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Lot 102 Passover Seder Plate by David Heinz Gumbel – "Chad Gadya" – Jerusalem, 1940s

A Passover Seder plate by David Heinz Gumbel, decorated with scenes from the piyyut "Chad Gadya". Jerusalem, [ca. 1

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Passover Seder Plate by David Heinz Gumbel –

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Auction 69 - Part I -Rare and Important Items December 3, 2019

Opening: $7,000

Estimate: $8,000 - $12,000

Unsold

A Passover Seder plate by David Heinz Gumbel, decorated with scenes from the piyyut "Chad Gadya". Jerusalem, [ca. 1940s].
Copper; hammered, raised and engraved.
A large, flat plate. Wide rim, engraved with the Hebrew words "Chad Gadya" in a traditional font; followed by scenes from the piyyut, starting with the kid and ending with the Angel of Death lying dead. Beside each scene, the corresponding quote from the piyyut appears in raised letters, in the modern, functional font identified with Gumbel's works in particular and New Bezalel artists in general. The plate is signed on verso: "G / Jerusalem" (Hebrew).
David Heinz Gumbel (1906-1992) was born in Sinsheim in the state of Baden-Württemberg, southern Germany. His family was among the pioneers of local modern industry; his father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all industrialists. Gumbel grew up in nearby Heilbronn which was a center of silverware industry, and worked at the Bruckmann & Söhne silverware factory. At the age of 21 he moved to Berlin to study silversmithing at the Kunstgewerbe Schule school of art. After graduating, he returned to Heilbronn and started producing modern silverware at his father's factory, Gumbel & Co. His handmade silverware was characterized by use of highly polished silver combined with additional materials, clearly belonging to the Bauhaus and other parallel schools. In 1936, as the situation of the Jews of Germany took a turn for the worse, Gumbel immigrated to Palestine, settled in Jerusalem and for a while worked at the silverware workshop of silversmith Emmy Roth, of the first silversmiths to make modern Judaica. After several months, he started teaching metal and Jewelry design at the New Bezalel and in 1942 opened his own workshop, in which he spent decades making Judaica, dinnerware and jewelry. In 1955, he retired from Bezalel, his colleague Ludwig Yehuda Wolpert following suit a year later; however, the visual language they had created and their unique style continued to influence the works of students for many more years.
Gumbel, like other Bezalel artists, adopted the use of Hebrew letters in Judaica in order to emphasize the Jewish and national nature of his work; however, unlike others, he perceived the verses and words he added to his works of art as a form of decoration rather than a meaningful, central part of the object.
Diameter: 42.5 cm. Good condition. Bends. Minor welding repairs. Slight corrosion. Stains.
Literature: Forging Ahead: Wolpert and Gumbel, Israeli Silversmiths for the Modern Age, by Sharon Weiser-Ferguson. Jerusalem: Israel Museum, 2012.

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Judaica Objects

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Lot 103 Large Comprehensive Collection of "Görlitz Shekels" – Europe and the USA, 17th-20th Centuries

120 Görlitz Shekels, Masonic tokens and more – various types, including types not recorded in "Shekel Medals and Fa

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Auction 69 - Part I -Rare and Important Items December 3, 2019

Opening: $10,000

Estimate: $12,000 - $15,000

Unsold

120 Görlitz Shekels, Masonic tokens and more – various types, including types not recorded in "Shekel Medals and False Shekels", by Bruno Kisch (1943). Germany, England and the USA, [17th century to 20th century].
The first "Görlitz Shekel" coins were struck in the 15th century, at a time when few knew what Jewish coins from the First Jewish–Roman War looked like. Their invention is attributed to George Emmerich, mayor of Görlitz in Prussia, who visited Palestine as a pilgrim in 1465, and upon his return to Görlitz, built a replica of the Holy Sepulchre. The pilgrims who came to the site were offered souvenir tokens, first introduced as copies of one of the thirty pieces of silver given to Judas Iscariot by the Romans for betraying Jesus. Ever since, such coins were struck with small variations, at first throughout the Holy Roman Empire and later in other countries, including the USA, and were popular among Jews and Christians alike. Struck without seeing a genuine shekel, the Görlitz Shekels design relied on the few and faulty testimonies that appeared in books and on imagination. Thus, while ancient Jewish coins bear legends in Ancient Hebrew script (Paleo-Hebrew), the legends "Shekel Israel" and "Holy Jerusalem" appear on Görlitz Shekels in square Hebrew script; the pomegranate branch and the goblet, while taken from descriptions of genuine shekel coins, vary in design. Although at first the coins were introduced as souvenirs, it wasn't long before they started being sold as ancient coins from the Temple period.
Over the years, they were used for different purposes: they served as souvenirs and amulets; among the Jews of Europe, they were used as a remembrance of the half shekel collected in the time of the Temple or used for charity or for observing the Mitzvah of gifts to the poor on Purim; some used them as the five coins for Pidyon Haben (Redemption of the Son).
This collection contains many types of Görlitz Shekels, from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries (possibly even earlier; one coin is a variation of the Meysel-Shekel, a type of Görlitz Shekel sometimes dated 1584. The coin in this collection does not bear a date). Some of them are not recorded in the Kisch catalog (1941).
Several 19th century Görlitz Shekels in this collection were made in England and are inscribed with manufacturers' names. One of these coins is in the original cardboard box in which it was sold at the store of A. Bührer in London, with a label describing the coin as a copy of the Shekels of Judas Iscariot.
The collection also contains Masonic tokens, one side or both sides of which are designed as Görlitz Shekels. Some made in the USA; two counterfeit First Jewish-Roman War Shekels, presumably 19th century; a reproduction-medal of the Görlitz Shekel, dated 1999 [presumably issued by a Museum in Görlitz]; and more.
A total of 120 medals. Size and condition vary.
Literature:
1. Shekel Medals and False Shekels, by Bruno Kisch, New York, 1941. A printout from Historia Judaica, vol. III, no. 2.
2. The Third Side of the Coin (Hebrew), by Ya'akov Meshorer. Jerusalem: Yad Yitzchak ben Zvi, 2006.
3. The Coins of Palestine (Hebrew), Bank of Israel Collection, Catalog, by Aryeh Kindler. Jerusalem: Keter, 1971.

