A shtadlan (Hebrew: שְׁתַדְּלָן‎, IPA: [ʃtadˈlan]; Yiddish: שתּדלן‎, IPA: [ˈʃtadln̩]) was an intercessor for a local European Jewish community. They represented the interests of the community, especially those of a town's ghetto, and worked as a "lobbyist" negotiating with the authorities holding power for the safety and benefit of Jews. The process of Jewish intercession is known as shtadlanut (Yiddish: שתּדלנות‎). Traditionally, shtadlanim were seen as great protectors of Jewish communities, and received approbation from the communities' governing Jewish religious authorities.