I was once young and bezus.

Don't remember anything now.

Suess was hanged in this city,

This area bears his name.

The duke had him in his right hand.

All the rulers of the surrounding wise,

In the direction of the German authorities such

Not one wooed a Jew

(A.M.Gorodnitsky. Stuttgart)

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

He was generously endowed by nature: a financial genius, amazingly sharp business sense, composure combined with courage, abilities for languages ​​and sciences, aristocracy, manners, grace ... But, my God! - the Jew possessed all this! And how 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. Recall the story: in those days, Jews were forbidden not only to hold public office, but even to live where they wanted. Within some European states, principalities and cities, Jews were obliged to settle in their own quarters - ghettos - the gates of which were locked at night. They were also required to wear a special sign on their clothes.

However, there was an area in which Jews could not do without at all times: trade, farming, money circulation, finance ... There were many Jewish financiers in those days. Their services were needed, they were called upon, but often only in order to turn a deal, make them a "scapegoat" and expel ... 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 business, knew how to pull off any hopeless scam. For example, he is credited with the minting of 11 million defective coins (he managed to transfer this dubious business to other hands shortly before meeting with Prince Karl-Alexander).

Suess was very youthful in appearance and prided himself on the fact that he was usually given about thirty years, almost ten years younger than his real age. He needed to feel that he was being followed. women's views that heads turn to follow him as he rides down the alley. He used a lot of ointments to keep his mother's matte white complexion, liked to be told that he had Greek nose, and the coufer daily curled his thick dark brown hair so that it lay in waves even under the wig; often he even went without a wig, although this did not befit the master of his rank. He was afraid to spoil his small mouth with full crimson lips with laughter, and carefully looked in the mirror so that his smooth forehead would not lose the carefree clarity that seemed to him a sign of aristocracy. He knew what the ladies liked, but he was looking for more and more confirmations of this, and the one with whom he spent one night remained dear to him for life, because she called his dark brown, lively eyes sparkling under the overhanging arches of the eyebrows - winged eyes .

Entrepreneurship and greed for life

The type of a dynamic, eagerly absorbing everything new entrepreneur was formed from childhood.

... the duchess was crazy about a pretty, ardent, bright, flirtatious little boy beyond her years. Oh, what a difference there was between him and the blond phlegmatic children at the Wolfenbuttel 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, an avid desire to squeeze as many people into his life as possible, and they forever remained in his memory. He considered lost the day 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 noble ladies .

Lesson. No extra minutes

The commandment to "count 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 man cares about losing money, but he does not care about losing his days. Money does not help him, and the days do not return ... ”People who take good care of their property often do not take care of their time at all. However, each person receives at his disposal exactly the number of days, weeks and years that is necessary to fulfill his mission in this world. There are no extra days, no spare. The Zohar says that every day given to us is a gift from the Almighty, and we are obliged to show what good we did that day. The same applies to every hour, which hides a huge potential of opportunity.

The Jew Suess ascended dizzyingly high. His lucky chance (and 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 brave warrior, folk hero and a prince of princely blood, forever penniless.

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

“It is not easier to manage that person who dreamed a lot about himself, because high goals and expenses require proportionate ones. Hurry a person in these expenses - and he will become your debtor, and if he reaches his goal, then your expenses will be reimbursed a hundredfold, ” - Count Panin used to say to the heir to the throne, Paul I.

And how to ensure tomorrow's success to the right person? What is needed here is what will seem to some as a castling of concepts, a play on words: not just to 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 divination - this is a hint to Karl-Alexander that from now on he is elected, that all overt 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 from now on fall into the same mill, but not under millstones, but as millstones. The duchy of Württemberg is intended for grinding.

Suess very soon proved indispensable to Charles Alexander, entered into his confidence and later became the sole manager of the duke's financial affairs. The duke's confidant, he skillfully inflates the ambition of his master, indulges his whims. But how! Here is the charming Magdalene-Sibyl, the daughter of a prelate. The girl is madly in love with him, Suess, but he ... readily "yields" to her voluptuary duke.

Without officially holding any position (although he was sometimes called the 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 implemented brilliant combinations from a financial and strategic point of view, introduced more and more taxes, pumped out money for the duke from wherever possible. Needless to say, all these measures could not cause ordinary people anything but hatred and fear ...

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

SYMBOL of the West-Eastern man..

In the book "Jew Suess" I wanted to show the path of the white man, the path through the limited European teaching of power, 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-denial, in his passionate, stormy activity and in his calm and calm contemplation. Thus, on reflection, the curve of this life appeared to me, comprehended by will and necessity.

A fact that strikes 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 a moment when his salvation depended on this step. In Feuchtwanger's novel The Jew Süss, this moment is especially poignant by the fact that Süss's mother is Jewish, the actress Michaela, and her true father is Georg Ebergard von Heidersdorff, a baron and field marshal. In Feuchtwanger's novel, the Jew Suess is a born aristocrat, the son of a Christian father! The disclosure of this fact alone would allow Süss to obtain title of nobility, would silence or at least calm down those who fiercely hated Suess not because of his deeds, but because of his origin. However, Suess concealed this fact.

Endowed with innate manners, grace, created for life in high society Suess often seemingly forgets his roots. But in fact, Joseph Suess belonged to the Jews all his life, and his appeal to Jewish faith, feeling like a real Jew - all these complicated feelings periodically occur during turning points his life.

