Josef Artz Josselman Hakohen, Katz

Josselman k"Ts Zynonge (Rofe)

Josselman's Ele Toldot sheet states that he lived in the weissen Rose from about 1480 to 1505. However, he and his father apparently did not settle in Frankfurt until 1485, at the earliest (Andernacht #2238 and 2347) from which time they lived in the Weissen Rose under the stipulation that they would not engage in commerce (i.e. that they would practice medicine only). Josselman (and his father?) may have lived previously in Hanau. His father is called Salomon aus Muenster and he is described in Ele Toledot as having died =um1500. However, Andernacht #2585 shows Salomon obtaining permission from the Pfalzgraf in late 1491 to live in his territory, and #2795, from late 1495 indicates that he may have settled in Worms. The wording of that record (which is about the wedding of Josselman's brother, David) implies that Salomon might have already died, since it only mentions the mother.

Meanwhile, going back to Josselman himself, as a resident of Frankfurt: his marriage to Lena may have been as late as 1489. The house list of 1495 (And.#2850.5) implies that Gute, "his mother", may come and live with them, offering a second indication that Salomon may have already died by that year. However, in the 1499 list (Andernacht #3084.2) he is listed in the weissen Rose with his wife, Lena, and her mother, Gutta, and he has a teacher for his young children. In any case, this is a relatively young family at a time when Michael Zunz is already the father of a married daughter. In 1502 Josef has a married daughter of his own, and he is described as having brothers named Vifus (Feibelman) zu Bacharach and David zu Friedberg. Both had previously lived in Muenster.

Andernacht #3244 through 3256 (inclusive) from February and March 1502, tell a frightening tale of accusations against Josselman, imprsonment and torture, the threat of cutting out his tongue and gouging out his eyes, with the goal of having him or his relatives pay a heavy fine. And this in spite of the frequent intercession of the authorities in the Pfalz. During the course of this, Josselman is not only clearly a youngish man, but at one point he is referred to as "the young Jew we have in prison". When finally set free, Josef is forced to promise not to leave Frankfurt. Finally, in June 1506 (Andernacht #3457-59) he and his family finally sneak away. According to Ettlinger, they settle in Landau.