, "From time to time we enjoyed peace, and again we were hunted forth; and so it has been to this day and I fear, will continue in like fashion as long as the burghers rule." Such a quote represents the fear in which Jews lived during this time in Hamburg. It was unknown what the days would bring them, or what their future would be like. Gluckel's memoir tells a great deal about the conditions of life that the Jews faced in Hamburg. Their inability to live as full citizens in the city placed them in a subordinate status, which is depicted in the memoirs. The personal memoir of Gluckel of Hameln is an invaluable source for historians, since the memoirs give us an understanding of Jewish middle classness, and the life and death matters which constituted Jewish life. These memoirs help us to understand the life of a Jewish woman in Hamburg, and the difficulties of everyday life, while showing us the expression of spirituality by a Jewish woman and revealing the importance of the preservation of Jewish self-identity. Most importantly Gluckel's accounts are a rich source for the understanding of social and cultural history of seventeenth century Europe. Gluckel wrote these memoirs as a way to instruct her children on the importance of prioritizing values, maintaining family and religious ties, while maintaining their Jewish identity in times of hardship. She writes,The best thing for you, my children, is to serve God from the heart, without falsehood or sham, not giving out to people that you are one thing while, God forbid, in your heart you are another. Say your prayers with awe and devotion. Moreover, put aside a fixed time for the study of the Torah as best you know how. Then diligently go about your business, for providing your wife and children a decent ...