500 thousand gold doubloons

Charles Alexander died in 1737, and Oppenheimer was immediately arrested and charged with treason, discrediting court ladies and usury at exorbitant interest rates, put on trial and sentenced to death.

When Süss's sentence was already a foregone conclusion, the community made a last attempt to save his life. The powerful financier of that time, Gofffactor Isaac Simon Landauer, arrived at 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 the government failed, calls for logic and justice also drowned in the waves popular anger and the desires of the powerful of this world to find a "scapegoat", so Isaac Landauer's plan was last hope.

The plan was simple and bold to the point of genius. For all conceivable and unimaginable losses caused by a Jew to the duchy, Landauer proposed to pay a voluntary fine of 500,000 gold doubloons. 500 thousand gold! An unheard-of, fabulous sum of money, for which it was possible to buy not only the life of a person, but a small duchy!

The aged duke regent, who was not naturally greedy, was shocked at the size of the ransom. Being sure that for the Jews there is nothing more precious than gold, at that moment he realized that gold is not yet a value in itself. Strong fellows brought in small heavy bags, untied them - and the eyes of those present were blinded by the brilliance 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 gave up their gold, a lot of gold, all in order to save the life of financial director Süss Oppenheimer. Unfortunately, the hopes were not justified, and it was not possible to redeem Süss.

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. It was a natural risk for anyone who assumed the duties of a court banker, he understood that if the master had a hard time, he would be the scapegoat. This is how the Jewish financiers of the Spanish and Moorish kings, bankers, the Habsburg Kaiser and the great Electors ended their lives, this is how the Jews who managed the property of Greek, Polish, 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 in” facts and evidence to accuse a Jew who did not even hold an official position (since it was forbidden), but was only a secret adviser to the duke, who was free to accept or reject the advice of his court Jew ; in addition, the salaries of the members of the commission were paid from the confiscated property of the former financial director, and the "per diems" were very high. The verdict, though illegal, was preordained. The people's hatred had to find some way out.

Dressed in the uniform of a "secret financial adviser," Suess was displayed in an iron cage (an allusion to the huge number of love affairs Suess) to show 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 Hauff. Jud Suess, novel (Feuchtwanger called this biography "naively anti-Semitic").

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

Literature:

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

Notes:

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

Lion Feuchtwanger. Jewish 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. Pavel 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).

Meaning of Süss Oppenheimer in the Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron

Süss Oppenheimer

(Joseph Suss-Oppenheimer) ? well-known financial businessman, a Jew by origin; genus. in 1692; was first a merchant, then entered into monetary relations with the prodigal Duke of Württemberg, Karl-Alexander, and soon gained his full confidence. 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 defective coins for 11 million, established salt, wine and tobacco monopolies, sold privileges for money and caused strong hatred with burdensome taxes. in the people. When Karl-Alexander died in 1737, Z. was arrested, put on trial and sentenced to death. Dressed in the uniform of a "secret financial adviser", he was exhibited in an iron cage to show the people, and then hanged (February 4, 1738). The novelist Wilhelm Gauff edited his biography in the story "Jud S u ss". See Zimmermann, "Joseph Suss, ein Finanzmann des XVIII Jahrh." (Stutt. 1874).

Brockhaus and Efron. Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron. 2012

