Five Books of the Torah – Vienna, 1804 – Copy for Use of Jewish Witnesses Taking Oath in a Christian Court of Law – ...

Five Books of the Torah – Vienna, 1804 – Copy for Use of Jewish Witnesses Taking Oath in a Christian Court of Law – With Handwritten Authorization from Rabbi Elazar Fleckeles, Head of the Prague Beit Din, and from the Censor Carl Fischer
Five books of the Torah, with Rashi commentary, Targum Onkelos and the Five Megillot. Vienna: Anton Schmidt, [1804].
A special copy used for administering oaths to Jewish witnesses in a Christian court of law. A handwritten document in German is bound before the title page, signed by Carl (Carolus) Fischer, Royal-imperial censor, reviser of Jewish books and Hebrew translator, and by R. Elazar Fleckeles, head of the Prague Beit Din (in German). The document authorizes this book for administering oaths to Jews testifying in court and states the exact place in the book where one must rest one's hand while taking the oath (Vayikra 26:14 onwards – the curses in Parashat Bechukotai). The leaves of the book of Vayikra are numbered by hand. On folio 38, handwritten markings based on this document.
On the preceding leaf, another authorization signed by Carl Fischer.
Enclosed: a printed pamphlet, in German and Czech – official notice issued by Archduke Stephan Franz Victor ("Kundmachung des kaiserl. konigl. hohin. Landes Guberniums"), with regulations related to administering oaths to Jewish witnesses in court; Prague, January 1, 1847 (not in OCLC).
R. Elazar Fleckeles (1754-1826), leading disciple of the Noda BiYehuda and head of the Prague Beit Din. He served as rabbi of Kojetín from 1779, and in 1783 was appointed dayan and head of the Prague Beit Din. A leading Torah scholar of his generation. Author of Responsa Teshuva MeAhava (three parts) and other books.
R. Elazar Fleckeles and Carl Fischer maintained a remarkable friendship and even corresponded in Hebrew. Printed in his book, Teshuva MeAhava (I, 26), is a responsum which R. Elazar Fleckeles wrote to Mr. Fischer on the subject of Jews' oaths to non-Jews. Among other matters, he discusses the significance of a person placing his hand upon a Chumash, tefillin or on the Zohar while taking an oath. See enclosed material.
74; 72; 53; 62; 70 leaves (separate title page for each Chumash) + [2] leaves (at the beginning of the book) + printed pamphlet. 23.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Worming to several leaves. Original binding, with minor damage.