Family and life. Suess in the eyes of his contemporaries

Marcus Lehman

Continuation. Starts at No. 120 – 122

Chapter Ten

The New Duke and his Jew

Bells were ringing on the streets of Stuttgart. From time to time the dull hooting of cannons was heard, heralding the entry of the new Duke of Württemberg, the famous warrior Charles Alexander, into the capital of his state, accompanied by his wife, children and a large retinue. People crowded on both sides of the city streets. Everyone wanted to see the new duke, about whose bravery and courage they had already heard. Everyone consoled themselves with the hope that after the difficult times they had experienced under the rule of the former duke, a new era of justice, wealth and prosperity would now begin.

The ducal carriage, drawn by six thoroughbred horses, was greeted with shouts: “Long live Karl-Alexander! Long live the Duke of Württemberg - the conquering hero of the Turks!

The city houses were shaken by the sounds of rejoicing, sometimes drowning out the thunder of cannons and the ringing of bells. The important gentleman, dressed in civilian dress, who sat on the right hand of the Duke, also made a good impression on the townspeople. His facial features, which betrayed his Eastern origin, left no one in doubt as to his identity - it was the Duke’s court supplier, the invaluable Jew Suess Oppenheimer, whose name was already known in the country.

After a solemn and so cordial meeting on the streets of the city, the Duke received representatives of the nobility and various classes in his palace. The first to appear before the Duke was Count Grevenitz, the proven Prime Minister of the former Duke and brother of the notorious Countess. He bowed deeply and declared:

– Your illustrious Highness, Duke of Württemberg, noble and gracious! As your faithful slave and on behalf of the government...

- Who is he, what is his name? – the Duke interrupted him.

“Your Highness’s faithful servant, Prime Minister,” the count stammered, trembling with fear.

- What?! - the Duke roared. “So this is the same Grevenitz, the brother of the usurper who came to my dear homeland to undermine its foundations?” And he still dared to show himself to me! Arrest him! Get him away from me! Send him to Hohenville Prison!

In the blink of an eye, several guards surrounded the man who until that moment had unquestioned power in the country, took away his sword and put shackles on his hands.

Horror gripped everyone present. Count Grevenitz looked dead and numb. Without uttering a word, on staggering legs and under heavy escort, he was led out of the palace.

Then, overcome with fear and excitement, the church leader, the Reverend Tefinger, and the burgomaster Lenbeck approached to greet the duke on behalf of the clergy and townspeople. They made a deep bow, but could not find it out of fear. the right words for prepared greetings.

- Who you are? - asked the Duke. Both introduced themselves.

- A! You, in fact, are representatives of the very clergy and those very citizens who demanded obligations from me and, not believing my word of honor, wanted guarantees different states! What nonsense! Do you seriously think that England or Denmark will declare war on me if I want to convert you to Catholicism? Is it not clear that the times when states and peoples fought religious wars are long gone? In our time, no state is interested in the religious affairs of its neighbors. Actually, from the very beginning you had no reason to fear for your Protestant faith. I would not force the Catholic faith on anyone without any obligations or guarantees. You will be able to see the sincerity of my words when I select ministers for my cabinet. A Protestant in my environment would be intolerable to me; on the other hand, I cannot hand over the reins of government to a Catholic, lest the concerned citizens complain as if their faith was in danger. Therefore, I decided to put a Jew at the head of the government.

- A Jew? – Tefinger bleated in horror. – His Highness is, of course, joking! Son of a cursed people, despised and trampled upon throughout the world!

- Yes, so that you fail, traitors and conspirators! – the Duke jumped up in anger. - Am I not your sovereign? I demand discipline and obedience! I have the right to choose my ministers at my own discretion! I made no commitments to anyone on this matter. And if you don’t like it, at least drown yourself! Didn't you see what fate befell Grevenitsa? In the fortress of Hohenville there will be room for all traitors and conspirators!

Tefinger immediately fell to his knees and began humiliatingly kissing the Duke’s hands.

- Get up! - the Duke roared. – I can’t stand such performances!

Tefinger jumped up and froze in an offended pose.

- Well, say what's on your mind! - said the Duke.

- Your Highness! - Tefinger began with tears in his eyes. - Have mercy! Don't bring such shame on the country! Do not put as ruler over our country a Jew who killed our Savior!

The Duke laughed at the top of his lungs.

- Suess! – he called.

Suess stepped forward and bowed.

“Did you hear, Suess, what the prelate is accusing you of?” – asked the Duke, still laughing. - Say something in your defense!

“Mr. Prelate,” Suess turned to Tefinger, “would you mind telling me what year it is today according to your calendar?”

“Today we are in the year one thousand seven hundred and thirty-three,” answered the surprised pastor.

“Then would the prelate be so kind as to look at me and say whether it is possible to say that my age reaches more than seventeen hundred years?” And if not, then is it impossible to assert on this basis that I had no opportunity to commit the above-mentioned atrocity, is it not?

- Bravo, Suess, bravo! – the Duke cackled, becoming even more amused. “The Reverend need not worry about this.” I guarantee on my honor that Suess had nothing to do with the death of our Savior. Suess is younger than me, and if I had lived in those days, I would have rushed to Jerusalem at the head of my armies and would not have allowed such an atrocity!

“And you, Mr. Burgomaster,” Suess addressed Lenbeck, “will deign to convey my heartfelt greetings to the citizens.” Tell them that I will be a merciful ruler for them as long as they are faithful to me and obedient to my will.

- Your Highness! - Lenbek spoke. - Allow your humble servant to just notice...

- All! – the Duke interrupted him. - Not a word more! The audience is over!

The gentlemen were forced to retreat from the hall in embarrassment and bewilderment.

The news of the appointment of a Jew as Prime Minister spread like lightning throughout the country and put an end to the rejoicing that reigned among the people over the imprisonment of Count Grevenitz. In order to fully imagine all the bitterness and horror that this news caused, we need to be thoroughly imbued with the spirit of that era. At that time, Jews were deprived of all rights. Everywhere they were under severe oppression and were subjected to persecution and ridicule. Jews were prohibited from settling in most Württemberg cities. Almost all Jews were forced to live by petty trade, since they did not have the right to own land or serious property. In many places, Jews had to pay a special poll tax to gain residency rights. In those days, putting a Jew at the head of the government was no laughing matter. Fear was also mixed with shame and ridicule, or, more precisely, humiliation and ridicule were the cause of this mystical inexplicable fear of the Jews, whose spiritual level was incomparably higher than the level of the hostile environment. Everyone, nevertheless, vividly discussed this event and asked in fear: “What will be the fate of the Duchy of Württemberg today? Apparently, now the country will be overwhelmed by a continuous stream of Jewish refugees from all over the world, who will overwhelm the country, occupy all important posts and displace Christians from everywhere.” Thus, it was absolutely clear in the light of such sentiments that even if Suess ruled with all the justice and nobility of King David and with all the wisdom of King Solomon, he would not have been able to gain the sympathy of alarmed citizens and overcome their mistrust.

