Mirror of the Community? Jews and Books of Obligations in Eger (Cheb)

Abstract Typically, books of obligations are utilized as primary sources for studying the credit trade, particularly in relation to the role of Jews. Research in this area often focuses on their involvement in credit transactions, examining aspects such as loan amounts, interest rates, pledges, and similar factors. These inquiries are valid, as they shed light on the role of Jewish financiers in the medieval economy. However, in this paper, I explore a different angle: what can the books of obligations reveal about the Jewish community itself and its broader involvement in moneylending and credit trade? The books of obligations preserved in Eger (Cheb) span nearly a century (1405–1496), providing a unique lens through which we can trace the community’s participation and its evolving role within the broader financial landscape during this period.