(German: Court Jews) – term applied from the 16th century to Jewish bankers and merchants active at the courts of German feudal rulers. They were placed under special care, were not subjected to state jurisdiction or, in case a Jewish Council existed at their place of residence, to Rabbinate Courts. Amongst most prominent dynasties of Hofjuden were: descendants of S. Oppenheimer and S. Wertheimer, the Eskeles, the Arnstein families and the Pereira family from Vienna, as well as the Gomperz family of the Hohenzollern court. 

Andrzej Żbikowski

Za: Tomaszewski J., Żbikowski A., Żydzi w Polsce. Dzieje i kultura. Leksykon, Warszawa 2001.