Having completed all the matters connected with the assumption of office as Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and becoming thoroughly acquainted with the state of affairs, Suess came to the Duke to present to him his program for future development.

- Your Highness! - he began. “By introducing a regime of reasonable and balanced savings, we could, in a few years, collect the amount necessary to eliminate our debts.

- What?! - cried the Duke. – Reasonable savings?! Should I limit myself again? Enslave my life! Huddle and count pennies! And this is what you advise me, Suess! And for this I have so strived for the ducal throne all these years! For this I overcame countless difficulties, for this I spent years in uncertainty, endured inconvenience, so that now I can begin to live in modesty and economy? Yes, the very concept of this was deeply alien to me even when I was a poor applicant with no special prospects! No, Suess! I want all debts to be liquidated immediately and that there will also be enough money left to satisfy all my whims, to support the opera, to invite me to Stuttgart famous singers and singers, dancers, clowns and circus performers to provide entertainment the likes of which the city's inhabitants had never known before. I wish to make the most of my situation. This is precisely why I was so eager for the ducal throne. And you appear before my eyes to offer me a life of modesty. Shame on you, Suess!

- Dear Sir...

– I don’t want to listen to anything! You were so good at getting money out of nowhere for me, and now, when the opportunity is open to you to scoop it up by the handful, you suddenly give up!

- Dear Sir! You know that our citizens are cruelly jealous of me and have the darkest hatred for me even now, so what will happen when I start...

- Enough! I am the sovereign here! Behind everything you do is my will, and all responsibility also falls on me alone! I will give you a special paper, sealed with the ducal seal, which will free you from the slightest responsibility for everything that you have to do now or in the future. Are you satisfied now?

“I have always been and remain Your Highness’s humble servant.”

- Well, if that’s the case, first of all get money to cover it.

“Count Grevenitz, imprisoned in the fortress, offered us all his estate in exchange for his release. He will keep only fifty-six thousand gold pieces for himself. We will earn approximately two hundred thousand on this deal.

- Amazing. Take action.

“Your Grace may also confiscate the estates of his usurper sister, who has fled to Heidelberg.” Then we can get rid of all debts.

- Amazing. Get it over with. And then take care of doubling and tripling my income. I wish to live in pleasantness and pleasure.

And Suess fulfilled all the commands of his master. He showed remarkable abilities in inventing new taxes and taxes and in imposing them on the population. His name became a horror and a curse in the mouths of all citizens of the state, but his master was completely pleased with him.

Chapter Eleven

Trapped by greed

A year has passed. Duke Karl-Alexander has finally reached the limit of his dreams. Now he had a courtyard - luxurious, in his own taste. A new one was built in Stuttgart Opera theatre, and the Duke generously paid for singers and actresses discharged from abroad - from his own treasury. Balls, receptions and masquerades continuously replaced each other - it was a real extravaganza. Everyone was obliged to participate in the fun. So both court officials and the nobility had to lead a crazy, luxurious life. Those who nevertheless dared to neglect the court balls faced severe punishment - the Duke simply deprived them of a quarter of their annual income. Karl-Alexander spent all the summer months in Ludwigsburg - this was Württemberg Versailles. Everything was there: festive fireworks, Italian nights and others, other entertainment...

Luxury, of course, required expenses, expenses and more expenses. And on Suess’s shoulders lay the burden of replenishing the ducal treasury. Not a light burden. And it was unthinkable to mention in the presence of the Duke about the effort it costs him and at what price he gets it. If Karl-Alexander started tapping on the golden box, which he always had at hand, everyone knew: expect anger! And the Duke will give him free rein: oh, this shower of very strong expressions - just stick your head out! It was not for nothing that he was a military man. But as long as his diligent Minister of Finance fulfilled all his demands without further ado, he was in favor with the Duke, which was expressed not only in affectionate glances and pleasant words. They were also expensive gifts. So Suess found himself in a very dependent position. To accomplish what he needed, he had to do anything, not disdaining even the most unseemly in the eyes of people. It ended with his name being covered with shame. The whole country hated and despised him. From the very beginning, Suess imposed taxes and taxes on the entire population - whatever was possible and impossible - just to quench his master's thirst for gold. But this was not enough. Then Suess took control, or rather, put his paw on all the largest enterprises in the country, all the industries: he simply sold them to those who offered the best price. Taverns, wineries, trade in tobacco and incense, and even chimney sweeps were subject to taxes. At the same time, everyone was hungry for profit, and preferably as much as possible. His subjects imitated the Duke's wild life. Everyone strived for luxury and entertainment, and only God knows how they got this money! The country was being stifled by taxes, prices were rising, and people were becoming impoverished before our very eyes. Economic paralysis was evident.

Black hatred for Suess grew. But he was just an obedient tool in the hands of the Duke. True, Suess, for his part, also did nothing to somehow smooth out or reduce this hatred. On the contrary, he surrounded himself with wealth and honors. He lived in a luxurious palace donated by the Duke. He rode out in a luxurious carriage drawn by two teams of beautiful, noble horses. A coachman, dressed in a gold-embroidered livery, sat in front, and equally richly dressed servants rode behind.

At first, the nobility, the clergy and high officials did not hesitate to reveal their hostility to Suess. However, Suess knew how to position himself in order to instill fear in them and thereby force him to respect himself. So very soon everyone began to curry favor with him, to show respect similar to servility, but they also cursed him in their hearts. There were also smart people who understood from the very beginning which way the wind was blowing, and they began to seek the favor of the Jewish Prime Minister. Every day, his reception room was crowded with many of the most eminent gentlemen and ladies who came to ask for themselves or for one of their protégés. And Suess gave out his favors with a generous hand - of course, only if the price for them was equally generous.

To fill the duke's pockets, and at the same time his own, Suess even opened special establishments where government posts and positions were sold to anyone who could offer a good price. There were, however, overly scrupulous citizens who initially tried to protest against such a shame. The Duke immediately ordered them to be sent to prison.

But even all these crimes were not enough to fill the bottomless ducal treasury. After all, Württemberg at that time was just a tiny state - where could it compare with the luxury of the court of Louis XV, which was supported by the whole of vast France. Then Suess invented a special tax on private property - all rich families, without exception, fell under his burden. Even foreigners arriving in the country had to pay this mysterious “protective” tax.

Suess became fabulously rich from all this. He acquired ownership of the estates of Dunzdorf, Gierlingen and Adrenheim! Chests full of gold and precious stones, the most delicious dishes! Wealth, luxury, entertainment - that was now the value of life for him.

