Proclamation of Holy Roman Emperor Joseph I in the aftermath of the destruction of the Frankfurt Ghetto

(GERMANY)

(Frankfurt a/Main)

17 March, 1711

German. Decorative woodcut initials

In 1711 a fire broke out in the house of Chief Rabbi Naphtali Katz which subsequently destroyed the entire Jewish quarter of Frankfurt a/Main. This imperial edict reflects the tolerant policies of the Emperor who stresses here that since the misfortune that befell the Jews was through no fault of their own, their Christian neighbors should extend to them "help and good will" ("Huelffe und guten Willen") (p. 2). The edict goes so far as to forbid speaking ill against the Jews ("Reden gegen die Juden). Infractions to this law are to be severely punished ("schwehrer Bestraffung"). And finally, the Authorities are to aid in the rebuilding of the Jew Street ("Judengass") (p. 3). See EJ, Vol. VII, col. 87.