Der Churfuerstl. Saechs. Handelstad Leipzig, Kauf-und Handels-Recht [Leipzig: Commercial Law].

(GERMANY)

Christoph Günther

Leipzig

1683

A compendium of regulations of the City of Leipzig. Of especial interest are the edicts concerning Jews: "Leipziger Juden-Ordnung de anno 1682.” The relationship between this city in Saxony and the Jews is an anomaly. On the one hand, Jews were banished from Saxony in 1430 - (it took three centuries for them to be readmitted to Leipzig). On the other hand, on account of the seasonal Leipzig Fair, the number of Jewish merchants present in the City would swell to the point that these visitors were formally authorized to conduct gatherings in their own prayer-rooms ("Judenschulen"). Indeed, permitted to attend the Fair were not only German Jews, but Jews of Eastern Europe as well. In the present text, Johann-Georg III, Duke of Saxony, mandates several laws concerning Jewish tradesmen and the nature of Jewish participation in the Fair. In order to attend, the Jew required attestation to his professional honesty ("ein Ehrlicher Handelsmann") (par. 1); he was forbidden to lodge in the suburbs (par. 2); and at all times, he must be in possession of his various individual passes (pars. 3-6). Also, legal-clauses are addressed to the wives, children and servants of the Jewish tradesmen visiting (pars.10-12). Of peculiar note: Jewish musicians were barred from trading altogether (par. 21). See JE, Vol. VII, pp. 673-4