Oppenheim shows the cultural diversity of Frankfurt's Jews by depicting a man in Polish dress. After the Sabbath morning service, a devout father, wearing the long coat and fur-trimmed hat (streimel) of Polish Jews, asks the venerable rabbi to bless his child. The kindhearted rabbi is believed to be Tobias Sondheimer, and the figures are though to be his son and grandson. Sondheimer served as leader of the synagogue in Oppenheim's hometown, Hanau, from 1795 to 1830.