It was in vain that the Württembergers feared that Suess would flood the country with Jews. Suess did not think about his fellow tribesmen at all. It happened at first that some of the Jews hoped and even sought his favor, but received a severe rebuff - Suess fought back with both hands. And he did not change a single line in the anti-Jewish discrimination laws of Württemberg. The more firmly Suess stood at the top, the steeper his egoism was and the less he cared about his unfortunate persecuted brothers. In fact, he no longer had anything to do with Jewry - except by his origin. He was now so far from the Torah and the commandments that he did not even remember either the New Year or the Day of Judgment. He was completely immersed in the life of this world and did not think about the soul at all. Suess was disliked for his spiritual depravity no less than for his unjust state affairs. He even completely forgot his Oppenheim relatives. Since the young man Suess, accompanied by his patron and master, left for Belgrade, Rabbi Simcha has not received a single word from him. Newspapers in those days were published in small circulations, there were few of them at all, and they were so expensive that not everyone could afford to buy a newspaper. And it was very rare for any newspaper to fly into such a tiny city as Oppenheim. News in those days was learned mostly from travelers and visitors.

Once upon a time there was such a traveling gentleman as a guest in the house of Rabbi Simcha. After the Shabbat meal, Rabbi Simcha struck up a conversation with him and asked where he was from. It turned out to be from Predental.

-Where is this city located?

– Yes, in the Duchy of Württemberg.

- In Württemberg? Judith, tell me, dear, wasn’t Suess in the service of the Prince of Württemberg?

- Oh no, father, it was Karl-Alexander, ruler of Belgrade.

“So he’s not in Belgrade for a long time, baby,” the guest answered, “now he’s the Duke of Württemberg.”

“Perhaps you know, sir,” asked Rabbi Simcha in great excitement, “what happened to his court Jew Suess Oppenheimer?”

– I wish I hadn’t known that! After all, it is he, damned forever, who sticks around as the Duke’s prime minister and does whatever he wants to us.

- How severely you curse him! Why is that so?

- How can I not curse him? In my opinion, it’s impossible to be worse than him! Not only does he spit on Shabos and holidays and eat treif, but he is also a thief and an adulterer, and will never lift a finger to help his disadvantaged brothers. It only disgraces our people and attracts the curses of the goyim! It is clear that they will say about the wicked Jew: “Look, they are all like that!”

- What did he do, this Suess, to arouse such hatred of the goyim towards himself?

“He is brazenly robbing the population, because the main thing is to enrich the Duke and, of course, not to offend himself.” Taxes have skyrocketed, it’s already unbearable! What kind of trade is there if there is no one to buy: the high cost in the country is unprecedented. People are becoming poor, and his pockets and chests probably no longer contain the loot.

“You know, everything you say saddens me terribly: after all, this Suess is my nephew.”

- Your nephew? Forgive me, Rabbi! It’s such a bad thing to talk about your relative... Forgive me!

- Well, what are you talking about! I have nothing to forgive you for, because you are not to blame for anything! On the contrary, I am truly grateful to you for the news, albeit bad, about my nephew, who disappeared so many years ago.

Rabbi Simcha spent Shabbos in sadness and despondency. In vain did his beloved daughter Judith try to entertain him and somehow support him. Sad thoughts about his once beloved, and now unlucky nephew, did not leave him.

- Judith! - Rabbi Simcha finally said to his daughter at the end of the Sabbath after Avdola. – I can’t find a place for myself! There will be no peace for me, girl, until I visit Stuttgart myself! I must see Suess, I must tell him everything I think about his life! I simply have to warn him: his end will be bitter and sad unless he comes to his senses and returns to the true path.

- Father! - answered Judith. - The weather is disgusting, and you are going to such a distance? And what about me? Am I going to stay here alone?

“While I’m gone, you will live with Rabbi David, who is in charge of the community money.” He will receive you with joy and will not refuse you anything. As for me, you are, of course, right: the road to Stuttgart is long and difficult, and the weather is not the most suitable, and, of course, I am no longer young. But how can I sit idly by, knowing that my own nephew, my blood and flesh, is abandoned somewhere to the mercy of fate! All night long I was gnawing at me - what a dream! But once upon a time the journey from Benzlau to Heidelberg was three times longer than the one I face now...

- Father, but you were young then! And then, remember what came of it all! Suess won't listen to you either! I'm afraid he's completely caught up in his own affairs and won't even hear your words.

“You may be right, my daughter, but at least I will do my duty.” I want to help him like I once helped his mother. I will scream like a trumpet, reproach and persuade - let him turn away from his evil deeds. Tomorrow, with God's help, I will hit the road. This is my duty, and I will fulfill it at any cost.

Chapter Twelve

Rav in prison

With a heavy heart, Rabbi Simcha set out on a long and difficult journey. But the road from Oppenheim to Stuttgart at that time took many days. Rabbi Simcha jolted along the rutted tracks of the stagecoach, an open carriage with hard wooden seats that moved slowly, stopping every now and then because of a broken wheel or a slipped horseshoe. The stops used to last for hours while something was being repaired. Sometimes there was no direct postal service between two stations, and then travelers had to wait many days for an opportunity.

When Rabbi Simcha reached Heidelberg, all the old bitter memories stirred up in him. After all, it was here, in this city, that more than forty years ago he was looking for his missing sister.

“Oh, oh, oh,” Rabbi Simcha said to himself, “my poor sister, what a pity that I didn’t persuade you to return with me to your parents’ roof.” If you had listened to me then, would there have been so much pain, tears and suffering! And the fate of your son - after all, it would have been different! If only you had returned to Bentzlau while the child was very small and had not yet had time to absorb the bad inclinations of his father - his love for a luxurious life, his debauchery, so absorbed that he could not live any other way! But what was, was. This is undoubtedly the will of the Almighty. So strengthen me, Lord, at least this time: help me return the lost sinner to the righteous path!

There were still a few stations left before Stuttgart when Rabbi Simcha found a traveling companion. They immediately became friends. On the stagecoach, it’s easy to make acquaintances and even form friendships. Many days spent side by side on a difficult road mean something.

Rabbi Simcha's new friend looked like a serious man - learned and enlightened.

“Before,” said Rabbi Simcha, his handsome fellow traveler, “I, too, deeply respected the Jews.” After all, we are the people who were the first in the world to receive Divine grace. True, now we have such a Jew in Stuttgart! You can imagine that I am ready, it seems, to hate our entire people.

- Oh, why don’t you remember, because it is said: “Is it really because of one sinner that you will be angry with the whole community?”

– You are certainly right. But this Suess, who in his anger was probably sent by the Almighty to our community, is such a disaster! After all, Suess goes beyond all possible boundaries. Oh! – the fellow traveler suddenly stopped short. “It seems I’ve said too much.” It will be bad for me if my words reach the ears of Suess. I will be immediately sent to prison.

- Oh, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. All this, of course, will remain between us. And what’s more, I myself am going to tell this Suess things that are much more unpleasant than everything you just said.