Category

Judaica Objects

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Lot 104 Collection of Documents and Letters Signed by Kings and Emperors – Europe, 16th-20th Centuries

Twenty-nine letters and documents bearing the handwritten signatures of European kings and emperors: Germany, France, Spain,

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Auction 69 - Part I -Rare and Important Items December 3, 2019

Opening: $10,000

Estimate: $12,000 - $15,000

Sold for: $12,500

Including buyer's premium

Twenty-nine letters and documents bearing the handwritten signatures of European kings and emperors: Germany, France, Spain, Sweden, and other kingdoms. Mid-16th century to mid-20th century. German and French.
A collection of twenty-nine letters and documents, most of them handwritten on paper or parchment, bearing the handwritten signatures of European kings and emperors. Appearing on many of them is the seal of the kingdom (some are wax seals and some are inked or embossed seals); a few are written on official stationery. Two of the letters are typewritten.
The collection contains signatures of several of the greatest European rulers, alongside rare signatures of kings whose rule lasted only a brief time, or kings whose countries do not exist anymore. Among them: • a letter from 1575 signed by Henri III (1551-1589), the last king of the Valois dynasty of France. • A letter from 1578 signed by Felipe II (1527-1598) – King of Spain, Portugal, Napoli, Sicily and England, of the greatest rulers of his era. • A letter from 1830 signed by Karl XIV (1763-1844), King of Sweden. • A document from 1878 signed by Frederick III (1831-1888), the German Emperor (whose rule lasted only 99 days). • A document signed by Jean d'Albret, King of Navarre (a region now divided between France and Spain). • And more.
Some of the documents in the collection are signed by kings and emperors whose rule left a deep impression on the history of the Jews of their country. Including: • A letter signed by Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II. Maximilian II was considered a supporter of the Jews and during his rule, deportation orders issued by his predecessors were cancelled and the privileges denied to the Jews of Bohemia were regranted to them. In 1571, in an especially rare gesture by a European ruler, he held a parade in the Jewish ghetto of Prague. • A letter from 1753 signed by Maria Theresa (1717-1780) – the Archduchess of Austria and Queen of Bohemia, under whose rule the Jews were forced to pay draconian taxes, suffered pogroms and were expelled from Prague and Budapest. • A long letter (12 pages) signed by Frederick II (Frederick the Great, 1712-1786), one of the greatest Kings of Prussia, who was especially hostile to the Jews, issued dozens of decrees against them and in 1752 even stated that they are "the most dangerous of all sects". • Several documents signed by Wilhelm II, the last German Emperor. He is noted in the history of Zionism due to his meeting with Theodor Herzl and his support of the plan to settle Jews in Palestine. • And more.
These letters and documents were collected out of interest in the relationship between Jews and kings. They are mounted on thick paper plates and are organized in two albums. Some of the plates are cut to render both sides of the documents visible and to most of them are attached notes with the name of the signed ruler, the years of his life and the content of the document (clippings from auction catalogues, mostly in German). One of the albums is titled "Collection of authentic autographs of 'kings' throughout the ages" (Hebrew. On a label pasted to the album's cover). Under the title are four references to Jewish sources dealing with the attitude of Judaism to monarchs.
Size and condition vary. Good-fair overall condition.
Enclosed: a letter signed by Anne de Montmorency (1493-1567), a French military commander and statesman.

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Regarding the Attitude of the Jews towards the Monarchs of the Nations

Throughout history, wherever they lived, the Jewish people treated the local monarchs with respect and loyalty. Thus they followed in the footsteps of the Talmudic Sages who ruled one should pray for the wellbeing of the monarch and be loyal to him: "Rabbi Chanina, the deputy High Priest, says: Pray for the welfare of the government…" (Pirkei Avot 3:2). The sages also ruled one should be obedient to the king, saying: "The law of the land is the law" (Dina d'malkhuta dina) and stating that G-d had made the People of Israel swear they will not rebel against the nations of the world (Ketubot 111). They also formulated a special blessing for one who sees a king: "Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has given of His glory to human beings", and in the Shulchan Aruch it is ruled: "One should strive to see kings, even those of the nations of the world" (Orach Chaim 224:9). In all Jewish communities, a special prayer, "He who gives salvation to kings", was said, and special prayers were formulated for the health and success of kings and their families.

