Shtadlan

A shtadlan (Hebrew: שְׁתַדְּלָן, IPA: [ʃtadˈlan]; Yiddish: שתּדלן, IPA: [ˈʃtadln̩]) was an intercessor for a local European Jewish community. They represented the interests of the community, especially those of a town's ghetto, and worked as a "lobbyist" negotiating with the authorities holding power for the safety and benefit of Jews. The process of Jewish intercession is known as shtadlanut (Yiddish: שתּדלנות). Shtadlanim (plural of shtadlan) relied on many tactics to intercede on the behalf of the Jewish community. These included emotional appeals, such as begging, rational appeals such as trying to implement charters or decrees, and also gifts of money or other goods to gain favor. Elyakim Zelig from Jampol, reported specifically on the need to beg for the Pope’s favor during a missio...