The End of Jewish Democracy in 18th Century Prague

Scholar: Joshua Teplitsky Year: 2015

Description

Although Jewish communal leadership appears to have been determined by elections in the earlier centuries of this period, by the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries an increasing trend towards permanent ruling oligarchies can be discerned. A standing patriciate is in evidence in Frankfurt by the 1620s, and Prague, while it maintained a contentious partisan structure throughout the seventeenth century, succumbed to a permanent oligarchy in 1703.

The following document represents the decisive moment (on November 10, 1703), when Emperor Leopold decreed an end to Jewish democracy in Prague, and replaced it with a standing governing body. Of particular note are a number of salient themes, including the relationship between royal/imperial fiat and Jewish self-government, the function of the kehilla as a tax-farming entity as the critical basis for its legitimacy in the eyes of the state, royal awareness of factionalism and strife among Jews, and, subtly but importantly, efforts by the Habsburg monarchy to bring Jewish administration into line with other denizens of the realm.

Introduction

One intriguing register for considering continuities and changes in Jewish life in the early eighteenth century is the constitution of the autonomous Jewish community, or kehillah. This institution of Jewish self-government was formed at the nexus of the imposition of governments on the one hand and Jewish collective investment in the legitimacy and utility of this form of association, on the other. The range of services and duties executed by the kehillah were critical for managing daily life and structuring power relations both between Jews and their neighbors and among Jews themselves. Therefore, the means by which some attained leadership in the kehillah—ie, its process of election and appointment— were at times as important as the legislation it drafted. In a premodern system often structured by clientage and patronage, and in which legislation relied not on an impersonal bureaucracy to execute it but upon deeply personal ties of obligation, moments of election could be decisive for far-ranging policies and programs.

Source 1 Translation

Published by G. Wolf in Allgemeine Zeitung des Judenthums 27, 14 (21 April, 1863): pp. 255- 257.

Leopold. Dear faithful,

Given that the Prague Jewish community has lapsed into long-term strife, factionalism, and disorder on account of its property tax and classification, and its own arrangements several years prior of other assorted large taxes and contributions have led both to vexation on Our part and that of the public, and thus has itself drawn around its neck many varied damages, by which it has descended ever deeper into debt, almost without hope of emerging, and such that it is already well-known to the obedient ones that in order to cope with this corrosive evil a profitable arrangement has been made between our Royal Court Chamber and Samuel Isaac Sachsel, Primas of the Prague Jews, and Wolf Frankel on April 6, 1702, for the length of three years, in which Jewish taxes and other public contributions will henceforth rightly and indeed anticipatedly will be paid to our royal chief tax collection point, and the fuss and the resultant expensive execution will be overcome.

Therefore, in order, to Our great pleasure, to bring a complete cessation to Jewish quarrels—of which we have already in many ways, and nearly continually been bothered in the excitement preceding taxation and classification—we have also been moved to confirm the sheltered Perdon-lease and its established contract, as here decided, with all of its included points and clauses, including those set by Our Royal Court Chamber until June 20 of the current year, to begin anew for another three years after the conclusion of the first triennium on April 6, 1705. And to that end we have issued through our Bohemian Chancellery, to Our royal government in Prague, that the aforementioned lessees Samuel Isaac Sachsel and Wolf Frankel with all the members of their consortium are powerfully protected and they, by their appointment, shall receive all the extensions of assistance and prompt help from the Prague Magistrates for the collection of the Perdon and the prevention against fraud and collusion with Christian merchants.