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Jewish Communities and European Monarchs

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Lot 105 Prayers for the Recovery of Empress Maria Theresa from Smallpox – Printed Booklet Issued by the Mantua Community, with Fine Engravings – Venice, 1767

Nell' Occasione di essere stata attaccata dal vajuolo e per Divina Grazia restituita in salute Sua Maesta' Imperiale Reale Ap

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Prayers for the Recovery of Empress Maria Theresa from Smallpox – Printed Booklet Issued by the Mantua Community, with Fine Engravings – Venice, 1767

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Auction 69 - Part I -Rare and Important Items December 3, 2019

Opening: $1,000

Estimate: $5,000 - $10,000

Sold for: $3,000

Including buyer's premium

Nell' Occasione di essere stata attaccata dal vajuolo e per Divina Grazia restituita in salute Sua Maesta' Imperiale Reale Appostolica l'augustissima Maria Teresa – elegant booklet illustrated with fine engravings, published by the Mantua Jewish community in honor of the recovery of Empress Maria Theresa from smallpox. Venice, 1767.
In 1767, Maria Theresa, empress of the Holy Roman Empire and queen of Italy, contracted smallpox. The Mantua community instituted special prayers for the queen's recovery (see: Simonsohn, Toldot HaYehudim BeDukasut Mantova, I, p. 131). Following the queen's recuperation, the community decided to have printed in Venice the texts of the prayers recited during her illness, with the addition of a special prayer of thanksgiving for her renewed good health. According to Simonsohn (ibid), some 300 copies were printed, including 100 on high-quality paper. This is one of those copies (though it is unclear whether it is a "high-quality" or regular copy).
This booklet includes: Prayers for Maria Theresa's recovery, prayer of thanksgiving for her recovery, two poems by R. Yaakov Saraval, two poems by R. Yisrael Gedalia Cases, and the prayer for the monarch. All the Hebrew texts are accompanied by their Italian translation, on facing pages.
The booklet is decorated throughout with well-executed engravings and ornamented initials.
39 pages. 31 cm. Wide margins. Good condition. Stains. Cardboard cover, damaged.
A corresponding copy of this booklet, in a different layout and with different engravings, is located in the Austrian National Library, Vienna.
From the estate of Prof. Shlomo Simonsohn.

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Jewish Communities and European Monarchs

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Lot 106 Collection of Printed Booklets and Broadsides – The Jewish Community of Rome – Late 16th Century to Early 19th Century

Fifteen booklets and official broadsides concerning the Jewish community of Rome. Rome, late 16th century to early 19th centu

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Auction 69 - Part I -Rare and Important Items December 3, 2019

Opening: $2,500

Estimate: $4,000 - $6,000

Sold for: $3,125

Including buyer's premium

Fifteen booklets and official broadsides concerning the Jewish community of Rome. Rome, late 16th century to early 19th century. Italian and some Latin. A few Hebrew words.
The Jewish community of Rome, which exists since the first century B.C. to the current day, is considered the most ancient Jewish community in Europe. In 1555, after hundreds of years of tolerance by the authorities, Pope Paul IV issued the Cum Nimis Absurdum (Latin: Since it is absurd), a bull placing religious and economic restrictions on the Jews, prohibiting them from owning real estate and fraternizing with Christians, requiring them to attend Christian sermons on Sabbath and wear yellow hats and kerchiefs and, most importantly, prohibiting them from living near Christians (leading to the establishment of the Rome ghetto). The bull started one of the worst periods in the history of the community, which became the poorest and most wretched community in Western Europe. For the next two hundred and fifty years, the Jews of Rome lived in disgraceful poverty, within the ghetto only, and were exposed to conversion attempts by the authorities (there were even cases of kidnappings and coerced baptizing), until the establishment of the Kingdom of Italy and the return of the Jews' rights. Offered here is a collection of official broadsides and booklets printed during this difficult time (five of them from the late 16th century), documenting the life of the community and the restrictions imposed on it. Including:
• A decree from 1592, imposing various prohibitions on the Jews: prohibitions on employing Christian women, eating with Christians, giving singing, dancing or Hebrew lessons to Christians, selling medicine or giving medical treatment to Christians, a prohibition on playing games with Christians and other prohibitions (some mentioning the fine imposed in case of violation). • A decree from 1599, prohibiting the harming of Jews. • A printed broadside issued by the Franciscan Order in 1731, announcing that the Jews continue to be in possession of Talmud books and other books opposed to Christianity. • Booklet of regulations that was printed in 1752, presumably by the community. The Hebrew acronym "Bah Ami Asu" [the initial letters of the following Hebrew verses: In the name of the Lord, My help comes from G-d, who made heaven and earth] is printed on the title page. • A booklet from 1810, documenting the short time when the Jews were granted back their rights when the city was occupied by the French during the wars of Napoleon. • And more.
Size and condition vary. Good-fair overall condition. Stains, creases and tears to margins. Fold lines, inscriptions and partially open tears (mostly small). Worming in two booklets. Long tears to one broadside.
From the estate of Prof. Shlomo Simonsohn.