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

• SUS in the Literary Encyclopedia:
  (German Suss) - the hero of the novel by L. Feuchtwanger "Jew Suss" (1925). Feuchtwanger first wrote a play with the same title (1917-1918), but he himself...
• OPPENGEIMER
  (Oppenheimer) Robert (1904-67) American physicist. Proceedings on quantum mechanics, physics of the atomic nucleus and cosmic rays, isotope separation, neutron stars. Led…
• SUS in the Big Encyclopedic Dictionary:
  (Sues) Eduard (1831-1914) Austrian geologist, foreign corresponding member (1887) and foreign honorary member (1901) of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. In the main work "The Face ...
• OPPENGEIMER
  Oppenheimer Robert (1904-1967), amer. physicist. Tr. in quantum mechanics, nuclear physics and space. rays, isotope separation, neutron ...
• SUS in the Big Russian Encyclopedic Dictionary:
  (SueB) Eduard (1831-1914), Austrian geologist, in. h.-k. (1887) and in. post. h. (1901) St. Petersburg. AN. In ch. tr. "Face of the Earth"...
• OPPENGEIMER
  (Franz Oppenheimer, born in 1864) ? German economist. Wrote: "Freiland in Deutschland" (Berl., 1895); "Die Siedlungsgenossensohaft: Versuch einer Ueberwindung...
• SUS in the Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron:
  (Eduard Suess) ? Austrian geologist and public figure. Genus. in 1831 in London, studied in Prague and Vienna, where ...
• OPPENGEIMER
  (Oppenheimer) Robert (1904–67), American physicist. Proceedings on quantum mechanics, physics of the atomic nucleus and cosmic rays, isotope separation, neutron stars. …
• SUS in Modern explanatory dictionary, TSB:
  (Sues) Eduard (1831-1914), Austrian geologist, foreign corresponding member (1887) and foreign honorary member (1901) of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. In the main work...
• Süss Oppenheimer Joseph
  (Joseph S?ss-Oppenheimer) - Izv. finance. businessman, Jewish by origin, b. in 1692, was at first a merchant, then entered into cash ...
• ROBERT OPPENGEIMER at the Wiki Quote:
  Data: 2007-08-27 Time: 13:46:44 * Robert Oppenheimer, told the president that after the bombing of Japanese cities, he and his colleagues feel "blood ...
• Oppenheimer Robert
  (Oppenheimer) Robert (April 22, 1904, New York - February 18, 1967, Princeton), American physicist. Studied at Harvard, Cambridge and Göttingen Universities. In 1928-29 he worked in ...
• ZUSS EDUARD in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  (Suess) Eduard (August 20, 1831, London - April 26, 1914, Vienna), Austrian geologist. In 1852 he graduated from the Vienna Polytechnic. From 1857 to 1901 professor of geology ...
• Oppenheimer Franz in the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Euphron:
  (Oppenheimer, born in 1864) - German. economist. Wrote: "Freiland in Deutschland" (Berl., 1895); "Die Siedlungsgenossensohaft: Versuch einer Ueberwindung des …
• ZUSS EDUARD in the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Euphron:
  (Suess) is an Austrian geologist and public figure. Genus. in 1831 in London, studied in Prague and Vienna, where in ...
• Oppenheimer, Robert in Collier's Dictionary:
  (Oppenheimer, J. Robert) (1904-1967), American physicist, nuclear physicist, director and scientific director American project to create atomic bomb. …
• SIN in the Wiki Quote:
  Data: 2009-06-30 Time: 18:52:46 A * Absurdity is a sin without God. (Jean Paul Sartre) B * Without ...
• HARRY TRUMAN at the Wiki Quote:
  Data: 2008-01-15 Time: 20:43:17 * He who has allies is no longer completely independent. [ [ http://www.globalaffairs.ru/numbers/5/2012.html Russia in the Global …
• ATOMIC BOMBINGS OF HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI in Wiki Quote:
  Data: 2008-10-24 Time: 10:11:36 = Phrases of the pilots who participated in the bombing = * Major Iserli, commander of the meteorological reconnaissance aircraft, transmitted via ...
• CIVILIZATION IV at the Wiki Quote:
  Data: 2009-08-12 Time: 13:48:46 = From Civilization IV = * "The idea of ​​God was put into the human mind by nature itself." (Cicero) ...
• CINEMATOGRAPHY IN THE THIRD REICH in the Encyclopedia of the Third Reich:
  After the Nazis came to power, German cinematography, which had received world recognition thanks to the originality and talent of German actors and directors, ...
• 1949.10.30 in Pages of History What, where, when:
  After receiving test reports Soviet Union its atomic bomb in the United States, a secret discussion is unfolding about the further development of the atomic project ...
• FEICHTWANGER in the Literary Encyclopedia:
  Lyon - German writer, a native of Munich. Studied literature and philosophy at the Universities of Munich and Berlin. Doing journalism...
• FEICHTWANGER in the Big Encyclopedic Dictionary:
  (Feuchtwanger) Lyon (1884-1958) German writer. After 1933 in exile. IN historical novels("The Ugly Duchess", 1923; "Jew Suess", 1925; "Jewish War", ...
• HISTORICAL GEOLOGY in the Big Encyclopedic Dictionary:
  branch of geology that studies the history and patterns of development of the earth's crust and the earth as a whole. The main branch of historical geology is stratigraphy. Tasks …
• AVI SHAUL in the Big Encyclopedic Dictionary:
  (real name Mandel) Mordechai (1898-1988) Israeli writer. He wrote in Hebrew. Dramas "Necklace" (1928), "Jew Suess" (1933), collections of short stories ("King Karakash ...
• FEICHTWANGER LYON in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  (Feuchtwanger) Lyon (July 7, 1884, Munich, v December 21, 1958, Los Angeles, USA), German writer. He received a philological education in Munich and Berlin; PhD (1907). …
• TRIASSIC SYSTEM (PERIOD) in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  system (period), Triassic, the first (lower) system of the Mesozoic group, corresponding to the first period of the Mesozoic era of the Earth's history; it follows the Permian ...
• TECTONIC HYPOTHESES in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  hypotheses, scientifically based assumptions about the causes of movements and deformations of the earth's crust, creating its structure. The question of the causes of tectonic deformations is impossible ...
• TECTONICS (GEOL.) in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  (from the Greek tektonikos - related to construction), geotectonics, a branch of geology that studies the structure of the earth's crust and its changes under the influence of mechanical ...
• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  States of America (USA) (United States of America, USA). I. General information USA is a state in North America. Area 9.4 million ...
• ROTHSCHILD in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  (Rothschild), a dynasty of financial magnates, the beginning of which was laid by the banker Mayer Amschel R. from Frankfurt am Main, who enriched himself in the 18th century. military supplies...
• RELATIVISTIC ASTROPHYSICS in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  astrophysics, branch of astrophysics that studies astronomical phenomena and celestial bodies under conditions for which classical mechanics and the law are inapplicable ...
• PLATFORM (GEOL.) in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  (geological), one of the main types of structural elements of the earth's crust (lithosphere); large (several thousand km across), relatively stable blocks of crust ...
• KRAUS WERNER in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  (Kraub) Werner (6/23/1884, Gestungshausen - 10/20/1959, Vienna), German theater and film actor. He made his debut in the theater in 1904, played in the Berlin ...
• CONTRACTION HYPOTHESIS in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  hypothesis (from lat. contractio - contraction, compression) in geotectonics, a tectonic hypothesis that was widespread in the 19th century. (French geologist L. ...
• EUROPEAN CENTER FOR NUCLEAR RESEARCH in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  Center for Nuclear Research (abbreviated as CERN, from the French Center Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleare), a research institute that conducts experimental and ...
• EUROPE (PART OF THE WORLD) in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  (Greek Europe, from Assyrian erebus - west; in ancient Greece, this was the name of the territories lying to the west of the Aegean Sea), part ...

