I am looking for information about the jewish familie SOLDIN (ZELDIN,
ZOLDIN), SOLDENFELDT in Denmark (Copenhagen), possibly emigated from
Germany. Most of the Danish history of this family is well known, however
there are problems how to place the author Eliak Jacob SOLDIN in the
genealogical table.
In the 1780's, Eliak Jacob Soldin published a number of
small textboks in Latin, Danish, and Hebrew on natural history, odes to the royal
house, contributions to the debate about jewish integration in the society
("jødefejden"), etc. The problem is that the name may be a "pen name"
(Eliak Jacob Soldin is not found in the traditional genealogical sources, census
records etc.). According to a Danish lexicon (Ehrencron-Müller: Forfatterlexikon
omfattende Danmark, Norge og Island indtil 1814, 1924-39), Eliak Jacob Soldin was
the father of the publisher Salomon SOLDIN (1774-1837) (cf. 1.d
in the table below). This could indicate that Eliak Jacob is a pen name for
Israel Isak Soldin (cf. nb. 1 in the table). However, in a kind of poem or "ethic will"
published (presumably) in 1788, he signs himself "the young Eliakim, son of our
teacher Isserel Zeldin of Copenhagen" and "ben Rabbi Israel Zeldin". This could indicate
that he is identic to the publisher Hartvig SOLDIN (1763-1843) (cf. 1.a in
the table) or an older brother of Hartvig not known from other sources.
Zeldin, Elyakim ben Rabbi: Israel Toldot Ha-Adam / Elyakim ben Rabbi Israel Zeldin
browse page
[1],
[2],
[3],
[4],
[5],
[6],
[7],
[8]
The problem is that this poem (as I read it) states that Israel Soldin was the Rabbi
of Copenhagen. He never was (and there has never been a Rabbi in Copenhagen with
that name). May Israel at some time have aspired to become the rabbi of Copenhagen?
As regards the "middle name" Eliak Jacob Soldin. I don't know if it must be understood
patronymical. It is used in several of his publications but not
in "Ha-Adam" from 1788.
The table below lists what is known about the Soldin family from traditional genealogical
sources:
1. Israel Isak SOLDIN. Merchant, born ca. 1737 maybe in Copenhagen. Dead 1808 in Copenhagen. Married to Malka ?. Born about 1743, died 1800 in Copenhagen. Surname unkown, parents unknown. Israel Isak Soldin was the author of a small German poem swearing allegiance to the Danish royal house ("Die Königliche Gewalt. Ode und Cantate, welche den 1. Dec. 1773 zum Busz- und Bet-Tag von den hochteutschen Juden in Copenhagen abgesungen worden"). For a couple of years he was the "principal" (German: "Gemeindevorsteher") of the Mosaic Community in Copenhagen. In the cemetery in Copenhagen (Møllegade) is buried an Isak Soldin, dead 1782, who could either be Israels father or his young son called after the grandfather. Israel Isak Soldin had at least seven children. Three of them became publishers in Copenhagen:
a) Hartvig SOLDIN (1763-1843). Publisher.
b) Judith Soldin (1768-?). Probably the Judith Soldin who married
the widower Nathan Rosbach (1768-1814) and was buried 1836 in the
cemetery in Copenhagen.
c) Abraham SOLDIN (1769-1834). Publisher. His four children were
christened 1822 (during the public dispute called "jødefejden")
and changed their surname into SOLDENFELDT.
d) Salomon SOLDIN (1774-1837). Publisher
e) Hanne SOLDIN (ca 1781-1843), married to Meier Aron Eibeschütz
(1782-1834), juweler.
f) Frome SOLDIN (ca. 1783-), otherwise unknown.
g) Michael SOLDIN (ca. 1785-1865) tobacco manufacturer, married
to Frederikke Wolf (-1874). Descendants?
h) Frederikke SOLDIN (1786-1858). Married to Salomon Simson MONIES,
tobacco manufacturer.
Please, reply to tom@brondsted.dk
PS: have a look at an extract from my gedcom-file (in Danish)!