 The AHU congregation ceased to exist in 1811 when the French authorities imposed a single consistorial organization; the Ashkenazim and Sephardim united to form one congregation, the Altona community retaining its own rabbinate which was also recognized by the Jews of Wandsbek until 1864.The decisive assistance in the fight for equal rights came because in the elections 1848 the Jews had voting rights.To get those votes, two opposing groups promised them equal rights.