– Do you seriously think that the minister will agree to receive you? Blood brothers do not interest him at all. At first it seemed to us that the Jewish Prime Minister would flood the country with his relatives, but our fears turned out to be in vain. He doesn't care about anyone but himself. And he has only one concern in life: to fulfill all the crazy whims of the Duke and to fill his own pockets more tightly. Here all his means are good. Be sure that you will not get an appointment with him. If you still succeed, then you will be the first Jew whom Suess allowed into his person since he took the post of head of government and minister of finance.

“Still, I’m sure that he will accept me.” After all, he is my own nephew, he grew up and was brought up in my house.

- Can't be! – the fellow traveler gaped. – Will you forgive me if I allow myself to note that his upbringing leaves much to be desired?

“Oh, believe me, dear sir, it’s not my fault at all.” It was not I who instilled bad tendencies in him. By the way, he was a diligent boy, but at the same time he grew up completely wild and unbridled, and one day, having done something, he got scared and, just think, ran away from my house.

- So what do you expect from him now?

“I’m going to persuade him, beg him, and finally conjure him!” I so want to return him to the righteous path.

- I feel sorry for your efforts and hopes. This person is not such that it is possible to return him to the righteous path.

- Well, at least I will do my duty.

- You are noble and courageous man! If you ever need help, don't hesitate to contact me. My name is Councilor Bilfinger. I'll get off at the next station. But in Stuttgart everyone knows me, and everyone will show you my house.

The adviser got off at the nearest station, and Rabbi Simcha was left alone with his not at all joyful thoughts.

Soon he was already approaching the gates of Stuttgart. The official at the gate stopped the cart and began to question the traveler:

– Simcha Bentzlau.

- Where?

- From Oppenheim.

- Occupation?

– I am the city rabbi of the Oppenheim community.

- On what business are you going to Stuttgart?

– I would like to see His Grace Prime Minister Suess Oppenheim.

- Well, you can forget about it. His Lordship had never received any of his fellow tribesmen before. Many Jews asked to see him - for some reason, every Jew considers himself his cousin. Everyone got turned away. For some reason, all these gentlemen think that since His Lordship is himself a Jew, then Stuttgart, not today but tomorrow, will be called nothing less than New Jerusalem. Ha ha ha! This is a very strong misconception, Jew! Stuttgart is certainly not Jerusalem. For me, you can knock on His Lordship’s gate as much as your heart desires. He'll show you what's worth a pound. Show your documents, Jew!

Rabbi Simcha immediately put his hand into the inner pocket of his coat, and then he turned pale. There were no documents. He looked through all his pockets, but all his papers were gone.

“I can’t find my documents,” he mumbled in a trembling voice. - They must have gotten lost on the road.

- Whatever they come up with! Listen, you passportless tramp! Did you think that if you told me a story about how you were going to a reception with the Prime Minister, I would let you go free? You're wrong! Come on, get off the wagon! Will you come with me to the police station!

- Well, please, dear sir, spare me from such shame! After all, I am the minister’s uncle. He is my sister's son!

- Wow, it’s flooding! Are you really thinking of talking my teeth into such tales? Well, let's go before they forcefully drag us away!

With groans and groans, Rabbi Simcha climbed out of the cart, dragging a small travel suitcase behind him. The official handed him over to two guards, who took him to prison, where he immediately experienced all the charm of his new situation. Ridicule and mockery rained down on him.

– What kind of miracle bird flew into our region? - exclaimed the warden. - Oh, Abrashka, what have you done? Since his lordship has served as our prime minister, every Abrashka believes that he is allowed to do whatever he wants in Stuttgart. But this is your big misconception. His Grace the Minister keeps both Jews and Christians on the same short leash. Everyone - according to merit and rank. Before, who was visiting me? Just petty thieves and some vile pimps, God forgive me! And since His Grace has become our Prime Minister, I have had to receive very eminent barons and counts within these walls every now and then. So don’t be discouraged, Abrasha. If you, for example, are a counterfeiter, then you, as expected, will be hanging in a noose, even though you are circumcised no worse than his lordship.

Rabbi Simcha trembled all over with fear, his knees gave way. But, having gathered his courage, he nevertheless pulled himself together and, despite the ridicule, began to behave with silent dignity. The guards took him to some dark and apparently deep dungeon. They locked him there in a cramped and gloomy cell with an armful of straw for a bed.

A few minutes later, the head of the prison showed up to visit his unusual guest.

- Well, Abrashka! – he asked with an evil grin. – How do you like our mansions?

Rabbi Simcha walked close to the boss and thrust a shiny gold piece into his hand.

“For this gold, I ask the boss for just one minor favor.”

- Speak! - the boss roared, hiding the gold with undisguised pleasure.

“I ended up here because of an unfortunate mistake.” I didn't do anything wrong. I just lost my documents on the way to Stuttgart.

“And you ended up here for vagrancy?”

- Exactly! Do me a little favor and send me to tell Mr. Minister Suess that the Oppenheim rabbi, his maternal uncle, came to visit him and was taken to prison by mistake!

An expression of extreme amazement appeared on the face of the prison governor. He immediately promised to fulfill the prisoner’s request and a few minutes later personally went to the minister’s palace.

The minister had his hands full at that hour. His friend General Remchingen, the President of the House of Commons Schäfer and Councilor Galvax discussed important current affairs with him. When the head of the prison tried to enter the palace, the gatekeeper did not even allow him onto the threshold.

“There are no orders to let anyone in now,” said the gatekeeper, “Mr. Minister is busy with important government affairs.”

- Well, if so, then you will report on my case. Today an old Jew with a gray beard, frail, skinny, looking like a tramp without documents, was brought to my prison today. But he assures that he is his lordship’s uncle and asks his lordship to inform me of this.

- Wonderful assignment! – the gatekeeper grinned. - Inform his lordship that a certain undocumented tramp calls himself his uncle. No, thank you! I won't do this!

“Think, however, about the consequences that could happen if the old man doesn’t lie!” After all, His Lordship was not born with the crown of a ruler on his head! What if the old man really is his Jewish uncle and really lost his documents on the way to Stuttgart, and when His Excellency finds out about this...

- Yes, it won't be good. But you can’t just rush to His Excellency with a story that a certain tramp from prison is his uncle. He'll just tear me to pieces. Do you even know his name and where he is from?

- Yes, he says that he is some kind of decanter from the city of Ofigeina.

The gatekeeper went to see Suess.

- Your Mightiness! – he reported. - Today a certain awesome decanter was arrested for vagrancy, and he sent the head of the prison to tell you to release him!

- What, I don’t have enough of my own crazy people! – Suess cackled. “They’re also sending some awesome decanter from prison.” Well, what do I care about him?

- Forgive me, Your Grace, but this tramp, he...

- Well, what is he there, speak quickly!

