Gemeindevorsteher
English translation: one of the leaders of the Jewish community
| 16:39 Sep 2, 2006 |
| German to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Religion / Judaism | |||||||
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|  Selected response from: misterherrnau | ||||||
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| Summary of answers provided | ||||
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| 5 +1 | one of the leaders of the Jewish community |
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| 5 | Shamas |
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| 3 | head/leader of the (Jewish) congregation |
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| 3 | parnas, parnasim: councillor; elected elderman |
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| 3 -1 | village elder |
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Answers
1 hr confidence: 
peer agreement (net): -1
peer agreement (net): -1village elder Explanation: see links below for reference. Bernhard Reference: http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=15642 Reference: http://www.coldwarhistory.us/Exhibitions/History/Rydultau/bo... |
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1 hr confidence: peer agreement (net): +1
peer agreement (net): +1one of the leaders of the Jewish community Explanation: A respected man who was elected (?) to a sort of board of directors and, furthermore, on this particular Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) was given this honor of carrying the Torah scroll from the rabbi's pulpit back to the ark |
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1 hr confidence:
head/leader of the (Jewish) congregation Explanation: To answer the last part of your question first, I don't think there is a standard English translation of this. I found the following:- We received a letter from home that directed us to go to Bamberg to introduce ourselves to the local head of the Jewish congregation, Mr. Abraham Wenzedlitz. http://www.porges.net/MosesPorgesMemoirs_English.html Wir erhielten ein Schreiben vom Hause, in welchem wir angewiesen wurden nach Bamberg uns zu begeben und uns dem dortigen jüdischen Vorsteher, Herrn Abraham Neusedlitz vorstellen, http://www.porges.net/MosesPorgesMemoirs_German.html For a couple of years he was the "principal" (German: "Gemeindevorsteher") of the Mosaic Community in Copenhagen. http://tom.brondsted.dk/genealogi/soldin.php (I include this one just as evidence there that is no one standard translation.) |
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10 hrs confidence:
parnas, parnasim: councillor; elected elderman Explanation: At the head of the communities stood the elected aldermen (parnasim), ... He confirmed the directives issued by the parnasim and the tax register prepared ... www.nyupress.org/jewishlife/intro.html As in the case of Jewish communal organisation in medieval Germany, historians have made an attempt to compare Polish Jewish institutions with those of the non-Jewish town communities. Historians like Moses Schorr or Majer Ba aban identified*** the kahal with the council, the parnasim with the councillors, and the tovim with the lay assessors (‘scabini’).**** Thus, the Jewish communities had a judicial system similar to that of the town communities.[...] Originally this was the parnasim’s job, but from the beginning of the seventeenth century they were assisted by special guilds that were organised on the pattern of non-Jewish professional organisations. In addition, at least the large communities had highly differentiated administrations. The most important office (besides the leadership proper) that the community had to confer was that of the shamash. Originally the synagogue’s servants, the late sixteenth-century’s shamashim had several functions, which usually were divided among a few persons. The ***shamash collected the taxes, and was responsible for implementing the parnasim’s decisions and enforcing the bet din’s judgements. Vis-à-vis the Christian authorities he functioned as a kind of community speaker or deputy of the parnasim.**** In this activity his duties intermingled with those of the shtadlan [advocate]. |
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2 hrs confidence:
Shamas Explanation: If you Google Shamas + synagogue you will find various references. Shamas is more or less the Hebrew equivalent to sexton. "In the West London Synagogue, the wardens and shamas wear top hats in keeping with those who first worshipped in the synagogue in the 19th century. .." from the website below. -------------------------------------------------- Note added at 15 hrs (2006-09-03 08:34:36 GMT) -------------------------------------------------- I agree with Johanna, it could also be parnas (singular). Now I see the translation problem as: if you want to use a Hebrew word for "local color" - then shamas or parnas is OK, since the actual job description isn't the issue. Or do you want to use an English term so that your readers understand that this person is an honored member of the community. Reference: http://education.guardian.co.uk/primaryresources/story/0,,10... |
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