Haus der Ewigkeit – בית־עולם

This illustrated book documents for the first time the 36 preserved Jewish gravestones in Stockelsdorf, including a transcription, translation and commentary of the grave inscriptions. A historical article starts off the book by shedding light on the political and economic circumstances under which Jewish families settled 200 years ago in the estates that form today’s Stockelsdorf. Their struggle for legal recognition shows great perseverance and tells of a symbiotic relationship with the Christian parishioners, who benefited economically from the Jewish moneychangers and traders. In the small community, the great politics of the time set an example: the treatment of Jewish settlers by the authorities was strongly influenced by the liberal influence of the „French period“ in Lübeck and Hamburg, and in the ensuing restoration the Jewish families were again banned from settling. The presentation of the eventful history allows an informed look at the gravestones presented in the second part of the book. Information on symbols, mourning rites and the structure of the cemetery further contextualize this. The illustrated book fills a gap in the research of the Jewish community in Stockelsdorf and sheds light on the historical conditions for Jewish families in Schleswig-Holstein around 1800.

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