Category

Jewish Communities and European Monarchs

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Lot 107 Collection of Printed Booklets and Broadsides – The Jewish Community of Mantua – The 16th Century to the 18th Century

Approx. forty official booklets, documents and broadsides documenting the status and rights of the Jews of Mantua. Mantua, mi

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Auction 69 - Part I -Rare and Important Items December 3, 2019

Opening: $4,000

Estimate: $8,000 - $12,000

Unsold

Approx. forty official booklets, documents and broadsides documenting the status and rights of the Jews of Mantua. Mantua, mid-16th century to late 18th century. Italian and some Latin.
The Jewish community of Mantua, existing since the late Middle Ages (and according to some assumptions, even earlier), is considered one of the most important Jewish communities in the history of Italy. The community was known for its thriving printing industry and its important contribution to the economy and banking. Offered here is a varied and important collection of documents – printed broadsides and booklets issued by the authorities concerning the Jews, spanning more than one hundred and fifty years and documenting the lives of the Jews during early Modern History. The documents had belonged to Prof. Shlomo Simonsohn and were used by him to write his comprehensive book Toldot HaYehudim BeDukasut Mantova (Jerusalem, 1963-1965).
The collection contains broadsides publishing regulations for the protection of Jews (some of them detailing the prohibitions on harming Jews imposed on the Christian population); a booklet dealing with rights of the Jewish community; a 1612 broadside dealing with the restrictions imposed on Jewish bankers and additional broadsides dealing with monetary and banking issues; three broadsides, printed between 1709 and 1727, refering to the Jewish merchant Abram Vita Fano; a broadside dealing with the rights of Jews who converted to Christianity; and more. Seven broadsides from the 16th century.
Size and condition vary. Good-fair overall condition. Stains, creases and blemishes. Tears and partially open tears (mostly small, to margins).
From the estate of Prof. Shlomo Simonsohn.

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Jewish Communities and European Monarchs

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Lot 108 Important Collection of Seder HaHaaracha Booklets and Pragmatika Broadsides from the Jewish Community of Mantua – Tax and Communal Regulations – 1649-1793

Important collection of Seder HaHaaracha booklets and Pragmatika broadsides – tax and communal regulations of the Jewish comm

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Important Collection of Seder HaHaaracha Booklets and Pragmatika Broadsides from the Jewish Community of Mantua – Tax and Communal Regulations – 1649-1793

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Auction 69 - Part I -Rare and Important Items December 3, 2019

Opening: $2,500

Estimate: $4,000 - $5,000

Unsold

Important collection of Seder HaHaaracha booklets and Pragmatika broadsides – tax and communal regulations of the Jewish community of Mantua, printed between 1649 and 1793.
"Seder HaHaaracha VehaHanhaga" is the name of tax regulations which were printed from time to time, from the late 16th century until the late 18th century in the Mantua community. The authors of the regulations – "Mesadrei HaHaaracha", who were appointed by the community institutions, established the various criteria for tax assessment and for the community constitution. The regulations were generally instituted for the coming three years, and at the end of this period, a new booklet was published, with the regulations to be applied in the next three-year period.
This collection belonged to Prof. Shlomo Simonsohn, and some of its historic contents was integrated into his fundamental book Toldot HaYehudim BeDukasut Mantova, Jerusalem 1963-1965.
Study of these regulations sheds light on the change in the economic situation of the Jews of Mantua over the years. These booklets serve as a valuable, historical source on Jewish community life in the 17th and 18th centuries, and offer many details on the various occupations of the members of the community, the merchandise and types of property, and more (see Simonsohn, Toldot HaYehudim BeDukasut Mantova, I, pp. 274-284 regarding the tax regulations and Sidrei HaHaaracha). Starting from the beginning of the 18th century, an announcement of excommunication was added at the end of the regulations, which applied to any member of the community who did not conform with the regulations.
Seder HaPragmatika or Seder HaHaskama was the set of standards regulating the conduct of the community members, instituted for a period of six years. These regulations contained various clauses which determined, in great detail, the standards of acceptable conduct in various areas: the use of luxurious clothes and fabric, wigs, jewelry and jewels; modesty in women's clothing and their conduct in public places; the scope of various celebrations and the maximum amount of money to be spent on weddings; the prohibition of gambling with cards, dices and the like; and many other regulations. (For more information on the history of Pragmatika, see: Simonsohn, Toldot HaYehudim BeDukasut Mantova, II, pp. 386-395).
This collection comprises the Seder HaHaaracha booklets printed in the years: 1695, 1701, 1726, 1732, 1744, 1750, 1759 (two copies, one is lacking 4 leaves), 1774, 1777 (two different booklets, one entitled Eleh HaDevarim), 1786, 1793. Several booklets contain handwritten emendations.
The collection also includes: A broadside – "Seder HaHaskama… Regarding the Clothing and Jewelry of Men and Women, and Regarding Banquets and Gifts…" printed in 1650, and two large Seder HaPragmatika broadsides, printed in 1759 and 1765.
15 paper items. 13 booklets (one lacking 4 leaves), in varying sizes; one broadside, 41.5X31 cm; two particularly large broadsides, 56.5X40 cm. Good condition. Light-colored, high-quality paper. Stains. Dampstains. Traces of past dampness to one booklet, with mold. Unopened pages in many booklets. Fold lines to broadsides.
From the estate of Prof. Shlomo Simonsohn.

