Old Altona in the Eyes of a Jewish Child, Photo Album |
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The Klopstockstrasse – with the small church and behind the well kept churchyard a large neglected square devoid of buildings.
The Tramway Stop number 27, in the Koenigsstrasse, not far from the famous Jewish cemetery, which bore in its center a tree trunk divided into three limbs resembling the three parts of the Hebrew letter Shin ש, a symbol of the mighty Name of God – Shadai.
Both Rabbi Jacob Emden and Rabbi Jonathan Eybeschuetz are buried here, two figures personally unacquainted to me, yet ever so familiar from the legends.
Despite their lifelong feud, they have been resting peacefully in close proximity to each other for over two centuries; this is because their dispute – so it was explained to me – was not fought about earthly matters, but rather for the sake of God’s honor. However, my heart was always with Rebbetzin Eybeschuetz, because she secretly gave charity to a Sabbatian beggar.
Over the past years, I occasionally encountered a few descendants of the two rabbis near the high tombstones, coming to the cemetery every year from Belgium or elsewhere in order to light a memorial candle and pray at the tombs of their holy forefathers.
Lately, however, the visitors were warned that dubious figures had settled in the Jewish cemetery…
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