4: Excerpt on wealth from "The Memoirs of Glückel of Hameln," Trans. Marvin Lowenthal.

4: Excerpt on wealth from "The Memoirs of Glückel of Hameln," Trans. Marvin Lowenthal.

In this excerpt from her memoir, Glückel describes her daughter’s marriage and the exchange and display of wealth that it occasioned. She describes the dowry, travel for the wedding, the noble guests who attended the wedding, and the lavish food and entertainment.

Suggested Activity: Have students discuss the following questions: What details indicate that this is a lavish wedding? Why do you think Glückel concludes her description of the wedding with the phrase, “Never a Jew received such a high honor in a hundred years”? What does that tell you about the status of Jews? About Glückel’s own pride or boastfulness?

Source: The Memoirs of Glückel of Hameln. Translated with introduction and notes by Marvin Lowenthal. New York: 1932. Reprinted with new introduction by Robert S. Rosen, New York: 1960, 1977, p. 96-99.