- He's a Jew!

– And on this basis he imagines that I will drop everything and run to free him? Come on people! No way! If he is a tramp, then his place is in prison. Come on, get out of here!

The gatekeeper rushed to the door.

“Wow,” thought the surprised Suess, “the Jew is an awesome decanter!” An extremely rare occurrence. Hey Hans!

– I’m listening, Your Grace!

“Did the head of the prison, the decanter, really say that?”

– Something like that, Your Grace, either a decanter or paraffin...

- Maybe a rabbi? Come on, call me the warden.

Upon entering, the prison governor bowed low and froze in front of Suess in an obsequious pose.

- What kind of person sent you here? – asked the minister.

- Your Mightiness! With your permission, he said that he is the countess of the Jews of the city of Ofigein and your Lordship’s uncle!

- Awesome? Maybe Oppenheim?

– Yes, that’s right, Your Grace! With your permission, that’s exactly what he said.

Suss rose from his chair, gloomy and agitated.

- My beloved uncle has come to see me! And he was thrown into prison! Oh, I'm going to see him immediately. Hans, tell us to harness the carriage! Forgive me generously, gentlemen, but right now there is no more important matter for me than the release of my uncle from prison. After all, this is my mother’s brother, he sheltered and raised me in his house. I want to hold him to my heart immediately!

And the carriage rushed along the pavements of Stuttgart in the direction of the prison.

Chapter Thirteen

Minister and Rabbi

Rabbi Simcha sat down on a pile of straw and sorrowful thoughts filled his mind and soul. After a while he got up and began to pace from corner to corner of the cramped cell. He reasoned out loud: “This is undoubtedly a bad sign. As soon as I appeared in the capital, where my nephew was the ruler, I was immediately thrown into prison. I'm afraid this stupid coincidence of circumstances is not good: and what good can you expect? Well, I am calm for myself, for I have entrusted my soul to You, Lord. But what will happen to my lost, unlucky nephew, as he falls deeper and deeper into the abyss? Where can I get the strength for righteous anger to convince him? How can I, a miserable and humiliated Jew, helpless and persecuted, explain to this important gentleman that his power, fame and wealth are just vanity of vanities?”

Then the rusty locks on the cell doors creaked, and before Rabbi Simcha realized what was happening, he was already in the hot embrace of Suess, who exclaimed in excitement:

- Uncle! Dear uncle! How sorry I am that you ended up in this terrible place! Let me hold you to my heart, let me kiss you!

Simha was simply numb for a while, having difficulty perceiving what was happening. But, feeling Suess’s tears on his face, he went limp, hugged his nephew to him, and he himself burst into sobs, so much so that he couldn’t find the right words.

Suess immediately took his uncle to his palace, showing him all kinds of attention and respect. He showed him his luxurious palace, wonderful gardens and greenhouses, delighting with their beauty the most discerning taste and delighting the most subtle sense of smell with their aroma. And this was his victory over circumstances, and he wanted his uncle to see all this. Suess took him to his library, where the most different books best authors humanity of all times in exquisite, expensive bindings. Were there and Jewish books. Then he took Simkha to a huge hall, where a very extensive collection of works of art, painting and sculpture, portraits and busts of many great and powerful people of this world was collected. He even showed him his treasury, full of gold and precious stones, and for a long time turned over in front of him all sorts of papers giving him the right to own various estates and lands, from which he had a very significant income.

Rabbi Simcha looked at all this splendor with silent indifference. Not a single surprised exclamation escaped his lips, not once did his face take on any interested expression. And no matter how hard Suess tried, painting
the value of each thing, he never managed to evoke in his uncle the slightest joy or amazement.

“You keep being silent and silent, uncle,” Suess finally said. “You probably think that the day will come and everything will fall to dust.” But no, I have a safe conduct certificate, look here. Here the Duke writes that all my actions, whatever they may be, are taken with his consent and under his direct instructions, and I personally do not bear any responsibility for them.

“You are mistaken, Suess,” said Rabbi Simcha sadly. “I don’t care at all whether you lose your wealth in this world.” This is not what makes me sad, this is not what prevents me from rejoicing with you in your successes. Suess, there are no mezuzahs on your doors and gates, your table cannot be called kosher, you violate Sabbaths and holidays, and even the New Year and the Day of Judgment no longer mean anything to you. You live as if in the desert. Citizens of your state accuse you of extortion and bribery; they hate you because you rob and humiliate them. Your name sounds like a curse. Suess, Suess! Listen to the words of your old uncle, the only one who loves you, who is devoted to you not because you are rich and sit high. And I set out on such a difficult journey in the middle of winter with only one goal: to bring you to your senses while there is still time. Give it all up - it’s a sin, Suess!

- How can I refuse such a high position, uncle?

- Oh, Suess, leave it! You are not the first in Israel who has achieved such a position - to be the ruler of a foreign state. Just remember the righteous Joseph, who, being the second person in the entire great land of Egypt, did not violate the commandments of his God in anything, and served him with all his heart! Being a slave, he went through a great temptation and did not succumb to love beautiful woman, being a ruler, he never ate club food with the Egyptians at their feasts! And his name on the lips of the Egyptians sounded with love and gratitude. And only when a new generation grew up, the new Pharaoh, who did not know Yosef, began to cruelly oppress the Jewish people.

- So what? You yourself know, uncle, the Egyptian gratitude to Joseph for saving them from hunger and humiliation: they calmly sent his sons and grandchildren to hard labor!

– It’s not that simple, Suess! This was the highest plan: the liberation of the Jewish people from slavery was predetermined by the same slavery. And the granting of a special purpose to the people would not have happened without this! And remember Mordechai, who eventually became the king's advisor in one of the greatest empires in history. He sought only good and prosperity for all countries placed under his rule and for his fellow Jews. When our great sages Hasdai HaNagid or Shmuel HaNagid were elevated to the level of ministers and rulers of Spain, what did they do? They only cared about the welfare of their subjects, and the people never tired of blessing them. And they spent most of their personal wealth on supporting Jewish life. Thus, Rabbi Shmuel Ha-Nagid gathered Jewish poets and sages, experts in grammar and Talmud from all over the world, gave them shelter, food and everything necessary so that they could devote their invaluable time entirely to spiritual creativity. Long years he supported many families so that the fathers could teach Torah day and night without being distracted by worries about food. He built numerous synagogues and yeshivas, and his time was a moment of greatest prosperity for the Spanish community. And you, Suess? What have you done for the Jews and for Jewry? The whole country is groaning from your predatory decrees, but it’s harder for the Jews than for others. You don’t seem to notice the existence of your own people, but what have you done to repeal the shameful anti-Jewish laws?

- Oh, uncle, believe me, I would do it with pleasure, but, unfortunately, I can’t!

