2 - 9
Beautiful and modern air-conditioned building
Modern, well equipped nursery and play area
Swimming instruction, sports, arts and crafts
Transportation by station wagons — NOT by buses
Expert Staff — Director Irving Zeitlin

Call: VE 8-7440

At Beautiful

LEWISTON LODGE

Formerly Gassel's Lodge

Just 200 Miles Due North of Detroit

Individual Rooms in Our Beautiful Main Lodge, Individual Log Cabins for the
Utmost in Comfort and Privacy, complete Bath Facilities and Stall Shower and ...
JUST COMPLETED — MAGNIFICENT NEW REDWOOD MOTEL TYPE UNITS!!
• Superb Food—Prepared by Bernardi—A Truly Fine Chef
• Midnight Snack • Saturday Night Cocktail Hour
• Magnificent Golf Course (Just 3 Miles from Lodge)
• Flower Rimmed Tennis Courts • Shuffleboard • Badminton • Ping Pang
• Breathtaking Wooded Area on the Shores of Magnificent East Twin
Lake for Swimming, Boating and Fishing

MAID GROUPS — BRIDGE CLUBS — GROUP RETREATS WELCOME
SPECIAL OFF-SEASON RATES NOW IN EFFECT —
From $50.00 WEEKLY — WOO DAILY, EVERYTHING INCLUDED

For Colorful Brochure and Information Please Phone:

Detroit
Lincoln 7-5912

Lewiston
STa te 6-2452

Or Write: LEWISTON LODGE, Lewiston, Michigan
issametwasessesessunansswi::::.,, ,mommrnm

mw-F,n,::,:wnwavAns2

29 - THE DET ROIT JE WISH NEWS -

Gilbert-Glassman
Rites June 19