Herz Cerfbeer of Medelsheim

Herz Cerfbeer of Medelsheim was a Jewish-Alsatian philanthropist. He was a contractor to the army, and employed his wealth and his influence with the French crown in promoting the material and spiritual welfare of his coreligionists. The government permitted him to settle at Strasbourg, in opposition to the wishes of the authorities of that city, who zealously enforced laws excluding Jews.