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Jewish Communities and European Monarchs

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Lot 109 A Letter from Constantinople to Rome, Announcing Sabbatai Zevi's Conversion to Islam – A Printed Booklet Distributed among Italian Jewish Communities – Venice and Parma, 18th Century

Relazione curiosissima, ed insieme verissima del strano successo del preteso Messia degli Ebrei, il quale cagiono tanta commo

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Auction 69 - Part I -Rare and Important Items December 3, 2019

Opening: $2,000

Estimate: $4,000 - $6,000

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Relazione curiosissima, ed insieme verissima del strano successo del preteso Messia degli Ebrei, il quale cagiono tanta commozione in quella Nazione, e termino poi farsi turco [A curious and at the same time true report of the surprising rise of the false messiah of the Jews…], by "Padre Beccaranda". Venice and Parma: Gozzi, [presumably, 1741 or 1742]. Italian.
A four-page booklet featuring a letter sent from Constantinople to Rome in order to announce Sabbatai Zevi's conversion to Islam.
This letter, which is considered one of the most important and earliest testimonies about Sabbatai Zevi's conversion, was presumably written as early as 1666 – several weeks after Sabbatai Zevi was imprisoned by the Ottoman authorities and converted to Islam. The letter, presumably distributed among the Jewish communities in an attempt to eradicate Sabbateanism, was printed in multiple editions throughout the 17th and 18th centuries (at least five editions were printed by 1667). The author briefly introduces Sabbatai Zevi's history and then describes at length the events that led to his conversion to Islam. The author states that he was an eye-witness to the events in Constantinople (In the text there are several hints of the author’s presence at the events narrated) and that he got his information regarding previous events from reliable people. The opening lines indicate that the letter was written in response to a question by another person, whose name is not mentioned ("I answer the question made to me by Your Lordship about what happened to the Jew, who had posed as the Messiah"). This edition was published without indication of date; presumably, it was published only in 1741 – approximately 75 years [!] after Sabbatai Zevi's convertion to Islam (possibly indicating that the struggle against the Sabbateans continued even in such a late period).
Although the author's full name is not indicated in any of the editions, this edition and some others mention the name "Padre Beccaranda", presumably referring to the Jesuit Jacques Becherand who lived in Constantinople between 1660 and 1667.
[1] leaf, folded in half (four printed pages), approx. 24.5 cm. (margins of varying width). Stains, fold lines and small tears. Open tears along edges and fold lines (small, slightly affecting text). Abrasions, slightly affecting text. Handwritten notation on top of the title page.
For additional information about this letter and its various editions, see: Between Information and Proselytism: Seventeenth-century Italian Texts on Sabbatai Zevi, by Stefano Villani (in Daat: A Journal of Jewish Philosophy & Kabbalah, issue 82, Ramat-Gan: Bar Ilan University, 2016).
From the estate of Prof. Shlomo Simonsohn.

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Lot 110 Napoleon and the Jews – Various Printed Items – Prayers and Poems in Honor of Napoleon and Official Publications of the Grand Sanhedrin Established by Napoleon

Collection of booklets, leaves and leaflets, printed in Paris – prayers and poems in honor of the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte,

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Napoleon and the Jews – Various Printed Items – Prayers and Poems in Honor of Napoleon and Official Publications of the Grand Sanhedrin Established by Napoleon

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Auction 69 - Part I -Rare and Important Items December 3, 2019

Opening: $3,000

Estimate: $4,000 - $5,000

Sold for: $3,750

Including buyer's premium

Collection of booklets, leaves and leaflets, printed in Paris – prayers and poems in honor of the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, including official publications of the Assembly of Jewish Notables and the Grand Sanhedrin established by Napoleon in Paris.
• Printed leaflet, call from "The Assembly of Deputies of the Jewish People, residing in France and Italy, convened here in Paris, to their co-religionists". Paris, Tishrei / October 1806. Hebrew and Italian (on facing pages).
• Printed leaflet, call issued by the Grand Sanhedrin, to pray for the success of Napoleon. Paris, [1806]. With the (printed) signatures of: R. Yosef David Sinzheim, R. Naftali Hirsch Katzenellenbogen, R. Yehoshua Ben Zion Segre, R. Mazal Tov Modena, R. Avraham Chai de Cologna, and others. Hebrew only.
• Printed booklet in honor of Napoleon's birthday – "Ode pour le Jour de la Naissance de Napoleon le Grand" [Ode for the birthday of Napoleon the Great], by R. Avraham Chai de Cologna of Mantua. Paris, 1806. Hebrew and French.
• Printed booklet in honor of Napoleon's birthday – "L'Augusto Anniversario della Nascita di s. m. Napoleone il Grande" [The August anniversary of the birth of Napoleon the Great], by R. Mazal Tov (Buonaventura) Modena, "Dedicated to the president of the gathering, R. Avraham Furtado". Paris, 1806. Hebrew and Italian.
• Printed booklet, "Prayer for the Jewish people residing in France and Italy, for the success of the armies of our master, the emperor and king, Napoleon the Great". Paris, Cheshvan 1806. "Printed in the imperial printing house".
• "Orazione Degli Ebrei di Mantova" [Prayer of the Jewish People of the Mantua Community], printed leaf, one side Hebrew and the other side Italian – prayer for a healthy, easy pregnancy and birth for "the Empress and Queen Marie Louise… wife of His Majesty… the Emperor and King Napoleon the Great", Mantua, [ca. 1811].
Napoleon's relationship with the Jews was complex. On the one hand, Jews received equal rights under his protection, and he tried to obtain their allegiance with various gestures. One the other hand, he aspired to increase the the control over the Jews and sought to "reform" them. In July 1806, Napoleon convened the "Assembly of Jewish Notables" in Paris, which included rabbis mostly from France and Italy, in order to discuss and reach conclusions regarding the Jews in his empire. Later that year, Napoleon decided to assemble a more exclusive gathering, named "Sanhedrin" and numbering 71 members, to authorize and thus accord religious validity to the conclusions issued by the Assembly. R. David Sinzheim, author of Yad David, was appointed head of the Sanhedrin, and some of the leading Italian rabbis of the time served as members. These printed items were for the most part issued that year in Paris, by representatives of the Jewish Assembly and of the Grand Sanhedrin (for more information regarding Napoleon and the Jews, see: Baruch Mevorach, Napoleon UTekufato, Jerusalem 1968).
6 items. Size varies. Most booklets and leaflets in good condition.