Markus Lehman

Continuation. Beginning at #120 – 122

Chapter Ten

The new duke and his Jew

Bells rang in the streets of Stuttgart. From time to time, the muffled hoot of cannons was heard, announcing the entry of the new Duke of Württemberg, the illustrious warrior Charles Alexander, into the capital of his state, accompanied by his wife, children and numerous retinue. People crowded on both sides of the city streets. Everyone wanted to see the new duke, whose bravery and courage had already been heard. Everyone consoled themselves with the hope that after the difficult times they had experienced under the dominion 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 cries of: “Long live Karl-Alexander! Long live the Duke of Württemberg - the conquering hero of the Turks!

City houses shook with the sounds of jubilation, sometimes drowning out both the thunder of cannons and the ringing of bells. A good impression was made on the townspeople by that important gentleman, dressed in civilian clothes, who was sitting on right hand from the duke. His facial features, which betrayed oriental origin, left no doubt as to his identity - it was the duke's court supplier, the invaluable Jew Süss 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 tried and tested prime minister of the former duke and brother famous countess. He bowed deeply and proclaimed:

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

- Who is this, what is his name? the duke interrupted.

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

- What?! roared the duke. - So this is the same Grevenitz, the brother of the usurper who came to my dear homeland to undermine its foundations? And he dared to show himself before my eyes! Arrest him! Get him away from me! Send him to the 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 seized everyone present. Count Grevenitz looked dead and speechless. And without uttering a word, on staggering legs and under reinforced escort, he was taken out of the palace.

Then, seized with fear and excitement, the head of the church, the Monk Tefinger, and the burgomaster Lenbeck approached to greet the duke on behalf of the clergy and townspeople. They made a deep bow, but for fear they could not find the right words for the prepared salutations.

- Who you are? the duke asked. 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 from 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 led religious wars long gone? Nowadays, 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 impose the Catholic faith on anyone without regard to any obligations or guarantees. You will be convinced of the sincerity of my words when I select ministers for my cabinet. A Protestant in my environment will be intolerable to me, on the other hand, I cannot hand over the reins of government to a Catholic, lest the concerned citizens murmur as if their faith is in danger. Therefore, I decided to put a Jew at the head of the government.

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

“Yes, damn you, 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 discretion! On this occasion, I did not give anyone any obligations. And if you don't like it, at least drown yourself! Didn't you see what fate befell Grevenitz? In the fortress of Hohenville there will be places for all traitors and conspirators!

Tefinger immediately fell on his knees and humbly kissed the duke's hands.

- Get up! roared the duke. "I can't stand this kind of show!"

Tefinger jumped up and froze in an offended pose.

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

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

The Duke neighed at the top of his lungs.

- Suess! he called.

Suess stepped forward and bowed.

“Heard, Süss, what the prelate accuses you of? the duke asked, still laughing. "Say something in your defense!"

“Mr. prelate,” Suess turned to Tefinger, “can you tell me what year is this in your reckoning?”

“Today we have one thousand seven hundred and thirty-three,” answered the astonished pastor.

“So, would the prelate be so kind as to look at me and say, is it possible to say that my age reaches more than one thousand seven hundred years?” And if not, then is it not possible to assert on this basis that I had no opportunity to commit the aforementioned atrocity, is it not so?

Bravo, Suess, bravo! the duke cackled, even more amused. “The Reverend need not worry about that. I vouch with 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 a crime!

“And you, Mr. Burgomaster,” Süss turned to Lenbeck, “would deign to convey to the citizens my cordial greetings. Tell them that I will be their gracious ruler as long as they are faithful to me and obedient to my will.

- Your Highness! Lenbeck spoke up. - Allow your obedient servant just to notice ...

- All! the duke cut him off. - Not another word! Audience is over!

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

The news of the appointment of a Jew as prime minister spread with lightning speed throughout the country and put an end to the jubilation that reigned among the people over the imprisonment of Count Grevenitz. In order to well imagine all the bitterness and horror that this news caused, we need to be properly imbued with the spirit of that era. At that time, the Jews were deprived of all rights. Everywhere they were in the most severe oppression and subjected to persecution and ridicule. Jews were forbidden to settle 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 in order to be eligible for residence. In those days, putting a Jew at the head of the government was a serious matter. Fear, or, more precisely, humiliation and ridicule, was mixed with shame and ridicule and were the cause of this mystical inexplicable fear of the Jews, whose spiritual level was incomparably higher than the level of a 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 oust Christians from everywhere. Thus, in the light of such sentiments, it was quite clear that even if Suess had 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 win the sympathy of the anxious citizens and break their distrust.

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

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

- What?! exclaimed the duke. – Reasonable economy?! Should I limit myself again? Bond my life! Hurt and count pennies! And this is what you advise me, Suess! And for this, I have been so eager for the ducal throne all these years! For this I overcame countless difficulties, for this I spent years in uncertainty, endured inconveniences, 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 should also be enough money left to satisfy all my whims to support an opera to invite me to Stuttgart famous singers and singers, dancers, clowns and circus performers to arrange entertainment, the likes of which the inhabitants of the city have not yet known. I want to make the most of my position. That is why I so aspired to the ducal throne. And you appear before my eyes to offer me a life of modesty. Be ashamed, Suess!

- Gracious sir...

