Hebrew. PENTATEUCH AND HAPHTAROTH). Chamishah Chumshei Torah. With Judeo-German summaries

(BIBLE.

Anton Schmid

Vienna

1815

Not in Vinograd

Historic Court-Room Hebrew Bible. Pasted in at front is an official German-language document dated "Prague, 5 April, 1821," signed by the esteemed Rabbi of Prague, "Eleasar Flekeles, Rabbiners, Oberjurist," noting that this Bible is to be used in Courts of Law to administer the Oath to witnesses of the Jewish faith. Furthermore, the document specifies as to precisly which leaf the Bible shoud be opened (f.98) when the Judge adminsters the oath. The leaves of the Pentateuch are numbered (presumably by a court-officer) until f.98v. On that page, verse 14 has been noted: Leviticus 26:14 which begins the "Tochacha," or, maledictions. Includes a separate manuscript written on the same date, signed by Carl Fischer, the appointed Censor of Hebrew Books in the city of Prague. Fischer was on friendly terms with Flekeles, indeed, the use of the Hebrew Bible in the secular court system would appear to be a direct result of inquiries made by Fischer to Fleckeles regarding the validity of a Jew’s oath to a gentile. This communication appears in Flekeles’ volume of responsa, “Teshuvah Me’Ahavah,” Part I (1809), number 26. A significant material legacy highlighting the relationship between Jews and their host society.