Pinkas Bedek Habayith.

(GERMANY).

(Fürth)

1787-1854

Manuscript in Hebrew and Yiddish, written in various cursive Ashkenazic hands on paper. Laid in are a few related manuscripts in German.

Community ledger listing the names of members of the synagogue and location of their seats. Seating arrangements appear to have been allotted on the basis whereby more prominent families were situated along the eastern-side (Mizrach) wall. Alternatively, certain members, those less deserving of honor, or were perhaps financially insecure, are allocated only Chatzi-Makom (“half a seat.”) Includes names of both male and female synagogue attendees. The ledger recounts how seats may be sold to others, or kept within families and passed down as inheritance. Financial matters discussed include payment terms (f. 9b) and the use of seat ownership as as collateral against loans (f. 29b and f. 50b). Based on several German entries signed by one Dr. Loewi of Fürth, the presumption is, it is from that Bavarian town that this ledger emanates.