Commentatio de Statu et Jurisdictione Judaeorum

(FRENCH JUDAICA)

Strasbourg

1763

Latin text except for quotations in French and German. Hebrew type on pp. 32, 34, 35

Szajkowski 18

Commentary on Jewish Status and Jurisprudence from Roman, German and Alsatian Law. Chap. V concerns the status of the Jews in Alsace. “It is not an evil for there to be a few Jews in Alsace, but they have multiplied in this province to the point that their excessive number results in many inconveniences...The number of Jews will only increase, not only because they marry off their children young but because the nobles accept any who present themselves, because they [the Jews] are useful to them...therefore the following limits should be put on their economic activities...” Of related interest, see p. 50-51: The Status of the Jews in the Roman Empire after the Destruction of Jerusalem...The Jews in Venice cannot be subject to the Inquisition for any crime because ecclesiastical authority does not apply to those who have never been part of the Church. Therefore, those who object to the Jews’ anti-Christian behavior should address their charges to the magistrates of blasphemy.