Obernai

The Décapole (Zehnstädtebund in German) was an alliance of ten towns in Alsace, France in a league founded in 1354, and discontinued in 1679. In 1354 the Holy Roman Emporer Charles IV ratified the treaty uniting the towns of Haguenau, Colmar, Wissembourg, Turckheim, Obernai, Kaysersberg, Rosheim, Munster, Sélestat and Mulhouse. Haguenau became its capital while Strasbourg, another free town of the empire, remained outside of the alliance. In 1515, Mulhouse pulled out of the alliance in order to ally w ...

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Alsace (French: Alsace; Alsatian/German: Elsass) is one of the 26 régions of France. Originally part of the Holy Roman Empire and inhabited by people speaking a dialect of Upper German, Alsace gradually passed under French sovereignty in the course of the 17th century, and became one of the provinces of France. It is located on the eastern border of France, adjacent to Germany and Switzerland. Its capital and largest city is Strasbourg. Alsace - Geography. Alsace has an area of 8280 km ...

Including:

• Alsace - Geography
• Alsace - History
• Alsace - Politics
• Alsace - Economy
• Alsace - Demographics
• Alsace - Transport
• Alsace - The road network
• Alsace - The train network
• Alsace - The river network
• Alsace - Air traffic
• Alsace - Religion
• Alsace - Culture
• Alsace - Language
• Alsace - Cuisine
• Alsace - Architecture
• Alsace - Symbolism
• Alsace - Tourism
• Alsace - Administration
• Alsace - Notable Alsatians

Read more here: » Alsace: Encyclopedia - Alsace

The same year Josel heard that the Hessian Jews had to suffer many persecutions because of a pamphlet by Butzer. He therefore wrote a defense of Judaism in Hebrew, to be read in synagogue every Sabbath for the comfort of his coreligionists. The magistrate of Strasbourg having expressed the belief that attacks on Christianity were contained in the defense, Josel had a verbatim translation made and sent to him. Soon Josel had to defend the Jews against the attacks of Luther himself, who in 1543 had published a very spiteful pamphlet, entitled ...

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Josel of Rosheim, Josel of Rosheim - Family background, Josel of Rosheim - Early life, Josel of Rosheim - Advocate of the German Jews, Josel of Rosheim - In Bohemia, Josel of Rosheim - Refutation of Luther's charges, Josel of Rosheim - Literary activity, Josel of Rosheim - Representation in fictional works

Read more here: » Josel of Rosheim: Encyclopedia II - Josel of Rosheim - Refutation of Luther's charges

In prehistoric times, Alsace was inhabited by nomadic hunters, but by 1500 B.C. Celts began to settle in Alsace, clearing and cultivating the land. By 58 B.C., the Romans had invaded and established Alsace as a center of viticulture. To protect this highly valued industry, the Romans built fortifications and military camps that evolved into various communities which have been inhabited continuously to the present day. With the decline of the Roman Empire, Alsace became the territory of the Alamanni. The Alamanni were agricultural peop ...

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Alsace, Alsace - Geography, Alsace - History, Alsace - Politics, Alsace - Economy, Alsace - Demographics, Alsace - Transport, Alsace - The road network, Alsace - The train network, Alsace - The river network, Alsace - Air traffic, Alsace - Religion, Alsace - Culture, Alsace - Language, Alsace - Cuisine, Alsace - Architecture, Alsace - Symbolism, Alsace - Tourism, Alsace - Administration, Alsace - Notable Alsatians

Read more here: » Alsace: Encyclopedia II - Alsace - History

Becoming steadily better known, even beyond the borders of Alsace, as a defender of Jewish communities in religious and legal matters, Josel gradually acquire a status as advocate, and even leader ("Befehlshaber") of all the Jews in the German empire. His status was not absolute: on one occasion he was fined for styling himself "Regierer der gemeinen Jüdischkeit", "ruler of the Jewry". Soon after Charles V ascended the throne at Aachen in 1520, Josel procured a charter or letter of protection from him for the whole Germ ...