- Why can not you? Oh, I know why! You think only about your personal needs—oppressed brothers do not interest you at all. Your goal is one: accumulation, wealth, luxury! All those Jewish rulers that I spoke about, Mordechai, and Rabbi Hasdai, and Rabbi Shmuel, were certainly not bloodsuckers of their subjects. The meaning of their activities was caring for the welfare of citizens, and they really earned themselves good name countless good deeds for the glory of G-d. That is why they had enough time to take care of their brothers, provide for their lives and magnify the Torah and the heritage of Israel! You blaspheme the name of the Lord with your outrages, robbing and oppressing the people, you have made the name of Israel a curse in the mouths of the nations! And hundreds of years will pass, and the haters will point at you, saying: look how a Jew behaves when he has seized power!

- You are harsh with me, uncle! Does anyone dare say such things to me? Everyone knows: I can bend a ram's horn. Don’t you really think, uncle, that your words will make me fall into despair?

- Oh, my sister’s only child! Did I come to ask for something for myself or to upset? I just want to help you, I want you to turn away from bad deeds!

“Well, I understand that, uncle, and that’s why I’m not angry with you.” But I want you to understand me too. For many years I worked hard to make my way to power in the service of the Duke. Oh, then I really wanted to do a lot for the welfare of the country, for its economy, economy, I wanted to achieve its prosperity. But who will give me such opportunities! This Duke, with his stubbornness and continuous crazy ideas! What are the citizens and clergy like here? A crowd, a rabble, full of hatred and wild prejudices! Believe me, uncle, even if I were as pious as King David, and as wise as King Solomon, they would not have stopped blaspheming the people of Israel! My only defense against them is the Duke, but he demands money, money and more money. I had to pay off all his debts in one fell swoop. Where could this money be taken, if not from state revenues? But there’s still not enough money, and what way out do you see other than more and more taxes and duties? But everything is not enough for the Duke, he constantly needs huge funds for all his unbridled entertainment. And when I try to explain to him that it is simply unreasonable to milk the country dry, he falls into a terrible rage and threatens me with prison. So what should I do? If I lost the Duke's favor, no one would give a penny for my life. That's when they'll take away everything I have. Where to lay your head? They will get me, even in the forest, even in the field. After all, I have so many haters. Do I have any other choice but to follow the path I have once chosen? I must get gold for the Duke at any cost, and I really am not shy about my means. And if I’m forced to do all this, shouldn’t I be left empty-handed? I also need my own funds. And why should I be responsible for all this mess? I am a chain dog on a short leash for the Duke.

“And you, my poor boy, think this will justify you?” A wicked ruler is vile, but even more vile is the one who obediently serves in his hands as an instrument for evil deeds.

Suess was silent for a moment, and then said:

- Stay with me for a little while, uncle. And I will try to arrange a kosher kitchen for you. Stay, and you will see for yourself that there is no other possibility for me: life has gone as it has. Now tell me about Oppenheim, about my cousin. How is your daughter Judith?

To be continued

Translation by E. Pogrebinsky

Monthly literary and journalistic magazine and publishing house.

Joseph ben Issachar Süsskind Oppenheimer(German) Joseph ben Issachar Süßkind Oppenheimer ; (1698 ) , Heidelberg - February 4, ) - Württemberg merchant, supplier to the ducal court.

Biography

In culture

The fate of Oppenheimer is reflected in the story by Wilhelm Hauff (), the novel by Lion Feuchtwanger () and two films - the British city and the German (Jew Suess), considered one of the most harsh anti-Semitic works in the art of the Third Reich.

In 1997, the German sculptor Angela-Isabella Laich created the sculpture “Joseph Suess Oppenheimer”.

Information from the biography and the image of Suess were used in the song “Stuttgart” by Alexander Gorodnitsky.

Write a review of the article "Oppenheimer, Suess"

Literature

// Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
// Jewish Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron. - St. Petersburg. , 1908-1913.
Zimmermann, "Joseph Süss, ein Finanzmann des XVIII Jahrh." (Stut.).

Notes

Excerpt characterizing Oppenheimer, Suess

- Where is the sovereign? where is Kutuzov? - Rostov asked everyone he could stop, and could not get an answer from anyone.
Finally, grabbing the soldier by the collar, he forced him to answer himself.
- Eh! Brother! Everyone has been there for a long time, they have fled ahead! - the soldier said to Rostov, laughing at something and breaking free.
Leaving this soldier, who was obviously drunk, Rostov stopped the orderly's or horseman's horse VIP and began to question him. The orderly announced to Rostov that an hour ago the sovereign had been driven at full speed in a carriage along this very road, and that the sovereign was dangerously wounded.
“It can’t be,” said Rostov, “that’s right, someone else.”
“I saw it myself,” said the orderly with a self-confident grin. “It’s time for me to know the sovereign: it seems like how many times I’ve seen something like this in St. Petersburg.” A pale, very pale man sits in a carriage. As soon as the four blacks let loose, my fathers, he thundered past us: it’s time, it seems, to know both the royal horses and Ilya Ivanovich; It seems that the coachman does not ride with anyone else like the Tsar.
Rostov let his horse go and wanted to ride on. A wounded officer walking past turned to him.
-Who do you want? – asked the officer. - Commander-in-Chief? So he was killed by a cannonball, killed in the chest by our regiment.
“Not killed, wounded,” another officer corrected.
- Who? Kutuzov? - asked Rostov.
- Not Kutuzov, but whatever you call him - well, it’s all the same, there aren’t many alive left. Go over there, to that village, all the authorities have gathered there,” said this officer, pointing to the village of Gostieradek, and walked past.
Rostov rode at a pace, not knowing why or to whom he would go now. The Emperor is wounded, the battle is lost. It was impossible not to believe it now. Rostov drove in the direction that was shown to him and in which a tower and a church could be seen in the distance. What was his hurry? What could he now say to the sovereign or Kutuzov, even if they were alive and not wounded?
“Go this way, your honor, and here they will kill you,” the soldier shouted to him. - They'll kill you here!
- ABOUT! what are you saying? said another. -Where will he go? It's closer here.
Rostov thought about it and drove exactly in the direction where he was told that he would be killed.
“Now it doesn’t matter: if the sovereign is wounded, should I really take care of myself?” he thought. He entered the area where most of the people fleeing from Pratsen died. The French had not yet occupied this place, and the Russians, those who were alive or wounded, had long abandoned it. On the field, like heaps of good arable land, lay ten people, fifteen killed and wounded on every tithe of space. The wounded crawled down in twos and threes together, and one could hear their unpleasant, sometimes feigned, as it seemed to Rostov, screams and moans. Rostov started to trot his horse so as not to see all these suffering people, and he became scared. He feared not for his life, but for the courage that he needed and which, he knew, would not withstand the sight of these unfortunates.
The French, who stopped shooting at this field strewn with the dead and wounded, because there was no one alive on it, saw the adjutant riding along it, aimed a gun at him and threw several cannonballs. The feeling of these whistling, terrible sounds and the surrounding dead people merged for Rostov into one impression of horror and self-pity. He remembered last letter mother. “What would she feel,” he thought, “if she saw me now here, on this field and with guns pointed at me.”