And concurrently we especially remind ourselves that the harmful factions and the protestations at the triennially repeating election caused great agitation among the Jews of Prague, and indeed that on account of it some trouble-making Jews—not motivated as much by communal need as by fiendish disposition and by harboring private passions—impugned the selection of those chosen in nearly every previous Jewish election, so that not only our offices but nearly every position has come under attack. These Jewish conflicts have been protracted over the long term and in emulation of their ambitions quite a few of the “smaller” members have plunged into confusion. And so now our Royal Court Chamber along with the Bohemian Court Chancellery on the 12th of March of the current year, in considering the various customary concessions of the Prague Jews, and given thought, consultation, and consideration to the matter, has come to the finding that just as the quarrelsomeness and frequent complaints regarding the taxation and classification of the Prague Jews have been solved through the healthy means of the Perdon lease, so too the Prague Jewish elections have been the reason for factional dispute the pressure of grievances, and in order to achieve the goal of a steadfast tranquility both for the Jewish community itself and for the general need for stability, the Jewish vote could be abolished and—just as the Christian faithful do—a consistent and perpetual magistracy could be constituted. This is mostly because the lease-arrangement includes a classification of all of the Prague Jews, which necessarily has to be undertaken each time before the election. It [the classification system] would have required a significant change anyway and consequently is rightly to be abolished. Not to mention that all the great and unnecessary expenses that were spent during the several weeks of the election process for the sworn scribes, the Jewish criers, soldiers and other things can be spared in the future and also the Jews will no longer enter into factionalism and fiendish collusion when they see that that positions are not in play every three years. Rather they are awaited only with the death of one of the Jewish Elders or the other positions, or if their completion happens in another and only through the well-established credentials that have been already approved by our Chamber and Justice-workers prior to the attempt of the remaining Jews, so that the Prague Jewish community may remain in administrative calm and tranquility, which we graciously intend.

As graciously ordered, appointed, and consented to for eternity, that heretofore the formerly necessary Prague Jewish election will no longer be carried out, rather a continual and perpetual Jewish magistracy with proceed, therefore to that end the incumbents in these positions—the lawfully and properly elected Elders, Assessors, and minor functionaries from most recent election insofar as they were not restricted through the Perdon contracts—will be firmly established. The number of the Jewish Council will not be altered, rather it will follow the precedented system of 27 people: 5 Elders, 5 Community Elders, and 17 Assessors, preserved perennially. But should one of the registered elders, officers, or other Jewish officials die and his position become vacant in any other way, then three subjects shall be nominated by the Elders for the vacated position, and our Royal Bohemian Chamber will advise the choice of one of them. Otherwise, so that there is little likelihood of complaints originating against the Jewish Magistracy (and especially the assessors, whose duty and responsibility is limited to the promotion of justice), every three years the Commission appointed by our Royal Bohemian Chamber will undertake a visitation of the Elders, Community Elders, Assessors and other officers—as briefly and with as minimal cost as possible—and convey to our Royal Court Chamber in its offices to verify and confirm or otherwise will discover that should one of them not comport himself to his duties and instructions, and has instead exceeded against them, then one such as this will deservedly be punished or, upon discovery, be removed from his office and another shall be dispatched and appointed in his place.

You are thus graciously ordered duly as others to take note to record everything in the proper order and to publish our gracious order regarding the confirmation and prolonging of the Perdon lease as well as the perpetual Jewish magistracy, so that you follow it with all obedience and ensure that the Prague Jews persist in loyal observance of it, and that those who loudly oppose it are banished, and Jews will no longer—according to our gracious order and intention—hold an assembly, rather, this is utterly forbidden under penalty of being disbarred from office, and of this to observe steadfastly and with all seriousness.

Vienna, 10 November 1703.
To the Royal Bohemian Chamber.

Source 1 Original

Published by G. Wolf in Allgemeine Zeitung des Judenthums 27, 14 (21 April, 1863): pp. 255-257.

