Abraham of Augsburg
Encyclopedia
Abraham of Augsburg was a German
proselyte
to Judaism
. He died a martyr's death
.
, and he later converted into Judaism
at a foreign region.
He adopted his new faith with such enthusiasm that, returning to Augsburg, he publicly assailed Christianity
and attacked images of the saints, namely severing the heads of some crucifix
figurines, and also smashing a religious portrait which had been engraved on stone. For all this he was sentenced to torture
and death by burning.
Reportedly, Abraham's rage ensued in a bitter confrontation between Jewish and Catholics of Sinzig
, ensuing in a regional pogrom
in which 61 other Jews were slain, together with Abraham. The incident attracted considerable attention, and it forms the subject of elegies by Mordecai ben Hillel
(who himself suffered martyrdom in 1298) and by the liturgical poet Moses ben Jacob. The rites of Selichot
tell about Abraham.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
proselyte
Proselyte
The biblical term "Proselyte", derives from the Koine Greek προσήλυτος/proselytos, as used in the Septuagint for "stranger", i.e. a "newcomer to Israel"; a "sojourner in the land", and in the New Testament for a convert to Judaism from Paganism...
to Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
. He died a martyr's death
Martyrdom in Judaism
Martyrdom in Judaism is one of the main examples of Kiddush Hashem, meaning "sanctification of God's name" through public dedication to Jewish practice.-Book of Maccabees:...
.
Life
Abraham was born at AugsburgAugsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
, and he later converted into Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
at a foreign region.
He adopted his new faith with such enthusiasm that, returning to Augsburg, he publicly assailed Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and attacked images of the saints, namely severing the heads of some crucifix
Crucifix
A crucifix is an independent image of Jesus on the cross with a representation of Jesus' body, referred to in English as the corpus , as distinct from a cross with no body....
figurines, and also smashing a religious portrait which had been engraved on stone. For all this he was sentenced to torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
and death by burning.
Reportedly, Abraham's rage ensued in a bitter confrontation between Jewish and Catholics of Sinzig
Sinzig
Sinzig is a town in the district of Ahrweiler, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is situated on the river Rhine, approx. 5 km south-east of Remagen and 25 km south-east of Bonn, and it has approximately 20,000 inhabitants .-History:...
, ensuing in a regional pogrom
Pogrom
A pogrom is a form of violent riot, a mob attack directed against a minority group, and characterized by killings and destruction of their homes and properties, businesses, and religious centres...
in which 61 other Jews were slain, together with Abraham. The incident attracted considerable attention, and it forms the subject of elegies by Mordecai ben Hillel
Mordecai ben Hillel
Mordechai ben Hillel HaKohen , also known as The Mordechai, was a 13th century German rabbi and posek. His chief legal commentary on the Talmud, referred to as the Mordechai, is one of the sources of the Shulchan Aruch. He died a martyr's death at Nuremberg.-Biography:Little is known of the...
(who himself suffered martyrdom in 1298) and by the liturgical poet Moses ben Jacob. The rites of Selichot
Selichot
Selichot or slichot are Jewish penitential poems and prayers, especially those said in the period leading up to the High Holidays, and on Fast Days...
tell about Abraham.