- I don't want to hear anything! You were so good at getting money for me out of nowhere, and now, when the opportunity is open before you to draw full handfuls, you suddenly give up!

- Gracious sir! You know that our citizens are cruelly jealous of me and have the blackest hatred for me right now, so what will happen when I start ...

- Enough! I am the king here! Behind everything you do is my will, and all responsibility also falls on me alone! I will give you a special paper, bearing the seal of the duke, which will release 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 a humble servant of Your Highness.

- Well, if so, first of all, get money to cover

- 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. On this deal, we will earn about two hundred thousand.

- Amazing. Take action.

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

- Amazing. Finish with this too. And then see to it that I double and triple my income. I wish to live in pleasantness and pleasure.

And Suess fulfilled all the orders of his master. He showed remarkable ability 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 the citizens of the state, but his master was perfectly pleased with him.

Chapter Eleven

Trapped in 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 constantly succeeded each other - it was a real extravaganza. Everyone was required to participate in the entertainment. So both court officials and the nobility had to lead crazy, luxurious lives. Those who still dared to neglect court balls were severely punished - the duke simply deprived them of a quarter of their annual income. Karl-Alexander spent all the summer months in Ludwigsburg - it was the Württemberg Versailles. Everything was there: festive fireworks, Italian nights and other, other amusements ...

Luxury, of course, required expenses, expenses and more expenses. And on the shoulders of Suess lay the burden of replenishing the ducal treasury. Not an easy burden. And to hint in the presence of the duke about how much effort it costs him and at what cost he gets it was unthinkable. If Karl-Alexander began to tap on the golden box that he always had at hand, everyone knew: expect wrath! And the duke will give him free rein: oh, this shower of very strong expressions - just substitute your head! No wonder he was in the military. But as long as his diligent Minister of Finance carried out 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 do what he needed, he had to go to any lengths, not disdaining even the most unseemly in the eyes of people. In the end, his name was covered in disgrace. The whole country hated and despised him. From the very beginning, Suess laid taxes and taxes on the entire population - which are only possible and impossible - just to satisfy the thirst for gold of his master. But even this was not enough. Then Suess took control, or rather, laid his paw on all the largest enterprises in the country, all crafts: he simply sold them to those who offered the best price. Taverns, wineries, tobacco and incense sales, and even chimney sweeps were taxed. At the same time, everyone was eager for profit, and preferably as much as possible. The subjects imitated the duke's wild life. Everyone aspired to luxury and entertainment, and how they got this money - only God knows! The country was strangled by taxes, the high cost was growing, people were impoverished before our eyes. The 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 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 traveled in a luxurious carriage harnessed by two teams of beautiful, noble horses. In front sat a coachman, dressed in a livery embroidered with gold, and at the back rode no less richly dressed servants.

At first, the clergy and senior officials did not hesitate to reveal their dislike to Suess. However, Suess knew how to put himself in order to catch up on them with fear and thereby force himself to be respected. 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 some wise men 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, many of the most eminent gentlemen and ladies, who came to ask for themselves or for one of their protégés, were jostling in his waiting room. And Suess distributed his favors with a generous hand - of course, only if the price for them was equally generous.

To fill the pockets of the duke, and at the same time his own, Suess even started special establishments where government posts and positions were sold to anyone who could offer good price. True, there were overly scrupulous citizens who at first tried to protest against such a shame. Their duke immediately ordered 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 be compared with the luxury of the court of Louis XV, which was supported by all of vast France. Then Suess invented a special tax on private property - without exception, all wealthy families fell under his burden. Even foreigners arriving in the country - and they had to pay this mysterious "protective" tax.

Suess got fabulously rich from all this. He acquired the estates of Dunzdorf, Gierlingen and Adrenheim! Full chests of gold and precious stones, the most exquisite dishes! Wealth, luxury, entertainment - that was now the value of life for him.

In vain did the Württembergers fear that Süss would flood the country with Jews. Suess did not think about his fellow tribesmen at all. It happened at first that one of the Jews hoped and even sought his favor, but received a severe rebuff - Süss fought back with both hands. And in the anti-Jewish discriminatory laws of Württemberg, he did not change a single line. The firmer Suess stood at the top, the steeper was his selfishness and the less he cared about his unfortunate persecuted brothers. In fact, he no longer had anything to do with Jewry - except for his origin. He was now so far from the Torah and the commandments that he did not even remember the New Year or doomsday. He was completely immersed in the life of this world and did not think about the soul at all. Suess was not loved for his spiritual depravity no less than for his unrighteous 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 a newspaper to fly into such a tiny town as Oppenheim. News in those days was learned mostly from travelers and visitors.

There was once such a traveling gentleman as a guest in the house of Rabbi Simcha. After the Shabbat meal, Rabbi Simcha started a conversation with him and asked where he was from. It turned out to be from the Predental.

– Where is this city?

– Yes, in the Duchy of Württemberg.

- In Württemberg? Judith, tell me, dear, was Suess in the service under the Württemberg prince?

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

“So he hasn’t been in Belgrade for a long time, child,” answered the guest, “now he is the Duke of Württemberg.”

“Perhaps you know, sir,” Rabbi Simcha asked in great agitation, “what became of his court Jew, Suess Oppenheimer?”

- I wouldn't know that! After all, it is he, damn him forever, who sticks out at the duke's prime minister and does whatever he wants with us.

How severely you curse him! Why so!