Leopold.
Liebe Getreue,
In waβ für langwiehrige Strittigkeiten, Zanck un unordnungen die Pragersche Judenschafft hierüber von wegen ihrer Anlaag und Classification verfallen seye und welcher gestalten selbte deβwegen von einem Jahre ins andere verschiedene groβe Steuer- und Contributionsresten zu Unßern und des Publici Verdrieβ erwachssen lassen, auch dann mehere vielfaltige Executiones zu ihren selbsteigene Schaden über den Halβ gezogen, mithinn sich jemehr und mehr in die Schulden und zwar fast ohne Hoffnung jemahlen herauβ eluctiren zu können vertieffet habe, solches ist nun auch ohnehin schon zur genüge gehorsamst (?) bekandt, gleich wie nun aber dieβen bey der Pragerischen Judenschafft eingerissenen übell durch die zwischen unβerer k. Hofkammer dann denen Pragerischen Juden Primas Samuel Isac Sachsel und Wolf Frankel, den 6. Apr. des nächst abgerückten 1702t. Jahres auf 3 J[ahr] lang höchst erspriβlichen geschlossenen perdons verpachtung dergestalten begegnet worden, daβ die jüdische Steuer und andere Contribuenda publica nunmehro richtig und zwar anticipando in Unβer K. Obersteuerambt abgeführet und die Umbstände und dahero resultirte kostbahre executiones evitiret werden, folgsam auch die Juden querelen, woraus wir sonst in viel weegen und fast continuirlich vor angeregter Anlag und Classification halben behelligt worden, dermahlen zu Unseren allergrosten Vergnügen gänzlichen cessiren thuen, alβo sind wir bewogen worden, obgedachte jüdische Perdonsverpachtung und darüber aufgerichtete Contract mit allem, wie hiermit beschieht, in allen darinne enthaltenen Punkten und Clausulen sambt denen von Unβerer kays. Hofkammer auβ ex post biβ den 20. Juni currentis anni hierinfalβ ergangenen Verordnungen v. h. k. und k. gnaden zu confirmiren, sondern auch noch auf andere 3 Jahre id est nach auβgang des ersten trienny alβ den 6. Apr. 1705 wieder anzufangen zu bestätigen gestalten wir dann auch zu dem Ende durch unβere böhm. Hoffkanzley das behörige an unβer k. Governo zu Prag haben ergehen lassen, daβ vorberichte Pachter Samuel Isac Sachsel und Wolf Frankel mit ihren Mit-Consorten darbey kräftigst geschützet und ihnen auf ihr beschehendes Anmelden von denen Pragerischen Magistraten zu Einbringung des Perdons und Verhütung derer Unterschleiffungen und Collusionen mit denen christl. Kaufleuten alle verlangende Assistenz und schleunige Außhülfe contra quoscunque unweigerlich geleistet werden solle; Und zumahlen wir auch unβ annebst erinnern, daβ sie schädliche factiones, und reclami bey denen hiebevor Singulis triennis wiederholten wahl Actibus unter der Pragerischen Judenschaft sich erregt haben und alßo zwar, daβ wegen deren von einigen Unruhigen Juden nicht so wohl ex motive denn gemeinschaftlichen Nutzen zu befördern als vielmehr auβ feindhässigen Gemüth und hegender privat passion fast bey allen vorgegangenen jüdischen Wahlen impugnirter qualitätentam Eligentium quam Electorum nicht nur unβern Cameral, sondern auch jegliche Stellen vielfaltig angegangen, dieβe jüdische Strittigkeiten auf lange Zeit hinaus protractiret und inmittelst die Pragerische Judenschafft ob ambitiosam Emulationem ihrer etlich weniger Membrorum in die gröβeste Confusiones gestürzt worden und nun aber unβer kayl. Hofkammer bey denen mit unβer böhm. Hoffkanzley v. 12 März umstehenden Jahres wegen verschiedener die Prager Judenschafft concernirender passuum gepflogenen Concessio auf die gedanken gerathen und nach reifferder Sachen Ueberlegung für gut befunden hat, daβ gleich wie die ehemalige wegen der Anlaag und Classification derer Prager Juden entstandene Zankereyen und häuffige Klagen durch daβ saluberrimum medium der Perdonsverpachtung gänzlich kassiret worden, Alβo auch die ratione der Prager Jüdischen wahl sich gemenlich erhebende Factiones Zwistigkeiten und gravamina gedrücket und eine beharliche tranquilität sowohl zu ihrer der Judenschafft selsteigenen alβ auch der gemein weesen Nutzen stabiliret mithin um dessen Zweck zu erreichen die Jüdische wahl Aufgehebt und wie bey denen Christen treulich ein beständig und perpetuirlicher Magistrat constituirt werden könte und dieses zwar principaliter darumben, weilen mehr besagte Wahl ohne dem schon durch die Perdonsverpachtung und derentwegen immermehr cessirender Classification der Prager Juden, welche sonsten jedesmal als ein necessarium Antecedens vor der Election tractiret und umgerichtet werden missen, in praecipuis substantialibus eine groβe Veränderung bekommen und dahero alβ eine Consequenz auch gar füglich zu kassiren stunde, zugeschweigen, daβ auf solche weisse nicht allein die hierbei, und bey denen durch etliche wochen lang gedauerte wahl actibus auf die geschwohren Schreiber, Jüdische Ruffer, Soldaten und sonst aufgewendete groβe doch dabey unnöthige sumptus ins künfftige zur Erspahrung kommen, sondern auch die Juden, wann sie seheten, daβ sie singulis trienniis nicht zu deren Ambtern duch die vormahls bey ihnen in zwung (?) gegangene factiones und feindliche Collndirungen [sic!] gelangen konten; sondern entweder den Todesfall eines auß den Jüdischen Eltesten und anderen Beamten oder aber die in andere weisse sich ereignete Erledigung dieses oder jenes jüdischen officy erwarthen und solches durch eigenes wolverhalten meritiren müsse von selbsten schon acquiesciren unßere Cameral und Justizmittel vor dem vielfaltigen Anlauf der Juden entübriget mithin bey der Pragerischen Judenschafft aller in behöriger Ruhe und Tranquilität, als welche wir gnädigst intendiren, verbleiben werde.

