(FRENCH JUDAICA).

The Tikunei Shtaroth is a bibliographic curiosity with a date of 1710 on the title page and 1738 in the colophon. The work served as a handbook for Rabbis and communal scribes in the preparation of various deeds. Contains an interesting manuscript addendum of 27 leaves in differing Aschkenazic cursive and square scripts with the texts of various documents pertaining to: The marriage ceremony, inheritance, Seder Pidyon Haben and popular seguloth (remedies for a childless woman, fear of thunder etc.) Of special interest is the discussion on ff. 3a - 5b concerning a case where the groom’s brother was an apostate. Certain authorities required that the marriage be performed conditionally depending upon whether the wife or the husband dies first. The writer, who was a disciple of R. Jonathan Eybuschetz, cites a difference of opinion between R. Jacob Reischer, Rabbi of Metz (author of Shevuth Ya’akov) and his master R. Eybuschetz. On f. 5a he states that he performed such a marriage under the jurisdiction of R. Wolf, the Rabbi of Bouxwiller in Alsace, who ruled in favor of R. Reischer. Other inscriptions within the volume relate to events in various towns in Alsace (Wintzenheim, Balzenheim, etc.) The second volume, Zoth Torath Hachatath, contains the signature of R. Shimon Bluma, Rabbi of Freidich and the Upper Rhine of Alsace, plus a lengthy inscription by his son. The third volume, the liturgical Machzor, contains an inscription dated 1795, signed by… Ziskind b. Aryeh Leib Lima of Bouxwiller in Alsace, states that the book was purchased from a lady… for three gold coins… may I pray from it with my entire heart.’"