Fabian Philip, familjen Ruben och örlogsstaden : Entreprenörsfamiljen som grundade Mosaiska församlingen i Karlskrona 1780–1945

Sammanfattning: The purpose of the dissertation is to investigate Jewish integration in the naval city of Karlskrona in the period 1780–1945. This was done by the investigation of the economic, social and cultural strategies that the Jewish Philip/Ruben family used in their family business in Karlskrona during the 19th century. This has made it possible to understand how a Jewish family and congregation interacted with and became integrated in a Swedish naval-city environment. The study gives also new information about and a better understanding of the Swedish naval environment and naval production capacity. The study provides new knowledge on different fields of studies as Swedish Jewish history, urban history, naval history (the history of the Swedish Royal Navy), history of migration and integration, and the history of Karlskrona. The dissertation studies the history of the Philip/Ruben family in three distinct perspectives: economic, social and cultural. Moreover, the study pays attention to the process of the family’s integration and adaptation of different Jewish groups in Karlskrona.Fabian Philip obtained an exception from the Swedish legislation forbidding Jews to live in other towns than Stockholm, Göteborg and Norrköping, and settled in the naval city of Karlskrona. His family came to constitute the Jewish congregation in Karlskrona in the period 1782–1862. Karlskrona therefore became the fourth city in Sweden where Jews were allowed to settle. Fabian Philip and his family originated from Bützow in northern Germany. Fabian Philip’s establishment in Karlskrona depended upon his role as contractor, supplying sailcloth to the Swedish Royal Navy. After the Vienna Congress of 1815 Sweden adopted a Doctrine of Central defense and The Swedish Royal Navy lost its importance for the defense of Sweden. With a minimum of funding the Swedish Royal Navy went into a state of despair and so did Karlskrona’s local economy.By 1830 agriculture was the only viable economic niche in the economically neglected Karlskrona but Jews were prohibited to own landed property until 1860. Fabian Philip was able, with the help of Karlskrona’s officer staff, to circumnavigate the legislation and became a landowner of big Afvelsgärde estate. Of all the Jewish-owned estates in Sweden in the mid-century 10 percent were to be owned by the Philip/Ruben family. When Sweden was industrialized in 1870–1890, the local economy of Karlskrona managed to compensate for the decline in activities of the Swedish Royal Navy. The family succeeded to take part in the program of local modernization that was launched from the 1880s. The Philip/Ruben family contributed to the economic modernization of Karlskrona as bankers and factory owners. The family thrived in the city’s surprisingly open and cosmopolitan environment. Until now, no research has been undertaken about the Jewish congregation or the Jewish life in Karlskrona. The results of this dissertation contribute to the understanding of Jewish life in Sweden.