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

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 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.