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THE JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA
Alt-Ofen
springs thcrt' might lie ciiiiilojed for ritual baths. In the lust half of the fifteenth centtiry. acconlinc to the testimony of Israel Isscrlein (died 1470). of VieneiNevistadt. there was a Jewish eongregatiou at that place (" Fesukim u-Ketabini." LSI). TJie modem period began with the final expulsion of the Turks from Buda in 1G8G, when a few Jews returned. From thistiuie on the congregation raiiidly inereased, fostered by the broad administration of the baronial family of Ziehy de Vasonykcd. who as lords of thedom.'iin of AltOfeneXercisi'd their feudal rights over the Jewish community in a most liberal and kindly manner. Owing to this attitude, the number of Jews constantly increased. In ITiT only '2i families lived there; in 17;^."> these had increased to 43 families, numbering ISs individuals, who collectively paid annually TJnder KiO llorins "'protection money" to the Feudal Zicliy family. Two years later, thecomLords. munity was able to purchase the site of their synagogue from their feudal lord and a large district for a cemetery: the seller. Countess Susannah Zichy, contracting " to defend the Jewish congregation in the posses-sion of this land against everyone, native or foreign." On their part tliecongregation was bound to burj' no stranger in this cemetery without permission of the feudal lord, under penalty of 24 Hhenish llorins for each stranger. The burial tax was 6 llorins for every corpse brought from outside the community and one ))ound of pepper for the interment of every one dying by accident. This cemetery was located in the middle of the town (in the present Kaserucngas.se), upon the ruins of an old Roman bath, and was used by the Alt-Ofen communitv which, in course of time, reached nearl}' 4,000 souls— until 1888. It was likewise used by the commiuiity of Pest until the year 1795. From the year 17G5 until the end of the centiiry it wastheonly Jewish cemetery in the territory of the cities of Pest,
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Ofen, and AU-Ofen. The Ofcn community, which in 1735 had numbered 32 families or 156 persons, was entirely disbanded in 1765, and the remains of those interred in their ci'inetery were exhumed and reintcried in the Alt-Ofen burial-place. Here reposes, among others, J. B. Oppenheim the first rabbi of the community who was buried in 17.54; and the inscription u])on his tombstone designates him as "a luminary of .Tiulaism." He was followed in office by Nathan Gilnsburger of Belgrade, who was also buried in this cemetery, in 1781. During the official lifi'of these first two rabbis, the progress of the community of Alt-Ofen was continuous, owing to the constant acquisition of new rights and jirivileges conferred by their feudal governors. All these rights were secured by formal agreements, which were made sometimes for a period of six with the baronial house years, sometimes for ten of Zichy. Upon the transfer of Alt-Ofen back to the Crown, these privileges were confinned by the successive kings of Hungary. These agreements secured to the Jewish community of Alt-Ofen at that time an aggregate of privileges of a character that scarcely another congregation in Hungary enjoyed. They were guaranteed the undisturbed practise of their religion under the protecTJnder the tion of the baronial house the right to Jurisdic- decide, as a court of first instance, in tion of the disputes between .Tews and Jews, and Crown, even between Christians and Jews; the liberty to buy and to sell the large mansions and grounds of the nobility upon securing specific permission in each case. In 1774 there were twelve such estates and in 1806 twenty-four. These residences were exempt from the billeting of troops
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and the compulsory furnishing of post-horse relays. But new settlers, as well as those who desired to leave the <'ity, had first to satisfy all congregational dues before they were entitled to the baronial protection. By this means the feudal lord secured to the conununity a source of revenue that at times was very considerable. In some casi-s as much as 1,500 lloniis was jiaid for the privilege of permanent residence. Marriage was permitted without liindrance until t7H7, after which every young couple had to jiay a ' Krenmitz ilucat " to the count, in return for which they were enrolleil in the list of t^chulz-Juden (Jews under proiecli(m). On their own premises the
Jews might dispense
beer, brandy, and kosher wine; they could pasture their cattle on the town common might dress every kind of meat in the slaughterhouse that they owned; "Sabbathposts" ("Ekubin) might be set up, tinder the protection of the government; they might follow any trade with the exception of shoemaking, in regard to which the roval
in 181><enforced certain limiljitions. The the protective tax the community paid varied from 1,350 to 1.800 fiorins annually in addition they were required to present the count with 200 florins on his birthday and at the Christian festivalsof the New-year, Easter, and Martinmas (Nov. It was not (lilticult for the comnmnity to raise 11). these relatively large sums, because their own indirect revenues were very considerable. For instance, the returns from the sale of kosher li<|Uor in 1M07 amounted, for wine alone, to 6. .500 florins (§3,2.50), for beer and brandy 210 florins (S105), irrespective of 150 firkins (1,500 gallons) of untaxed wine for private use. In addition to the rights guaranteed to the community, they enjoyed certain ])rerogativ<'s not less im])ortant. The right of jurisdiction naturally brought with it the right to carry their verdicts into execution; and when the matter was of a police or religious nature, they C(ndd incarcerate the condemned in the prison which was in the synagogiu' yard, or inflict blows with a slick a maximum of twelve blows being fixed by the government. The community had the care of funds belonging to orphans, the administratiim of estates, and the settlement of disputed inheritances. The community thus gradtially attained almost to the power of a jKjIitical body. It became interested in tlie disposition of public works, as for instance the laying out of streets; and, indeed, the baronial authorities consulted in such matters with the Jewish community as well as with the Christians. The inner organization of the congregation was on a .sc;ile commensurate with this outward aspect. At its head was a judge, called ".Judge of the Jews," who was elected by the twenty-four Councilors of the Community tipon the issuance of the baronial jiermission, and in the presence of a baronial representative, of the rabbi and of two men learned in the Law. Of the Councilors, twelve belonged to the Inner, and twelve to the Outer Council. The taxreceiver, president of the community, The Inner and two "orphan -fat hers" were also Organiza- elected by tin- whole community. After their election they proceeded to the tion. synagogue, where they took the oath of office at the hands of the rabbi. The Inner Council held sessions every Tuesday and Thursday, taking cognizance only of the more petty matters. Deliberation upon questions concerning the community as a whole required the presence of the Outer Council as well. The members of the Inner Council drew a small Sidary from the communal treasury, which was withheld, however, for unpunctuality. According
government
amount of
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