Jacques Offenbach (1819-1890) drew on three different cultures for his inspiration and was equally at home in all of them: German, French and (something which has been accorded too little research attention) Jewish. The latter was transmitted to him largely by his father Isaac (Ben) Juda Eberst (later Offenbach). Here the image of Father Offenbach, his family and above all his world-famous son takes on a much clearer outline than before, thanks first to the Introduction, which combines profound historical insight with a discussion of Isaac's works against the background of his biography, and secondly to a selection of secular and spiritual works unpublished at his death.