Glückel de Hameln
1646-1724 17th century
Praying in the middle of the accounts, the childbeds and the debts, without separating the two lives.
Who was Glückel de Hameln?
Married at fourteen, mother of fourteen children of whom twelve survived, she ran a gemstone business in Hamburg with her husband, then carried it on alone after his death. To get through the sleepless nights she began writing her memoirs in Yiddish, for her children: seven books in which births, bereavements, bankruptcies and prayers follow one another without hierarchy. It is the first great autobiographical text by a Jewish woman.
In their own words
In my great grief and for my heart's ease I begin this book.
The best thing for you, my children, is to serve God from your heart without falsehood or sham, not giving out to people that you are one thing while, God forbid, in your heart you are another.