Aaron Isaac is a visitor who closes the door behind him and carefully sets his feet on the stones of the street in Sweden’s capital. He is a stranger who holds in his hand a scrap of paper with an address on it. A drunken man staggers out of the door he has just walked by. The drunk slips in the garbage and sets about making the acquaintance of the contents of the slop bucket in the gutter. Aaron Isaac stretches out his hand and pulls up the fallen man. He assures himself that the drunk finds his way back to his own door. Then Aaron Isaac continues his way down the street until he is standing in front of a rich man’s house. Looking up at the sky he listens to the birds that have also made their homes here. He breathes in deeply and knocks on the door. A servant in livery opens the door. In broken Swedish the visitor explains:
‘I have an appointment with Governor Carl Sparre.’
‘One moment. Please come in!’
A smile full of obvious goodwill welcomes him into the room.
‘I’ve heard so much about Aaron Isaac’s skill as an engraver of stamps and seals.’
‘Excuse me, your Excellency, but I can’t speak Svedish.’
‘Then we’ll speak German. I served the King of Prussia for five years as an apprentice and speak the language well. I know Mecklenburg well. I know that that’s where Isaac has his family, wife and child. Now we shall go to the king so that Isaac can stay here and work in his field.’
For as long as the world had existed, no Jew had ever received the right to live in Sweden.
When Aaron Isaac is called to discuss the possibility of living and working in this land, an apple from Sparre’s garden is in his coat pocket. It is now many months since he came to Stockholm and many more since he last saw his children.
‘Isaac has submitted to the guild office a petition, which has been refused. He has appealed to the magistrate. Alderman Platin shall begin. Please!’
‘It is unfortunate that Isaac’s religion should be a hindrance to this right to live in this country. I know what a skilled craftsman he is, and he has made a particularly good impression on the king. I also know that in the entire kingdom there isn’t anyone who can engrave in stone like he can. But so says the law: “If a Jew is on board one of many ships which are in need of repairs, then that ship shall be repaired first so that the Jew can be sent on his way out of the country as soon as possible.” We must base our decision on this!’
Aaron Isaac looks around, drops the apple, and lifts his hands. ‘Dieses ist Freiheit, o welche schlechte Freiheit ist das menschliche Leben!’ So that’s what freedom means!
But Platin continues without allowing himself to be affected by the interruption. ‘The council will do everything we can for him. If he has himself baptized and pays a small fee, he will be given the rights of citizenship.’
Isaac shakes his head energetically. ‘I haven’t come here to sell or change my religion. I have come in order to sell my services to the king.’
Platin replies: ‘Think it over at your leisure. You have eight days.’
‘My religion is my path to salvation! I don’t need a minute to make a decision.’
‘What is the essence of your religion?’
‘I am not a learned man but I believe that you can summarize it in the words: fear God and love your neighbor as yourself. This is a sacred commandment to me und dieses denke ich heiligt zu halten, soviel meine Kräfte mitbringen.’
One year later, by royal decree signed on the first of May 1775, Sweden got its first legal Jewish residents. In a council meeting at Ulriksdals Castle, Aaron Isaac, his brother Mordechai, and their partner Abraham Pach were given personal privileges that allowed them and their wives and children to take up residence in the kingdom.
Two years later there were ten adult Jews in Stockholm and the first Jewish congregation was formed.
But when it became known among the Christians that a cemetery had been set up, that a burial committee had been formed, and that a rabbi had been installed as a teacher and religious leader, Aaron Isaac could not show himself on the streets of Stockholm for two weeks. The mood in the capital city constituted a potential threat to his life.
Jews can only settle permanently in cities that have police protection.
Translated by Lena Karlström and Peter Stenberg.