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Josel of Rosheim, Josel of Rosheim - Family background, Josel of Rosheim - Early life, Josel of Rosheim - Advocate of the German Jews, Josel of Rosheim - In Bohemia, Josel of Rosheim - Refutation of Luther's charges, Josel of Rosheim - Literary activity, Josel of Rosheim - Representation in fictional works

Read more here: » Josel of Rosheim: Encyclopedia II - Josel of Rosheim - Advocate of the German Jews

While still occupied with the Augsburg articles, Josel had to hurry to the court of Charles V of Brabant and Flanders in order to defend the calumniated German Jews there (1531). In this to him most inhospitable country—for no Jews were living there then—he spent three months, occupying himself, when he was not officially engaged, with Hebrew language studies. Though his life was once in danger, he succeeded in attaining the object of his journey. At the Reichstag of Regensburg (1532) he tried in vain to dissuade the proselyte Solomon Mo ...

See also:

Josel of Rosheim, Josel of Rosheim - Family background, Josel of Rosheim - Early life, Josel of Rosheim - Advocate of the German Jews, Josel of Rosheim - In Bohemia, Josel of Rosheim - Refutation of Luther's charges, Josel of Rosheim - Literary activity, Josel of Rosheim - Representation in fictional works

Read more here: » Josel of Rosheim: Encyclopedia II - Josel of Rosheim - In Bohemia

Alsace's population increased to 1,734,145 in 1999. It has regularly increased over time, except in wartime, by both natural growth and migration. This growth has even accelerated at the end of the 20th century. INSEE estimates that its population will grow 12.9% to 19.5% between 1999 and 2030. With a density of 209/km², Alsace is the third most densely populated région in metropolitan France. The p ...

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Alsace, Alsace - Geography, Alsace - History, Alsace - Politics, Alsace - Economy, Alsace - Demographics, Alsace - Transport, Alsace - The road network, Alsace - The train network, Alsace - The river network, Alsace - Air traffic, Alsace - Religion, Alsace - Culture, Alsace - Language, Alsace - Cuisine, Alsace - Architecture, Alsace - Symbolism, Alsace - Tourism, Alsace - Administration, Alsace - Notable Alsatians

Read more here: » Alsace: Encyclopedia II - Alsace - Demographics

Josel worked for the welfare of his people to the last, dying suddenly in March 1554. In his active life he always found time to study religious literature, and besides his apologetic pamphlets he wrote several religious and ethical works, which in part are still extant. His most important books are: Derek ha-Qodesh, written 1531 in Brabant, containing rules for a pious life, especially in cases where a Jew has to bear martyrdom. Two fragments of this work, otherwise lost, are retained in the book Yosif Ometz, by J ...

See also:

Josel of Rosheim, Josel of Rosheim - Family background, Josel of Rosheim - Early life, Josel of Rosheim - Advocate of the German Jews, Josel of Rosheim - In Bohemia, Josel of Rosheim - Refutation of Luther's charges, Josel of Rosheim - Literary activity, Josel of Rosheim - Representation in fictional works

Read more here: » Josel of Rosheim: Encyclopedia II - Josel of Rosheim - Literary activity

Nothing is known of Josel's childhood or youth. As a young man, he was a rabbi at the court of the Lower Alsatian Jewry, and made a living as a merchant and money lender. These three occupations would remain constants in his life. While still young, he worked for the welfare of his coreligionists, and, reportedly, was instrumental in thwarting the hostile plans of Johannes Pfefferkorn, a converted Jew who turned a rabid anti-Semite. In 1507, at the time of the expulsion of the Jews from Colmar, a similar attempt was made at Oberehnheim. Josel successfully appealed to the imperial officials, and ...

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Josel of Rosheim, Josel of Rosheim - Family background, Josel of Rosheim - Early life, Josel of Rosheim - Advocate of the German Jews, Josel of Rosheim - In Bohemia, Josel of Rosheim - Refutation of Luther's charges, Josel of Rosheim - Literary activity, Josel of Rosheim - Representation in fictional works

Read more here: » Josel of Rosheim: Encyclopedia II - Josel of Rosheim - Early life

His family probably originated from the French Louhans. One of his ancestors was Jacob ben Jehiel Loans, personal physician to emperor Frederick III, ennobled for his medical achievements, and also Hebrew teacher of the well-known humanist, lawyer and philosopher Johannes Reuchlin. Despite the favor shown to this ancestor, his family history also shows the precarious position of Jews during this era. In 1470, three of his father's brothers, including Rabbi Elias, were prosecuted in Endingen, brought before the emperor on charges that eight years ...

