Auction 73 - Jewish and Israeli History, Culture and Art
Four Booklets – The Israelite Central Consistory of France / A Prayer for Empress Marie Louise – 1809-1811
Opening: $700
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 with 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 Jewish communities 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 following years saw the establishment of dozens of regional Israelite Consistories – local Jewish community councils, subordinate to the Central Consistory and in fact to the Ministry of Religion.
This lot consists of four printed booklets – three booklets documenting the establishment of the Casale district consistory (today, north Italy) and a prayer for Empress Marie Louise, issued by the Central Consistory and distributed among various communities:
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 containing the decree ordering the establishment of a new institution – The Israelite Central Consistory of France. The decree orders the establishment of 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 engage in agriculture, manual labor, and the arts; and reporting the number of Jews to the authorities. The booklet includes an additional decree, 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 [Regulations concerning... Administration and Employees of the Jewish Prayer Houses in the Consistory of Casale]. Casale: Louis Maffei, [1811?]. French and Italian. The official seal of the consistory of Casale is printed on the title page.
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. The official seal of The Israelite Central Consistory is printed on the title page.
The booklet opens with a letter from the Central Consistory to members of the various consistories, urging them to pray for the Empress until she gives birth, using the text printed in the booklet and 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 a prayer (in Hebrew and French), titled: "A Prayer by the people of Israel, citizens 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. Several small holes to one booklet. One spread detached. Two booklets with new wrappers.
The booklets are not recorded in NLI.
The Israelite Central Consistory of France (Consistoire central israélite de France) was founded by Napoleon in 1808 to administer Jewish communities 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 following years saw the establishment of dozens of regional Israelite Consistories – local Jewish community councils, subordinate to the Central Consistory and in fact to the Ministry of Religion.
This lot consists of four printed booklets – three booklets documenting the establishment of the Casale district consistory (today, north Italy) and a prayer for Empress Marie Louise, issued by the Central Consistory and distributed among various communities:
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 containing the decree ordering the establishment of a new institution – The Israelite Central Consistory of France. The decree orders the establishment of 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 engage in agriculture, manual labor, and the arts; and reporting the number of Jews to the authorities. The booklet includes an additional decree, 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 [Regulations concerning... Administration and Employees of the Jewish Prayer Houses in the Consistory of Casale]. Casale: Louis Maffei, [1811?]. French and Italian. The official seal of the consistory of Casale is printed on the title page.
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. The official seal of The Israelite Central Consistory is printed on the title page.
The booklet opens with a letter from the Central Consistory to members of the various consistories, urging them to pray for the Empress until she gives birth, using the text printed in the booklet and 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 a prayer (in Hebrew and French), titled: "A Prayer by the people of Israel, citizens 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. Several small holes to one booklet. One spread detached. Two booklets with new wrappers.
The booklets are not recorded in NLI.
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