"But how can I not curse him?" It's worse than him, in my opinion, and it can't be! Not only does he spit on Shabos and the holidays, he eats tref, so he is also a thief, and an adulterer, and will never lift a finger to help his destitute brothers. It only brings disgrace to our people, but attracts the curses of the goyim! It is clear that they will say about the wicked Jew: “Look, they are all like that!”

- Yes, what did he do, this Suess, to arouse such hatred of the goyim?

- He brazenly robs 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 impoverished, and his pockets and chests probably no longer contain the loot.

- You know, everything you say makes me terribly upset: after all, this Suess is my nephew.

- Your nephew? Forgive me rabbi! It's so bad to talk about your relative... Forgive me!

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

Rabbi Simcha spent Shabbos in sorrow 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! - Finally, Rabbi Simcha said to his daughter at the end of the Sabbath after Avdola. - I can't find my place! There will be no rest, girl, until I myself visit Stuttgart! I must see Suess, I must tell him everything I think about his life! I am simply obliged to warn him: his end will be bitter and sad, unless he comes to his senses and returns to the true path.

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

“While I am gone, you will stay with Rabbi David, who is in charge of the community money. He will accept you with joy and refuse you nothing. As for me, you are certainly 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 back, knowing that my own nephew, my blood and flesh, is abandoned somewhere to the mercy of fate! All night longing gnawed at me - what a dream! But once the way from Benzlau to Heidelberg was three times longer than the one that I have now ...

- Father, but then you were young! And then, remember what came out of all this! Suess won't listen to you either! I'm afraid he's all wrapped up in his affairs and won't even hear what you're saying.

“You may be right, my daughter, but at least I will do my duty. I want to help him, as 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'll be on my way. This is my duty, and I will fulfill it at any cost.

Chapter Twelve

Rabbi in jail

With a heavy heart, Rabbi Simcha set off on a long and difficult journey. But the road from Oppenheim to Stuttgart at that time took many days. Rabbi Simcha jolted along the broken ruts in the post coach, an open wagon with hard wooden benches that plodded slowly, stopping every now and then because of a broken wheel or a slipped horseshoe. Stops used to last for hours, while something was repaired there. Sometimes there was no direct mail 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, she, she,” Rabbi Simcha said to himself, “my poor sister, what a pity that I did not persuade you to return with me to your parental home. 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 you had returned to Benzlau while the child was very young and had not yet had time to absorb the nasty tendencies of his father - his love for luxurious life, his debauchery, to absorb so much that he cannot live in any other way! But what was, was. This is surely the will of the Almighty. So strengthen me, Lord, at least this time: help return the lost sinner to the path of righteousness!

There were still a few stations to Stuttgart when Rabbi Simcha had a travel companion. They immediately became friends. In the post stagecoach, acquaintances are easily made and even friendship arises. Many days side by side, spent on a difficult journey, mean something.

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

“Before,” said Rabbi Simcha, his handsome fellow traveler, “I also deeply respected the Jews. After all, we are the people who were the first in the world to be rewarded with 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.

“Ah, why don’t you remember, because it is said: “Are you really angry at the whole community because of one sinner?”

– You are certainly right. But this Suess, whom the Almighty probably sent in his anger to our community, is such a disaster! After all, Suess crosses all possible boundaries. Oh! – unexpectedly stopped fellow traveler. “I seem to have said too much. Unhappy me, if only my words will reach the ears of Süss. I will be sent to jail immediately.

“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 say things to this Suess that are much more impartial than all that you have just told.

“Do you seriously think that the minister will agree to receive you?” Blood brothers don't interest him at all. At first it seemed to us that the Jewish Prime Minister would still 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 had only one concern in life: to fulfill all the crazy whims of the duke and to fill his own pockets more tightly. Here he has all the means are good. Be sure - you will not get to his reception. If you do succeed, then you will be the first Jew whom Suess admitted to his person since he took over as head of government and minister of finance.

Still, I'm sure he'll accept me. After all, he is my own nephew, he grew up, was brought up in my house.

- Can't be! – the fellow traveler opened his mouth. “Will you forgive me if I allow myself to remark that his upbringing leaves much to be desired?”

“Oh, believe me, my dear sir, this is absolutely not my fault. I did not instill in him evil inclinations. 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, he ran away from my house.

So what do you expect from him now?

- I'm going to persuade him, to beg, in the end, to conjure! I so want to return him to the righteous path.

“I am sorry for your labors 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 a noble and courageous person! If you ever need help, don't hesitate to contact me. My name is Councilor Bilfinger. I will get off at the next station. But in Stuttgart everyone knows me, and everyone will show you my house.

The adviser left 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 wagon and began to question the traveler:

- Simcha Bentzlau.

- Where?

- From Oppenheim.

- Occupation?

“I am the city rabbi of the Oppenheim congregation.

- On what business in Stuttgart?

“I would like to see His Grace Prime Minister Süss Oppenheim.

- Well, you can forget about it. His lordship had never received any of his compatriots before. Many Jews asked to see him - for some reason, every Jew considers himself his cousin-nephew. Everyone got a turn from the gate. For some reason, all these gentlemen think that since his lordship himself is from the Jews, then Stuttgart is not today - tomorrow it will be nicknamed nothing more than New Jerusalem. Ha ha ha! This is a very strong delusion, Jew! Stuttgart is definitely not Jerusalem. According to me - so you can knock at the gate of his lordship to your heart's content. He will show you how much a pound is worth. Show me your documents, Jew!

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

“Something I can’t find my documents,” he mumbled in a trembling voice. “It’s not like they got lost along the way.

