Early Ashkenazi Jew from Erfurt - I14850

Jewish life in 12th century Erfurt was marked by a complex interplay of growth and vulnerability. The community, primarily composed of merchants and artisans, began to establish a visible presence within the city. They constructed synagogues and mikvahs, signifying a deepening sense of communal identity and religious practice. However, this period also foreshadowed the precarious nature of Jewish existence in medieval Germany. Anti-Semitic sentiments were pervasive, and the Jews of Erfurt lived under the constant threat of discrimination and violence. Their economic success often made them targets of envy and resentment, setting the stage for the tragic events that would later befall the community.