Alβ verordnen setzen und wollen win vor allemal hiermit gnädigst, daβ hinfüro die sonst gebräuchlich gewesen Prager Jüdischen Wahl nicht mehr vorgenohmen, sondern ein beständig und perpetuirlicher jüdischer Magistrat constituiret, folgsam zu diesem Ende die dermalen in deren Ambtern sitzende und zugleich bey nächst voriger wahl rechtmässig und ordentlich elegirte Elteste Beysitzern, und geringe Bediente, in soweith solche durchdie Perdons verpachtung mit (?) restringiret worden sind, bey ihren officijs beharlich gelassen, der Numerus des jüdischen Raths nit alterirt sondern nach derselben hiebevorigen Sistemate inn 27 Personen als 5 Eltesten 5 Gemeindeeltesten und 17 Beisitzer beständig erhalten, da aber jemand aus gemeldeten Eltesten, Beisitzeren oder andern jüdischen Bedienten mit Tods abgehen und dessen Stellung quocunque alio modo vacant werden mochte alβdann von ihren Eltesten drey Subjecta zu der erledigten Function uns. kön. böhm. Kammer ad ratificandum eingereichet und auf einen derselben Competenten positive eingeraten; In übrigen aber und damit sich der Jüdische Magistrat und sonderlich die Beysitzer, alβ welche nur zur Beförderung der Justiz gewidmet hegend (?) in denen schranken ihrer Pflicht und der Instruction gemäβ verhalten, mithin sich keiner über selben so leichtlich zu beklagen ursach haben möge, daβ alle 3 Jahre durch die ex gremio unserer k. böhm. Kammer Deputirte Commissarios gleichsam eine visitation der Jüdischen Eltesten, gemeinen Eltesten, Beisitzern und andere Bediente jedoch quam brevissime und mit geringen Kosten, alβ es immer geschehen kann, vorgenommen und solche alda entweder vermittelst uns. k. Hofkammer in ihre Ambter bestätigt und confirmirt oder aber da sich befindete, daβ sich jemandt auβ ihnen seiner Pflicht und Instruction gemäβ nit verhalten, sondern dawider excedirt hätte, ein solcher als dann condigne abgestraffet oder nach befund der Sache plane ab officio amovirt und ein ander an statt praemisso modo surrogirt und eingesetzt werden kann.

Befehlen Euch dem nach hier mit gnädigst, daβ ihr so eins als andere gehörig ad notam nehmet und diesen unsern so wohl wegen der Confirmation und prolongirung der Perdons verpachtung alβ auch des Jüdischen Magistrat perpetuität halber geschöpfften gnädigsten Willen und resolution debito loco publiciren lassen, solcher in allem gehorsamst nachleben und die Pragerische Judenschaft zu denen punctualien in allerunterthänigsten observanz anhalten, die dawider strepitirende gänzliche ab und zur Ruhe zu verweisen, mithin denen Juden wieder die unßer gnädigste Verordnung und Intention ganz und gar keine Conventicula verstattet, sondern solche allerdings und zwar sub peone pepetuae inhabilitatis ad officia verbethen und darob festiglich und alles Ernst halten sollet. Daran x.

Wien, 10 Nov. 1703.
An die königl. böhm. Kammer.