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Jewish Communities and European Monarchs

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Lot 111 A Booklet Calling for the Establishment of an Assembly of Jewish Notables – The Assembly Convened Before the Grand Sanhedrin – Issued on behalf of the French Emperor Napoleon I – Paris, 1806

Liste de MM. les députés de la Nation Juive, Convoqués à Paris par ordre de Sa Majesté l’E

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A Booklet Calling for the Establishment of an Assembly of Jewish Notables – The Assembly Convened Before the Grand Sanhedrin – Issued on behalf of the French Emperor Napoleon I – Paris, 1806

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Auction 69 - Part I -Rare and Important Items December 3, 2019

Opening: $1,000

Estimate: $2,000 - $4,000

Unsold

Liste de MM. les députés de la Nation Juive, Convoqués à Paris par ordre de Sa Majesté l’Empereur et Roi [A List of the Deputies of the Jewish Nation, Convened in Paris by order of His Majesty the Emperor and King]. Paris: Dabin, libraire, Palais du Tribunat, 1806. French.
A copy of the official booklet published by the French Empire, calling for the establishment of an Assembly of Jewish Notables and determining the list of its participants.
In 1806, several charges were filed against the Jews of Alsace, claiming that they were practicing usury in dealings with Christians. The complaints rekindled the question of the Jews' status as citizens of post-revolutionary France and subsequently, Napoleon summoned an assembly of about a hundred Jewish leaders in order to examine the attitude of the Jewish community to the state law and indirectly – to decide whether the Jews are capable of assimilating into the French society.
The members of the assembly were presented with twelve questions: In the eyes of Jews, are Frenchmen not of the Jewish religion considered as brethren or as strangers? Do the Jews acknowledge France as their country? May a Jew marry a Christian? What kind of jurisdiction do the rabbis exercise over the Jews? And additional questions. The meetings of the Assembly drew much public interest throughout Europe (protocols of the meetings were published in French, English, Italian and German) and several months later, the notables submitted their final response to the emperor, expressing their willingness to accept the French state law as a framework for the laws of the Jewish community. In order to accord religious validity to the decision, Napoleon called together the Grand Sanhedrin, a smaller assembly of 71 participants (as in the Grand Sanhedrin of the Second Temple), which in practice, subjugated the Halacha to the French state law. Subsequent to the activity of the Assembly of Notables and the Grand Sanhedrin, a statute was adopted which removed the social and civil authority of the Jewish communities, limiting the activity of the rabbis to the fields of religious rituals and maintenance of synagogues only.
The present booklet comprises two parts: • An imperial decree (Décret Imperial) from 30.5.1806, calling the representatives to convene on July 15 of that same year, placing a moratorium on all debts owed to Jewish usurers by Christian farmers until the assembly discusses the changes required from the Jewish community. • A detailed list of about a hundred names and addresses of representatives of the Jewish communities who were summoned to the assembly, divided according to various French counties (several representatives were summoned from Italy, which was then under Napoleon's control). The list includes rabbis, community leaders and Jewish philanthropists from a variety of Jewish circles and movements, including Rabbi Joseph David Sinzheim (chief rabbi of Strasbourg, who later became the chairman of the Grand Sanhedrin), Rabbi Avraham de Cologna, banker Avraham Furtado from the Sephardic community of Bordeaux (chairman of the Assembly), Rabbi Hananel Nepi of Ferrara, and others.
On the title page of the booklet, beneath the title, the Hebrew word "Elohim" (G-d) was printed.
18 pp, approx. 14.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Blemishes and small tears to edges. The last leaf is partly detached. In a blank paper cover.

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Lot 112 Four Printed Booklets – The Israelite Central Consistory of France / A Prayer for Empress Marie Louise – 1809-1811

Four booklets from the period of the establishment of The Israelite Central Consistory of France: three booklets documenting

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Four Printed Booklets – The Israelite Central Consistory of France / A Prayer for Empress Marie Louise – 1809-1811

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Auction 69 - Part I -Rare and Important Items December 3, 2019

