Five Books of the Torah - Vienna, 1815 - Copy for Administering an Oath to Jewish Witnesses in the Christian Court ...

Five Books of the Torah - Vienna, 1815 - Copy for Administering an Oath to Jewish Witnesses in the Christian Court of Law - With a Handwritten Authorization of Rabbi Eliezer Fleckeles, head of the Bet Din of Prague, and the Censor Karl Fischer
Five books of the Torah, with the five Megillot, and "Ashkenaz glossary". Vienna, [1815]. Printed by Anton Schmidt.
A unique copy, designated for administering oaths to Jewish witnesses in the Christian court of law. Pasted before the title page is a handwritten document in German signed by Karl Fischer, the censor, editor and Hebrew translator of the royal house, and by Rabbi Elazar Fleckeles head of the Bet Din of Prague [in German] which authorizes this book for administering oaths to Jews testifying in the court. On the previous leaf is another handwritten authorization signed by Karl Fischer, and on the front cover's leaf is another document in German. On the title page is a governmental stamp for the city of Graz.
Glued on Leaf 59 is a colored leaf for marking the page upon which the hand should rest at the time of the oath. On this page, the verse “Do not take the name of the Lord your G-d in vain…” is marked in parentheses. Leaf 98 is also marked on the verse “Do not make for yourselves false G-ds and idols…” The leaves are numbered up to these pages.
Rabbi Elazar Fleckeles (1754-1826), the leading disciple of the Nodah Be’Yehuda and the head of the Bet Din of Prague, served as Av Bet Din of Gutein from 1779-1783. In 1783, he was appointed Dayan and head of the Bet Din in Prague and his fame spread beyond the city as one of the top Torah scholars of his times. He wrote the responsa Teshuva Me’Ahava [three parts] and other books.
Rabbi Elazar Fleckeles and Karl Fischer maintained a remarkable friendship and they even corresponded in Hebrew. Printed in his book, Teshuva Me’Ahava Part 1, Siman 26 is a responsum which Rabbi 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 attached material.
163; [1], 43 leaves. 23 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear, tears on the leaf of authorization and on several other leaves. Original cover, detached and worn.