Comments on: O Come All Ye Fanciful http://www.jewlicious.com/2009/12/o-come-all-ye-fanciful/ It's a Jewish Blog! Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:17:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: froylein http://www.jewlicious.com/2009/12/o-come-all-ye-fanciful/#comment-1434844 froylein Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:35:05 +0000 http://www.jewlicious.com/?p=12258#comment-1434844 The number of Jews that were actually gainfully working as goldsmiths was pretty low (compared to the Jewish community as a whole), but those that were quickly earned a reputation for their outstanding skills. Often they didn't need to join guilds or could found their own, which they could not do in other trades and therefore the opportunities for Jews in skilled crafts were limited. Also, the trade requires tools and facilities that could not be wrapped up and transported easily. I agree though that transporting funds was a consideration for many back in the Middle Ages, not only just Jews (sailors would well into the twentieth century wear gold earrings to take their funds with them; the need for safe funds in travel became so pressing that the system of stocks was invented by travelling salesmen staying at the Belgian pub "De Beurze"). The majority of European Jews were comparatively poor as they were not permitted to own land for agriculture; the Yiddish influences on Rotwelsch, the vagrant language, give evidence of the poverty and the walks of society many Jews found themselves in. The number of Jews that were actually gainfully working as goldsmiths was pretty low (compared to the Jewish community as a whole), but those that were quickly earned a reputation for their outstanding skills. Often they didn’t need to join guilds or could found their own, which they could not do in other trades and therefore the opportunities for Jews in skilled crafts were limited. Also, the trade requires tools and facilities that could not be wrapped up and transported easily.

I agree though that transporting funds was a consideration for many back in the Middle Ages, not only just Jews (sailors would well into the twentieth century wear gold earrings to take their funds with them; the need for safe funds in travel became so pressing that the system of stocks was invented by travelling salesmen staying at the Belgian pub “De Beurze”). The majority of European Jews were comparatively poor as they were not permitted to own land for agriculture; the Yiddish influences on Rotwelsch, the vagrant language, give evidence of the poverty and the walks of society many Jews found themselves in.

]]> By: Ben-David http://www.jewlicious.com/2009/12/o-come-all-ye-fanciful/#comment-1434703 Ben-David Mon, 28 Dec 2009 10:41:28 +0000 http://www.jewlicious.com/?p=12258#comment-1434703 The Jewish connection with goldsmithing and jewelery has to do with Jews' need to keep their money in easily transported/fungible form. Even where they were allowed to own property, the value of such an investment would easily be lost during subsequent purges/exiles. As many wealthy Spanish Jews found out in the Inquisition, and as many European Jews found out in the 1930s. The Jewish connection with goldsmithing and jewelery has to do with Jews’ need to keep their money in easily transported/fungible form. Even where they were allowed to own property, the value of such an investment would easily be lost during subsequent purges/exiles.

As many wealthy Spanish Jews found out in the Inquisition, and as many European Jews found out in the 1930s.

]]> By: froylein http://www.jewlicious.com/2009/12/o-come-all-ye-fanciful/#comment-1434167 froylein Sun, 27 Dec 2009 19:32:28 +0000 http://www.jewlicious.com/?p=12258#comment-1434167 LoBeChiLa, they had joint gold accounts. :) Shy Guy, you're quite busy with YouTube today. :) LoBeChiLa, they had joint gold accounts. :)

Shy Guy, you’re quite busy with YouTube today. :)

]]> By: Shy Guy http://www.jewlicious.com/2009/12/o-come-all-ye-fanciful/#comment-1434131 Shy Guy Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:53:58 +0000 http://www.jewlicious.com/?p=12258#comment-1434131 Well, if you're going to quote the NIV, I'm gonna quote <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZtGybjFjOU" rel="nofollow"><b>a bimbo</b></a>. Well, if you’re going to quote the NIV, I’m gonna quote a bimbo.

]]> By: LB Chasid (in La) http://www.jewlicious.com/2009/12/o-come-all-ye-fanciful/#comment-1434123 LB Chasid (in La) Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:32:54 +0000 http://www.jewlicious.com/?p=12258#comment-1434123 Note: The women did not give their gold to make the Egel HaZahav. Note:

The women did not give their gold to make the Egel HaZahav.

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