- Whatever they come up with! Listen, you vagrant without a passport! Did you think that if you told me a story that you were going to an appointment with the Prime Minister, then I would let you go on all four sides? You're wrong! Well, get off the wagon! Come with me to the police station!

“Well, please, sir, save me from such a disgrace!” After all, I am the uncle of the minister. He is my sister's son!

- Wow, it's flooding! Do you really think to talk my teeth with such fables? Well, let's go before they drag me by force!

With groans and sighs, Rabbi Simcha got out of the wagon, dragging a small travel suitcase behind him. The official handed him over to two guards, who took him to prison, where he immediately experienced the full charm of the new position. Ridicule and mockery rained down on him.

- What kind of miracle bird has flown into our region? exclaimed the head of the prison. “Ah, Abrashka, what have you done?” Since his lordship has been our prime minister, every Abrashka believes that he is allowed to do whatever he wants in Stuttgart. But this is your big mistake. His Grace, Mr. Minister, keeps Jews and Christians on the same short leash. Everyone - in accordance with merit and rank. Here before, who was my guest? Only petty thieves and some nasty pimps, forgive me, G-d! And since his lordship has been our prime minister, I have had to receive very eminent barons and counts here and there. So - do not be discouraged, Abrasha. If you, for example, are a counterfeiter, then hang out for you, as expected, in a noose, even though you are circumcised no worse than his lordship.

Rabbi Simcha was trembling with fear, his knees gave way. But, plucking up his courage, he still pulled himself together and, in spite of 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 a wicked grin. - How do you like our mansions?

Rabbi Simcha came close to the chief and thrust a shiny golden one into his hand.

- For this gold, I ask the master chief just one minor favor.

– Speak! the chief 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 came here for vagrancy?”

- Exactly! Do me a small favor and tell Minister Suess that the Oppenheim rabbi, his maternal uncle, has come to visit him and by mistake he has been taken to prison!

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

The minister was up to his neck at that hour. His friend General Remchingen, President of the House of Commons Schaefer and Councilor Galvaks discussed important current affairs with him. When the head of the prison tried to enter the palace, the gatekeeper did not let him in.

- Now it is not ordered to let anyone in, - said the doorkeeper, - Mr. Minister is busy with important state affairs.

“Well, if so, then report on my case. To me in jail was delivered today old jew, with a gray beard, frail, skinny, looks like a tramp without documents. But he claims to be his lordship's uncle and asks his lordship to let me know.

- Great job! The porter chuckled. “Inform his lordship that a certain vagrant without a passport calls himself his uncle. No, quit! I won't do this!

“Think, however, of the consequences that may occur if the old man does not lie!” After all, his lordship was not born with the crown of the ruler on his head! What if the old man really was his Jewish uncle and really lost his documents on the way to Stuttgart, and when His Excellency finds out about this ...

- Yes, that would be bad. But you can’t just thump to his excellency with a story that some tramp from prison is his uncle. He will just tear me to pieces. Do you even know what his name is and where he comes from?

“Yes, he says that he is some kind of decanter from the city of Ophigein.

The gatekeeper went to Suess.

- Your Mightiness! he reported. “Some awesome decanter was arrested today for vagrancy, and he sent the warden to tell you to set him free!”

“What, I don’t have enough of my crazy ones!” Suess chuckled. - So they send some awesome decanter from prison. Well, what do I care about him?

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

- Well, what is he, speak quickly!

- He's a Jew!

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

The porter rushed to the door.

- Wow, - wondered the surprised Suess, - a Jew - an awesome decanter! An extremely rare occurrence. Hey Hans!

“Listen, Your Grace!

- Yes, did the head of the prison - the decanter - say exactly?

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

Maybe a rabbi? Come on, call me the head of the prison.

Entering, the head of the prison bowed low and froze in front of Suess in an obsequious pose.

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

- Your Mightiness! With your permission, he said that he was the decanter of the Jews of the city of Ophigein and the uncle of Your Grace!

- Ofigeyna? Maybe Oppenheim?

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

Gloomy and agitated, Suess got up from his chair.

- My beloved uncle came to me! And they threw him in jail! Oh, I'm going to him immediately. Hans, tell the carriage to be harnessed! 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 press him to my heart immediately!

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

Chapter Thirteen

Minister and Rabbi

Rabbi Simcha sank down on a heap of straw and sorrowful thoughts filled his mind and soul. After a while he got up and began pacing from corner to corner of the cramped cell. He reasoned aloud: “Surely this is a bad omen. As soon as I appeared in the capital, where my nephew is the ruler, I was immediately thrown into prison. I'm afraid this stupid combination 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 erring, 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, an unfortunate and humiliated Jew, helpless and persecuted, how to explain to this important gentleman that his strength, glory 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 Süss, who exclaimed in excitement:

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

Simha just froze for a while, hardly perceiving what was happening. But, feeling Suess's tears on his face, he went limp, pressed his nephew to him, burst into sobs himself, so much so that he could not find suitable words.

Suess immediately took his uncle to his palace, showing him all kinds of signs of attention and respect. He showed him his luxurious palace, wonderful gardens and greenhouses, delighting with their beauty the most demanding taste and delighting the most delicate sense of smell with their aroma. And this was his victory over circumstances, and he wanted his uncle to see it all. Suess brought him to his library, where he collected a variety of books the best authors humanity of all times in exquisite, expensive bindings. There were also Jewish books. Then he took Simcha 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.

