Heimleuchtung des Herrn Rabbiner Süskind (Giving Rabbi Süskind a Piece of Mind)

Frankfurt: J. Kauffmann, 1876. First edition. Softcover. G- to good condition. Octavo. 24pp. Original white wraps with black lettering on cover. Text elucidating a controversy between Rabbi Süskind from Wiesbaden and the Israelite Religious Community in Frankfurt. Published by Limbarth, Süskind's pamphlet was a scathing attack on the 'Statutes of the Jewish Religious Society (israelitische Religions-Gesellschaft)' in Frankfurt a. M., that were accepted by the General Assembly of the Society on February 21, 1875.

The author of this text (Paganus) questions Süskind's motives for criticizing the Frankfurt statutes openly, particularly in view (truncated) of it coming one year after their publication. The author contends that Süskind's intention may have been based more on his concern, that his Wiesbaden community might loose members to Frankfurt, in view of the expected suspension of the law constraining Jewish citizen's to be members only in the community they live in. The author of this pamphlet conludes that Süskind's critique therefore seems less concerned with the well being of the Frankfurt community than the potential loss of members in his own community.

The text sheds light on the struggle of Jewish scholars and communities to achieve equal footing with that of natural born German citizens and organizations. This against the backdrop of the fight for emancipation of the Jews and their religion, as it was granted by Otto von Bismarck in 1869. The writer of this well conceived pamphlet remains anonymous (von einem "Paganus") while the title indicates his intention, to shed light on the erroneous ways of Rabbi Süskind. Text in German, Gothic script. Spine reinforced with narrow light blue paper strip, this with chips on covers, cracked at spine. Pamphlet with light to medium foxing. (Inventory #: 46962)