Pinkas Witzenhausen-Barchfeld [community ledger]

(GERMANY).

Germany

1765 and later

Manuscript in Hebrew and Judeo-German composed in various cursive Ashkenazic hands. on paper.

Outlines the duties and responsibilities of the community leader (Parnas) and the penalties to be imposed upon those who fail to honor his instructions. Interestingly, most imposed fines relate to donating materials needed for the upkeep of the synagogue, such as fuel for lighting (“ner leme’or”). Rules and regulations relating to: Prayer rites, precedence for Torah honors, the need to provide welfare for visitors, the preparations necessary for producing Matzah, the duties of the local kosher butcher, etc. With signatures of the parnasim, gabbaim and others (f. 26b). Also signed by the Chief Rabbi: “Here in Barchfeld, Naphtali Hirsch who dwells in Witzenhausen in the State of Hessen, 1768 (f. 27b).