Opening: $1,500

Estimate: $2,000 - $4,000

Unsold

Four booklets from the period of the establishment of The Israelite Central Consistory of France: three booklets documenting the establishment of a new consistory in the Casale district and one booklet issued by the central consistory in Paris and distributed among the various districts – a prayer for the pregnant Empress Marie Louise. Casale and Paris, [1809-1811]. French, Italian and Hebrew.
The Israelite Central Consistory of France (Consistoire central israélite de France) was founded by Napoleon in 1808 to administer the Jewish congregations across France. The new institution revolutionized the relationship between the Jews and the government, took the management of the communities away from the local rabbis and for the first time in the history of Europe represented the Jewish religion as an official religion.
The establishment of the institution took place in several phases: at first, Napoleon summoned an assembly of Jewish notables who were required to confirm their willingness to accept the French state law. In the second phase, Napoleon convened the Grand Sanhedrin – an assembly of rabbis and Jewish leaders, which was meant to endorse the previous decision and validate it as a Halachic ruling. Finally, a new institution, the first of its kind, was established, The Israelite Central Consistory of France, which coordinated the management of the Jewish congregations, the appointment of rabbis and the supervision of the regulations. The organization acted by means of a network of consistories – local councils of congregation members, who received their orders from the Central Consistory in Paris, subject to the Ministry of Religion.
Offered here are four printed booklets – three booklets documenting the establishment of the consistory of the Casale district (today, north Italy) and a prayer for Empress Marie Louise, issued by the Central Consistory and distributed among the various congregations:
1. Décret impérial qui ordonne l'exécution d'un réglement du 10 décembre 1806, concernant les Juifs. Au palais des Tuileries, le 17 mars 1808 [Imperial Decree Ordering the Execution of the Regulation concerning the Jews from December 10, 1806…]. Casale: Louis Maffei, [1809?]. French.
A booklet featuring the decree ordering the establishment of the new institution – The Israelite Central Consistory of France. The decree orders the establishment of a new consistory for every community of 2000 Jews or more, emphasizing four roles: supervising rabbis' decisions according to the ruling of the Grand Sanhedrin; managing financial matters and synagogues; encouraging the Jews to adopt productive occupations; and reporting the number of Jews to the authorities. An additional decree was printed in the booklet, restricting the establishment of new synagogues.
7 pp, approx. 25.5 cm.
2. Procès verbal de l'installation suivie le jour 25 mai 1809 du Consistoire départemental des israélites établi à Casal… et Discours prononcés à cette occasion par Monsieur le Sous-Préfet et par Monsieur le Grand rabbin [Minutes of the Establishment of the Jewish Consistory in Casale on May 25, 1809… and Speeches Delivered on This Occasion by the Sub-Prefect and the Chief Rabbi]. Casale: Louis Maffei, [1809?]. French.
[10] pp, approx. 25 cm.
3. Réglement concernant la police intérieure et extérieure, l'administration et les employés des temples des Israélites compris dans la circonscription consistoriale de Casal [Rules concerning the Internal and External Police, Administration and Employees of the Jewish Prayer Houses included in the Consistory of Casale]. Casale: Louis Maffei, [1811?]. French and Italian. Printed on the title page is the official seal of the consistory of Casale.
21 pp, 29 cm.
4. Prière pour Sa Majesté l'impératrice et reine, adoptée par le Constistoire central [Prayer for Her Majesty, the Empress and Queen, adopted by the central Consistory]. Paris: Consistoire central des Israélites, 1810. Hebrew and French. Printed on the title page is the official seal of The Israelite Central Consistory of France.
The booklet opens with a letter by the Central Consistory to members of the various consistories – a request to pray for the Empress until she gives birth, according to the text printed in the booklet with an addition of two Psalms, also printed. Signed in print by the Chief Rabbi of France, David Sinzheim, and other rabbis, and stamped with the stamp of the Consistory. Followed by the prayer (in Hebrew and French), titled: "A Prayer for the people of Israel the residents of the kingdom of France, before G-d they will pour their hearts and beg for the safety of our lady the Empress Queen who is pregnant, issued by the shepherds of Israel the leaders of the Central Consistory in Paris".
[1], 7 pp, approx. 25 cm.
Condition varies. Good overall condition. Stains and minor creases. Small tears to edges. One booklet with several small holes. One booklet with one spread detached. Two of the booklets are bound in a paper cover.

The booklets do not appear in the NLI catalog.

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Lot 113 Collection of Handwritten and Printed Documents – Documentation of The Vienna Israelite Community (IKG) from Its Early Days in 1894 – Broadsides for the First Elections to the Community Council, Documents Related to Jewish Educational Institutions, Li

An interesting collection of approximately 50 documents, handwritten and printed, documenting the history of the body represe

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Collection of Handwritten and Printed Documents – Documentation of The Vienna Israelite Community (IKG) from Its Early Days in 1894 – Broadsides for the First Elections to the Community Council, Documents Related to Jewish Educational Institutions, Li

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Auction 69 - Part I -Rare and Important Items December 3, 2019