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Josel of Rosheim, Josel of Rosheim - Family background, Josel of Rosheim - Early life, Josel of Rosheim - Advocate of the German Jews, Josel of Rosheim - In Bohemia, Josel of Rosheim - Refutation of Luther's charges, Josel of Rosheim - Literary activity, Josel of Rosheim - Representation in fictional works

Read more here: » Josel of Rosheim: Encyclopedia II - Josel of Rosheim - Family background

Historically part of the Holy Roman Empire, the region has passed between French and German control numerous times, resulting in a rich cultural blend. It traditionally belongs, however, to the German Kulturkreis, as any glance at traditional buildings in the towns and villages and at placenames will confirm. Alsace - Language. In the beginning of the 21st century, the language most sp ...

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Alsace, Alsace - Geography, Alsace - History, Alsace - Politics, Alsace - Economy, Alsace - Demographics, Alsace - Transport, Alsace - The road network, Alsace - The train network, Alsace - The river network, Alsace - Air traffic, Alsace - Religion, Alsace - Culture, Alsace - Language, Alsace - Cuisine, Alsace - Architecture, Alsace - Symbolism, Alsace - Tourism, Alsace - Administration, Alsace - Notable Alsatians

Read more here: » Alsace: Encyclopedia II - Alsace - Culture

Alsace has an area of 8280 km², making it the smallest région of metropolitan France. It is almost four times longer than it is wide, corresponding to a plain between the Rhine in the east and the Vosges mountains in the west. It includes the départements of Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin. It borders Germany on the north and the east, Switzerland and Franche-Comté on the south, and Lorraine on the west. It contains many forests, primarily in the Vosges and in Bas-Rhin (Haguenau Forest). Several valleys are also found in the région. Its highest point is the ballon de Guebwiller in Haut-Rhin ...

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Alsace, Alsace - Geography, Alsace - History, Alsace - Politics, Alsace - Economy, Alsace - Demographics, Alsace - Transport, Alsace - The road network, Alsace - The train network, Alsace - The river network, Alsace - Air traffic, Alsace - Religion, Alsace - Culture, Alsace - Language, Alsace - Cuisine, Alsace - Architecture, Alsace - Symbolism, Alsace - Tourism, Alsace - Administration, Alsace - Notable Alsatians

Read more here: » Alsace: Encyclopedia II - Alsace - Geography

According to INSEE, Alsace had a gross domestic product of 44.3 billion euros in 2002. With a GDP per capita of 24,804 €, it was the second-place région of France, losing only to Île-de-France. 68% of its jobs are in the services; 25% are in industry, making Alsace one of France's most industrialized régions. Alsace is a region of varied economic activity, including: viticulture (mostly in the centre of the region, between Sélestat and Colmar); hop harvesting and brewing (half of French beer i ...

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Alsace, Alsace - Geography, Alsace - History, Alsace - Politics, Alsace - Economy, Alsace - Demographics, Alsace - Transport, Alsace - The road network, Alsace - The train network, Alsace - The river network, Alsace - Air traffic, Alsace - Religion, Alsace - Culture, Alsace - Language, Alsace - Cuisine, Alsace - Architecture, Alsace - Symbolism, Alsace - Tourism, Alsace - Administration, Alsace - Notable Alsatians

Read more here: » Alsace: Encyclopedia II - Alsace - Economy

Alsace - The road network. Most major car journeys are made on the A35 motorway (with intermittent areas of dual carriageways), which links Saint-Louis on the Swiss border to Lauterbourg on the German border. The A4 toll-road (towards Paris) begins 20 km northwest of Strasbourg and the A36 toll-road towards Lyon, begins 10 km west from Mulhouse. Spaghetti-junctions (built in the 1970s and 1980s) are prominent in the comprehensive system of motorways in Alsace, especially in the outlying ares of Stra ...

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Alsace, Alsace - Geography, Alsace - History, Alsace - Politics, Alsace - Economy, Alsace - Demographics, Alsace - Transport, Alsace - The road network, Alsace - The train network, Alsace - The river network, Alsace - Air traffic, Alsace - Religion, Alsace - Culture, Alsace - Language, Alsace - Cuisine, Alsace - Architecture, Alsace - Symbolism, Alsace - Tourism, Alsace - Administration, Alsace - Notable Alsatians

Read more here: » Alsace: Encyclopedia II - Alsace - Transport