The arrival of the first Jews in Hamburg

The portuguese Jews living in Hamburg since 1580 were respected as Christians and were very welcome due to their trading connections. Among them were the spice merchant Ferdinand Dias, Emanuel Alvarez, a merchant trading and exporting to Brazil, Adrian Gonzalves, a broker and Diego Gomes who imported sugar. About 1612 around 125 sephardic Jews were living in Hamburg. By 1663 their number had already increased to 600. In 1603 they were officially called „Jews“ for the first time, when the citizens of the Senate demanded their expulsion. This demand was repeatedly raised by Hamburg´s clergy in the following decades. This not only resulted in publicly voiced abuse directed against Jews but also in physical violence by an incited population. Insinuations against the Jews voiced since the middle ages served as arguments: the outrage of christian women, churches and symbols as well as exaggerated luxury. Traditional prejudice combined with the fear of competition in business were mixed together. The senate, however, issued a warning against attacks on the Jews: The Senate was fully aware of the financial power of the Jews and their international economical connections, which were important to their town.

In 1612 the Senate granted permission of residence for a period of 5 years to the Jews against a payment of 1000 marks, but denied practice of their religion. In 1650, a later ordinance permitted them to practice their religion in private but the building of synagogues was nonetheless still prohibited. The Jews themselves tried to be inconspicuous in order not to give rise to any aversions. As a precautionary measure they accepted the privilege granted to them by the Danish King Christian IV. to settle in the recently founded town of Glückstadt established by the King on the lower Elbe as a trading centre competing with Hamburg. Here they were offered considerably better opportunities for settling, trading and religious practice. The portuguese jewish settlement there remained of little importance. By the end of the 17th century a part of the previously well-respected and influentual sephardic personalities had died. When in 1697 the senate and the citizens demanded sizeable annual payments from the portuguese Jews for their stay in Hamburg and once again restricted their right to religious practise, some of the rich families emigrated to the more tolerant danish- ruled Altona, Ottensen and further to Amsterdam. This development, and internal strife within the community led to a reduction of numbers and influence of portuguese Jews in Hamburg in the 18th century. Ashkenasi Jews originally residing in Altona, are documented in Hamburg since 1621. In 1627 and again in 1644 as a consequence of the 30 year war, many Jews fled from Hamburg to Altona, but were expelled again and could only pursue their business in Hamburg by purchasing an expensive gate pass. Only those employed by portuguese Jews living in the town were allowed to stay. Ashkenasi Jews from Wandsbek are documented in Hamburg for the first time in 1688. Like those from Altona, the town offered them better earning prospects, but worse legal status, but as Jews under Danish protectorate, it was possible for them to resettle in both communities at any time.


Jews in Hamburg
- The arrival of the first Jews in Hamburg
- Enlightment and emancipation
- Jews in the german empire
- Jews and the Weimar Republic
- Persecution and the holocaust under the national socialist leadership
- Jewish Schools
- Jews and business in Hamburg
- Living conditions and Jewish residential areas
- The Synagogue