The Letter of Consolation

Josel (Joseph) of Rosheim represented German and Polish Jews at the courts of Maximilian I and Charles V. Born in Hagenau, he lived in Mittelbergheim and later in Rosheim. In 1510, he was elected by the Jews of Alsace to represent them, and from that time on he worked as an advocate for Jewish communities, notably as representative for all Jews in the Holy Roman Empire. Besides his apologetic pamphlets, Josel of Rosheim wrote several religious and ethical works, parts of which are still extant. His memoir, written around 1547, is a personal testimony of some of the key events in the history of the Jews of the time.