The meaning of SUSS OPPENHEIMER in the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedia

SUSS OPPENHEIMER

(Joseph Su ss-Oppenheimer) ? a famous financial businessman, Jewish by birth; genus. in 1692; was first a merchant, then entered into financial relations with the wasteful Duke of Württemberg Karl-Alexander and soon gained his complete trust. Without officially holding any position (although he was sometimes called the Minister of Finance), Z. managed to distribute all administrative posts to his creatures, minted 11 million worth of inferior coins, established salt, wine and tobacco monopolies, sold privileges for money and aroused strong hatred with burdensome taxes among the people. When Karl-Alexander died in 1737, Z. was arrested, tried and sentenced to death. Dressed in the uniform of a “secret financial advisor,” he was exposed to the people in an iron cage, and then hanged (February 4, 1738). The novelist Wilhelm Gauff processed his biography in the story "Jud S u ss". See Zimmermann, "Joseph S uss, ein Finanzmann des XVIII Jahrh." (Stutt. 1874).

Brockhaus and Efron. Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron. 2012

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I was once young and without a beard.

I don’t remember anything now.

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This square bears his name.

The Duke had it right hand.

All the rulers of the surrounding wise men,

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No Jew sought
(A.M. Gorodnitsky. Stuttgart)

Suesskind Oppenheimer (Joseph Ben Issachar Suesskind Oppenheimer; 1692, Heidelberg - 1738, Stuttgart) - famous financier.

He was generously gifted by nature: financial genius, amazingly sharp business sense, composure combined with courage, abilities in languages and sciences, aristocracy, manners, grace... But, my God! - the Jew possessed all this! Could a German Jew in the 18th century count on recognition of his merits and talents, on an objective assessment of his activities? No and no again. Let's remember history: in those days, Jews were forbidden not only to hold government positions, but even to live where they wanted. Within some European states, principalities and cities, Jews were forced to settle in their own quarters - ghettos - whose gates were locked at night. They were also required to wear special sign.

However, there was an area in which Jews could not do without Jews at all times: trade, farming, money turnover, finance... There were quite a few Jewish financiers in those days. Their services were needed, they were called upon, but often only in order to make a “scapegoat” and expel them... Or put them on trial. The talented merchant Suess swam in shallow water for a long time, as they say. Unaccustomed to idleness, he took on any task and knew how to pull off any hopeless scam. For example, he is credited with minting 11 million worth of defective coins (he managed to transfer this dubious business to other hands shortly before meeting Prince Charles-Alexander).

Suess was very youthful in appearance and was proud of the fact that he was usually given about thirty years of age, almost ten less than his real age. He needed to feel that women's gazes were following him, that heads were turning after him as he rode along the alley. He used many ointments to preserve the matte white complexion inherited from his mother; he loved it when people said that he had greek nose, and the kuafer curled his thick dark brown hair every day so that it lay in waves under the wig; often he even went without a wig, although this was not befitting a gentleman of his rank. He was afraid to spoil his small mouth with full crimson lips with laughter and carefully watched in the mirror so that his smooth forehead did not lose the careless clarity that seemed to him a sign of aristocracy. He knew that ladies liked him, but he was looking for more and more confirmation of this, and the one with whom he spent one night remained dear to him for the rest of his life, because she called his dark brown, lively eyes sparkling under the overhanging arches of his eyebrows - winged eyes .

Entrepreneurship and greed for life

The type of dynamic entrepreneur who greedily absorbs everything new has been developing since childhood.

... the duchess was crazy about the pretty, ardent, smart beyond his years, flirtatious boy. Oh, what a difference there was between him and the blond, phlegmatic children at the Wolfenbüttel court. From there came his passionate attraction to the society of those in power. He needed a change of impressions, new faces, he had a thirst to communicate with people, a greedy desire to squeeze into his life as much as possible. more people, and they remained in his memory forever. He considered the day lost when he failed to make at least four new acquaintances, and boasted that he knew by sight a third of all German sovereign princes and at least half of the noble ladies .

Lesson. There are no extra minutes

The mitzvah of “counting the Omer” is to count the days between Passover and Shavuot. The counting of the days of the Omer is preceded every evening by a blessing, and at the same time the holy names of G-d are pronounced, although Judaism is extremely careful about their pronunciation. The deep, philosophical point of this commandment is that there is no extra time, every second is important...

The sages say: “A person cares about the loss of money, but does not care about the loss of his days. Money doesn’t help him, and his days don’t come back...” People who take good care of their property often don’t take care of their time at all. However, each person receives at his disposal exactly the number of days, weeks and years necessary to fulfill his mission in this world. No neither extra days, no spare ones. The book of Zohar says that every day given to us is a gift from the Almighty, and we are obliged to show what good we did on that day. The same applies to every hour, which hides a huge potential of possibilities.

The Jew Suess rose dizzyingly high. His happy occasion(and the fatal star) was the Duke of Württemberg, Karl-Alexander. Suess Oppenheimer began to provide Karl-Alexander with all kinds of services even when he could not even dream of a princely crown, but was only a gallant warrior, a folk hero and a prince of princely blood, always penniless.

“To become a general’s wife, you need to marry a lieutenant,” women joke these days. But this wisdom is true for all times. Finding a promising (career-wise) person and betting on him is one way to start your own business. Risk? Yes! In the end, nothing may come of your protege. But if successful... Oh!

“It is never easier to manage a person who has a lot of dreams for himself, because lofty goals and expenses require commensurate ones. Help a person with these expenses - and he will become your debtor, and if he achieves his goal, then your expenses will be reimbursed a hundredfold.” - Count Panin used to say to the heir to the throne, Paul I.

How to ensure tomorrow's success to the right person? What is needed here is what to others may seem like a reshuffling of concepts, a play on words: not just to place a bet on a person, but to make this person your protege. Like this. And this is the meaning of Rabbi Gabriel’s “prophecy” about the princely crown. This is not a prophecy - it is a hint to Karl-Alexander that from now on he has been chosen, that all obvious and secret levers will be set in motion for the sake of this crown... And that Suess is also one of the levers, his support, Mephistopheles under Faust... Both Suess and Karl-Alexander now ends up in the same mill, but not under the millstone, but as a millstone. The Duchy of Württemberg is destined for grinding.

Suess very soon proved to be indispensable to Karl-Alexander, gained his confidence and later became the sole manager of the Duke’s financial affairs. The Duke's confidant, he skillfully inflates his master's ambitions and indulges his whims. But how! Here is the charming Magdalene Sibylla, the daughter of a prelate. The girl is madly in love with him, Suess, but he... readily “gives” her to the voluptuous Duke.

