Tenaim and Tena’im Acharonim. Group of nine engagement and dowry contracts written in various French Alsatian towns including: Phalsbourg, Buschwiller, Hagenau, Landau and Bourbourg.

(FRENCH-JUDAICA).

1738-1805

Hebrew manuscripts on paper written in various Aschkenazic cursive scripts. Most documents with notarized French abstract of the documents. Signed by all parties involved in Hebrew and occasionally French, along with witnesses and community officials.

The Tenaim and Tena’im Acharonim (dowry and other conditions) agreed upon at or following the marraige provide for surprisingly detailed financial and property transactions. One document (1744) specifies the giving of a set of the Amsterdam Talmud and Mikra’oth Gedoloth. Here, the father of the groom was Elia Schwab, Rabbi of Hagenau. Some of the families in these documents appear to be distinguished in their communities. For example, in the document dated 1738, the father of the groom Meir Weil, is given the title Shtadlan HaMedina” (”Mediator of the Province”), in addition to the more common titles of Aluph, Rosh and Katzin, reserved for lesser community leaders and men of means.