HEBREW. PENTATEUCH, FIVE MEGILLOTH AND HAPHTAROTH). Chamishah Chumshei Torah

(BIBLE

Eliezer Solomon d’Italia

Mantua

1785

Engraved frontispiece depicting the Sacrifice of Isaac. On title, and again on f.159r., signatures of “Israel Gedaliah Cases, Rabbino” and another unidentified “Rabbino.” -- In the first instance, attesting that this volume can be regarded a valid Torah by which to swear in witnesses; in the second, indicating that the Oath should be administered with the Bible open to the passage in Leviticus 26: 14-15, known as the “Tochachah,” which warns of dire chastisements for deviating from the Law (thus, a lesson on honesty)

Vinograd, Mantua 545

Court-Room Hebrew Bible. Signed by the Chief Rabbi of Mantua, Israel Gedaliah Cases (d. 1793), and a second, as yet unidentified rabbi, noting that this volume is to be used by the Judicial-courts of Mantua to administer the Oath to Jewish witnesses, and specifying which page to turn to when administering the Oath. See S. Simonsohn, History of the Jews in the Duchy of Mantua (1977), pp. 699-700. For another, similar Court-Room Bible from Mantua sold at auction, see Kestenbaum & Company, Sale XXI, 4th December, 2003, Lot 53