Without officially holding any position (although he was sometimes called Minister of Finance), Oppenheimer managed to distribute all administrative posts to his creatures, established salt, wine and tobacco monopolies, sold privileges and positions for money, and aroused hatred among the people with burdensome taxes.

Ensuring the supply of weapons and soldiers to the army created by the Duke, Suess planned and carried out brilliant combinations from a financial and strategic point of view, introduced more and more new taxes, pumped out money for the Duke from wherever possible. Needless to say, all these measures could not cause anything but hatred and fear among ordinary people...

Hungry for impressions and pleasures, the financier himself lived like a prince.

SYMBOL of the Western-Eastern man..

In the book "Jew Suess" I wanted to show the way white man, the path through the limited European teaching of strength, through the Egyptian teaching of will, to immortality - to the teaching of Asia, the teaching of lack of will, passive contemplation.

... I saw the symbol of this West-Eastern man in Joseph Suess, in his strong grip, in his confident self-detachment, in his passionate, stormy activity and in his calm, calm contemplation. So, upon reflection, the curve of this life presented itself to me, meaningful by will and necessity.

A fact that amazes any researcher who has touched the biography of the financier Suess is that not being an Orthodox Jew, Suess refused to accept Christianity even on the verge of an unjust execution, even at the moment when his salvation depended on this step. In Feuchtwanger’s novel “The Jew Suess,” this moment is given special poignancy by the fact that Suess’s mother is Jewish, the actress Michaela, and his true father is Georg Eberhard von Heydersdorff, baron and field marshal. In Feuchtwanger's novel, the Jew Suess is a born aristocrat, the son of a Christian father! Publication of this fact alone would have allowed Suess to obtain noble title, would silence or at least subside those who fiercely hated Suess not because of his deeds, but because of his origin. However, Suess hid this fact.

Endowed with innate manners and grace, created for life in high society, Suess often seems to forget about his roots. But in fact, Joseph Suess belonged to Jewry all his life, and his conversion to the Jewish faith, the feeling of being a real Jew - all these complicated feelings occur periodically during the most turning points his life.

500 thousand gold doubloons

Karl Alexander died in 1737, and Oppenheimer was immediately arrested and accused of high treason, defamatory relations with court ladies and usury at exorbitant interest rates, put on trial and sentenced to death.

When Suess's sentence was already a foregone conclusion, the community made last try save his life. The powerful financier of the time, gofafactor Isaac Simon Landauer, arrived for an audience with Duke Regent Karl Rudolf, with him three rabbis from the communities of three cities, as well as cashiers, guards and several reliable fellows. Attempts to influence through the courts and government failed, calls for logic and justice also drowned in waves of popular anger and desire powerful of the world to find a scapegoat, so Isaac Landauer's plan was the last hope.

The plan was simple and daring to the point of genius. For all conceivable and inconceivable losses caused by the Jew to the duchy, Landauer proposed a voluntary fine of 500 thousand gold doubloons. 500 thousand gold! An unheard of, fabulous amount of money, for which one could buy not only a person’s life, but a small dukedom!

The elderly Duke Regent, who was not by nature greedy, was shocked by the size of the ransom. Being sure that for Jews there is nothing more valuable than gold, he at that moment realized that gold is not yet valuable in itself. Strong fellows brought in small heavy bags, untied them - and the eyes of those present were blinded by the shine of heavy gold coins that flowed like a stream from the brought bags.

Hundreds of communities around the world contributed to Isaac Landauer's brilliant plan and resignedly gave up their gold, a lot of gold - all in order to save the life of financial director Suess Oppenheimer. Unfortunately, hopes were not justified, and it was not possible to redeem Suess.

Death in a Birdcage

There were many such Jewish financiers […] in early middle ages, and even now. Some of them, in accordance with consistent logic, after years spent in luxury, ended their lives in prison or on the gallows. This was a natural risk for anyone who took on the duties of a court banker; he understood that if the master had a hard time, he would turn out to be a scapegoat. This is how the Jewish financiers of the Spanish and Moorish kings, bankers, the Habsburg Kaiser and the great electors ended their lives, and this is how the Jews who managed the property of the Greek, Polish, and Italian princes ended their lives.

L. Feuchtwanger, article about the novel

The trial dragged on for a long time: it was not easy to “pull up” the facts and evidence to accuse a Jew who did not even hold an official position (since this was prohibited), but was just a privy adviser to the duke, who was free to accept or reject the advice of his court Jew ; in addition, the salaries of the commission members were paid from the confiscated property of the former financial director, and the “per diems” were very high. The verdict, although illegal, was predetermined. People's hatred had to find some way out.

Dressed in the uniform of a "secret financial advisor", Suess was displayed in an iron cage (an allusion to great amount love affairs of Suess) for show to the people of the city of Stuttgart, who poured into the streets to mock the court Jew, and then hanged (February 4, 1738).

Sources used by L. Feuchtwanger:

Wilhelm Gauff. Jud Suess, a story (Feuchtwanger called this biography “naive anti-Semitic”).

Zimmermann, "Joseph Suess, ein Finanzmann des XVIII Jahrh." (Stut. 1874).

Literature:

Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron (1890–1907).

Notes:

Lion Feuchtwanger. Jew Suess. Collected works. Volume three. - M.: “ Fiction", 1989.

Lion Feuchtwanger. Jew Suess. Collected works. Volume three. - M.: “Fiction”, 1989, p. 227.

R. Menachem Mendel Teichman. Point of view. Articles about the months and holidays of the Jewish calendar. - Uzhgorod, 2006.

Sergeev V.I. Paul I (Grand Master of the Order of Malta). - Rostov n/a: “Phoenix”, 1999.

“Lechaim” (literary and journalistic magazine), October, 2000. Tishrei 5761 - 10 (102).

“Lechaim” (literary and journalistic magazine), October, 2000 Tishrei 5761 10 (102).

Family and life. Suess in the eyes of his contemporaries

Biography

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The meaning of SUSS OPPENHEIMER in the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedia

See also interpretations, synonyms, meanings of the word and what SUSS OPPENHEIMER is in Russian in dictionaries, encyclopedias and reference books:

"Suess Oppenheimer" in books

V. Obruchev and M. Zotina Eduard Suess

Suess in parliament. Taming of the Danube. A book about the origin of the Alps

Family and life. Suess in the eyes of his contemporaries. Illness and death

Suess the scientist

Oppenheimer Robert

Oppenheimer

1. Samuel Oppenheimer

Suess Eduard

OPPENHEIMER

Jew Suss (Jud Suss)

Oppenheimer and Pash

“Jew Suess” and plasticine Putin

Boris Abramovich... Suess

Chapter 1 Joseph Suess Oppenheimer: in the rays of a rising star. XVIII century

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