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

“You keep silent and silent, uncle,” Suess said at last. “You probably think that the day will come and everything will crumble to dust. But no, I have a security clearance, 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 if you lose your wealth in this world. This is not what makes me sad, it is not what prevents me from rejoicing with you at your successes. Suess, there are no mezuzahs on your doors and gates, your table cannot be called kosher, you violate Saturdays and holidays, and even the New Year and Judgment Day do not mean anything to you anymore. You live like in the desert. The 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 on such a difficult journey in the dead of winter, I set out with only one goal: to reason with you, while there is still time. Drop it all - it's a sin, Suess!

"Yeah, how can I say no to that?" 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. Yes, just remember the righteous Yosef, who, being the second person in all the great land of Egypt, did not violate the commandments of his G-d in anything, served him with all his heart! As a slave, he went through a great temptation, did not succumb to love beautiful woman, being a ruler, he never ate treif food with the Egyptians at their feasts! And his name on the lips of the Egyptians sounded 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, Egyptian gratitude to Yosef for saving them from hunger and humiliation: they calmly sent his sons and grandsons to hard labor!

- It's not so simple, Suess! That was the highest plan: the liberation of the Jewish people from slavery was predetermined by the same slavery. And the gift to the people of a special purpose would not have been without this! And remember Mordechai, who eventually became a royal adviser in one of the greatest empires in history. He was looking only for the good and prosperity for all the countries given under his rule, and for his Jewish brothers. When our great sages Hasdai a-Nagid or Shmuel a-Nagid were elevated to the level of ministers and rulers of Spain, what were they doing? They only cared about the welfare of their subjects, and the people did not get tired of blessing them. And they spent most of their personal wealth on supporting Jewish life. So, Rabbi Shmuel a-Nagid gathered from all over the world Jewish poets and sages, experts in grammar and the Talmud, gave them shelter, food and everything necessary so that they could devote their priceless time to completely spiritual creativity. Long years he supported many families so that the fathers could study the Torah day and night without being distracted by worries about food. He built numerous synagogues and yeshivas, and his time was the moment of greatest prosperity for the Spanish community. And you, Suess? What have you done for the Jews and for the Jews? The whole country groans from your predatory decrees, and yet it is more difficult for the Jews than for the rest. You seem not to notice the existence of your own people, but what have you done to abolish 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 of your personal needs; you are not interested in the oppressed brethren at all. Your goal is one: hoarding, wealth, luxury! All those Jewish rulers that I spoke about, Mordechai, and Rabbi Hasdai, and Rabbi Shmuel, by no means were bloodsuckers of their subjects. The meaning of their activity was concern for the welfare of citizens, and they really earned themselves good name countless blessings for the glory of God. That's why they had enough time to take care of their fellows, provide for their lives and glorify the Torah and the heritage of Israel! You blaspheme the name of the Lord with your outrages, robbing and oppressing the people, you made the name of Israel a curse in the mouths of the nations! And more than one hundred years will pass, and the haters will point at you, saying: look, how a Jew behaves when he seizes power!

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

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

“Well, I understand that, uncle, and therefore I am not angry with you. But I want you to understand me too. For many years I have worked hard to fight my way to power in the duke's service. 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 incessant madness! And what about the local citizens and clergy? A crowd, a rabble full of hatred and wild prejudices! Believe me, uncle, if I were at least as pious as King David, and as wise as King Solomon, then they would not stop blaspheming the people of Israel! My only defense against them is the duke, but he wants money, money and more money. I had to pay off all his debts in one fell swoop. And where was this money to be taken, if not from state revenues? But money is still not enough, and what do you see as a way out, except for more and more taxes and duties? And the duke is not enough, he constantly needs huge funds for all his unbridled entertainments. And when I try to explain to him that milking the country dry is simply unreasonable, he falls into a terrible rage and threatens me with prison. So what should I do? If I lose the duke's favor, no one will give a broken penny for my life. That's when they'll take everything I have. Where to lay your head? They will get me even in the forest, even in the field. After all, I have haters - oh, how enough. Is there any other way out for me than to follow the path I once chose? I have to get gold for the duke at any cost, and I really am not shy about funds. And if I am forced to do all this, then I should not remain empty-handed myself? I also need my own funds. And why exactly should I be responsible for all this disgrace? I am a chain dog on a short leash with the duke.

"And you, my poor boy, do you think you can justify it?" 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 while, and then said:

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

To be continued

Translation by E. Pogrebinsky

Monthly literary and journalistic magazine and publishing house.

(Joseph Sü ss-Oppenheimer) - a well-known financial businessman, a Jew by origin; genus. in 1692; was first a merchant, then entered into monetary relations with the prodigal Duke of Württemberg, Karl-Alexander, and soon gained his full confidence. 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 defective coins for 11 million, established salt, wine and tobacco monopolies, sold privileges for money and caused strong hatred with burdensome taxes. in the people. When Karl-Alexander died in 1737, Z. was arrested, put on trial and sentenced to death. Dressed in the uniform of a "secret financial adviser", he was exhibited in an iron cage to show the people, and then hanged (February 4, 1738). The novelist Wilhelm Gauff edited his biography in the story "Jud S ü ss". See Zimmermann, "Joseph S üss, ein Finanzmann des XVIII Jahrh." (Stutt. 1874).

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"Suess Oppenheimer" in books

V. Obruchev and M. Zotina Eduard Suess

V. Obruchev and M. Zotina Eduard Suess

Suess in Parliament. Taming of the Danube. The Book of the Origin of the Alps