Kirchliche Verfassung der heutigen Juden sonderlich derer in Deutschland ["The Religious Condition of Contemporary Jews, Especially Those in Germany."]

BODENSCHATZ, JOHANN CHRISTOPH GEORG.

Joh. Fried. Beckers

Frankfurt and Leipzig

1748-49

FIRST EDITION. German interspersed with Hebrew. Four parts in two volumes, bound in one. One divisional title. Titles printed in red and black. Engraved frontispiece with twenty-nine engraved plates of contemporary German-Jewish custom and life-style

Freimann 147; Rubens 589-617 (his copy lacking fig. 14 - text of Get)

Bodenschatz (1717-1797) a South German Orientalist made Judaism his specialty, producing this truly monumental work. "Because of its objectivity, it is a significant source for the ceremonial practices of the German Jews." (See Frederick Hauck, Neue Deutsche Biographie). No doubt due to the detailed engravings, the work did much to secure for Judaism a favorable consideration in Germany. Of late, Prof. Elisheva Carlebach has shown that converts to Judaism, in order to assert their privileged position of knowledge concerning their former religion, criticized the naivete of this well-meaning but occasionally misinformed Christian Hebraist. See E. Carlebach, Divided Souls: Converts from Judaism in Germany, 1500-1750 (2001), p. 218