Opening: $6,000

Estimate: $8,000 - $12,000

Sold for: $7,500

Including buyer's premium

An interesting collection of approximately 50 documents, handwritten and printed, documenting the history of the body representing the Jewish residents of Vienna – the Vienna Israelite Community (Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien) since its early days. The collection contains broadsides documenting the election procedure for the community council, starting with the first elections in April 1849; correspondence between the Jewish community and the Vienna Municipality concerning the establishment of a Jewish school; a document calling to establish a Rabbinical seminary in Vienna; booklets and documents listing names of community members and their representatives; and additional paper items. Many of the items are signed (in print or by hand) by the leaders of the community and senior officials of the Austrian government. Vienna, 1849 to the late 19th century (some earlier documents). German.
In 1782, Emperor Joseph II published the Edict of Tolerance, considered the harbinger of the emancipation of the Jews of Europe. The edict granted the Jews important rights in the fields of commerce and social life, yet left the restrictions on the establishment of synagogues, educational institutions and the forming of an independent community. Seventy years later, following the wave of national revolutions in Europe (the Spring of Nations), it was decided to remove the restrictions on the Jews. In 1849, the Jews of Vienna were permitted to found a community and elect representatives to manage its institutions. In a speech delivered in April of that year, Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph used for the first time the expression "Israelite Community of Vienna". The community regulations were determined in 1852 (considered the IKG official year of foundation) and in 1867, the last civil restrictions on the Jews of Austria were lifted.
This collection contains:
Broadsides and additional publications related to the elections to the council of the Vienna Israelite Community, starting with the first elections held in April 1849. Including:
• An die israelitischen Einwohner Wiens [To the Jewish residents of Vienna], announcement towards the first elections for the Jewish community council, signed (in print) by the twelve representatives who were temporarily appointed by the authorities to represent the Viennese Jews. Hirschfeld press, March 1849.
• An die israelitischen Einwohner Wiens, die bisher an der Vertreterwahl Theil genommen haben [to the Jewish residents of Vienna who took part in the elections for the representatives of the community]. A document (printed leaf, folded in half) which contains information about the authority vested in the council of the Jewish community and a list of the nominees towards the first elections for community council. Hirschfeld press, April 9, 1849.
• A ballot from the first elections for the Jewish community council, held on April 30, 1849: a printed form, with twelve names filled-in by hand.
• Kundmachung – An die israelitische Gemeinde in Wien! [Announcement to the members of the community in Vienna!], a broadside containing a list of the twelve representative who won the elections for the community council. U. Klopf Senior und A. Eurich press, July 1849.
• Tabelle der für die Jahre 1853 bis 1861 stattgehabten Vorstandswahlen in der israel. Cultusgemeinde Wien [Table for the elections that were held for the Jewish community council in Vienna, 1853-1861], handwritten document – a table with the names of the representatives and the various position for which they were elected. November 1862.
• Additional broadsides and publications, printed and handwritten, related to the administration of the Jewish community of Vienna until 1868.
Booklets and documents dealing with the civic status of the Jews of Austria and the authority of the council of the Vienna Israelite Community . Including:
• Die Regelung der Staatsbürgerlichen Stellung der Juden in Oesterreich [Regulation of the civic status of the Jews of Austria], an eight-page document examining the legal civic status of the Jews of Austria. Aler. Eurich press, [Vienna, 1859].
• Bericht des zur Revision der prov. Statuten der Wiener israelitischen Cultusgemeinde eingesetzten Ausschusses [Report of the committee set up to revise the provisional statutes of the Vienna Israelite Community], a printed booklet, signed in print by Josef von Wertheimer, president of the Jewish community of Vienna between 1864 and 1867. Bendiner & Schlosberg press, [ca. mid-1860s].
• Statut der israelitischen Kultus-Gemeinde in Wien [Statute of the Vienna Israelite Community], printed document defining, in 30 clauses, the authorities vested to the members and representatives of the Jewish community of Vienna. Aler. Eurich press, 1867.
• Landes-Gesetz- und Verordnungsblatt für das Erzogthum Österreich unter der Enns [Laws and regulations in the Archduchy of Lower Austria…], official booklet containing several regulations issued by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Austria defining the conditions for the appointment of rabbis in the Archduchy of Lower Austria. Governmental press (K.K. Hof- und Staatsbuchdruckerei), 1892.
Letters, documents and additional items dealing with education, the rabbinical seminary in Vienna and other educational institutions of the Vienna Israelite Community. Including:
• Correspondence between the Vienna Municipality and the Jewish community, about the establishment of a Jewish elementary school in the city (1854-1856): three letters by the municipality, demanding the opening of a Jewish school in the town, and two letters in response by the community (one to the municipality and the second to the Minister of Education), requesting to dismiss the requirement, claiming that the school will lead to the distancing of Jews from Christians. The final letter rejects the Jews' petition and orders the opening of the school.
• Hohes K. K. Ministerium für Cultus und Unterricht! [Ministry of Education and Culture of the Habsburg Empire!], a document issued by the Jewish communities in Vienna, Prague and Lemberg, calling to establish a rabbinical seminary in Vienna (Israelitisch-Theologische Lehranstalt), signed by hand by the representatives of the communities. [Vienna?, ca. late 19th century].
Accompanied by a (nine-page) historical review of the efforts made by the communities over more than a century in order to receive the necessary permits to establish the seminary.
• Österreichisches pädagogisches Wochenblatt zur Beförderung des Erziehungs- und Volksschulwesen [Austrian educational weekly for the promotion of education and study in public schools].
Six issues of a journal (published twice a week between 1842 and 1865) containing articles regarding Jewish education. Issues 57-59. Vienna: A. Pichler's Witwe & Sohn, July 1857.
Handwritten and printed booklets – lists of the members of the Vienna Israelite Community and its representatives. Including:
• A handwritten booklet with a detailed documentation of the various position-holders in the Vienna Israelite Community between 1805 and 1867.
• Register der Bethplaetze [Register of synagogue seats], a handwritten booklet registering approximately 550 members of the Vienna Israelite Community according to their assigned seats in the various wings of the synagogue and the amount donated for each seat between 1856 and 1857.
• Verzeichnis der mitglieder der israelitischen Kultusgemeinde in Wien [List of the members of the Vienna Israelite Community]. A printed booklet containing a list of approximately two thousand members of the Vienna Israelite Community (men), noting the profession and occupation of each of the members. Vienna: Jacob Schloßberg, 1868.
Additional documents, mostly handwritten, related to the Vienna Israelite Community.
A total of approx. 50 documents. Size and condition vary.

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