Beschreibung:

Manuscript, Ma'ase Shimon HaLevi, historical chronicle from the time of the Expulsion of the Jews from Prague. [Vienna?, 1748]. Hebrew and Yiddish. Long composition composed of the personal testimony of Rabbi Shimon HaLevi Kava, a wealthy and influential Jew in Prague, regarding the events of that time and the pogroms that preceded the expulsion of the Jews from the city of Prague in 1745. This composition was written according to the words of Rabbi Shimon in 1748 by the scribe Rabbi Shlomo Zalman ben Rabbi Hirsh Segal, who adds his own introduction to the beginning of the composition. The manuscript contains the story of the pogroms, the killings and plunder of the Jews at the time of the conquest of Prague from Austrian hands by the Prussian army, and during the return of the Austrian army. Rabbi Shimon describes the sights he himself encountered, summarizes the developments of the events and mentions the dead and injured by name. He relates that in the midst of the pogroms, several Jews in the city came to him and said, "For the sake of Heaven, Rabbi Shimon Kava, save our community because you have strong influence and your words are heard by the armed forces and they will heed you…". Rabbi Shimon details his activities at the time of the pogrom, which included lobbying on behalf of the Jews before the Prussian conquerors that led to his imprisonment after the city was returned to Austrian hands and the efforts for his release. At the end of the composition are letters of support and recommendation received by Rabbi Shimon a dayan in Prague and from the Av Beit Din of Bohemia. The description of the events was written in Hebrew interlaced with passages in ancient German-Yiddish (primarily quotes of conversations and dialogs between people in the story). The title on the title page: “Ma’ase Shimon HaLevi” [with bold letters of the year of 1745 in which the events occurred]. Written on the title page: “First written in the capital city of Vienna” (Vienna is stressed in large letters). [Some of the letters of the word U’Varishona have vowels, (different from the marking of years in other places), and it is not clear if the author intended to note another year, an acronym or a different hint. We are also not sure if this is the first copy of the composition written by Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Shpitz or an additional copy].As part of the “War of the Austrian Succession”, the soldiers of Frederick the Great King of Prussia, conquered Prague from the House of Habsburg governed by Empress Maria Theresa. During the first days, with the retreat of the Empress’ forces and the Prussian invasion of the city, local mobs led pogroms against the Jewish population claiming that the Jews supported the Prussians during the conquest of the city. About 20 Jews were massacred and more than 100 injured and most of the community’s population was harmed, whether bodily or monetarily. Not long after, the city was recaptured by Maria Theresa’s army and the Jews once more became the target of assault and pogroms due to alleged disloyalty and treason during the war. These accusations were the official grounds that triggered Maria Theresa’s signature of the royal warrant ordering immediate expulsion of all Jews from the city of Prague in January 1745, in the midst of the fierce winter cold. They were permitted to return only three years later in 1748. Rabbi Shimon HaLevi Kava (died in Cheshvan 1773), a prominent Prague figure and among the most wealthy of its residents was one the men who signed the appointment of Rabbi Yechezkel Landau, author of Nodah B’Yehuda to the rabbinate. He established an impressive Beit Midrash in Prague and allocated part of his capital to support those who study there. Written on his tombstone: “And in the winter, he benefited all the community and this caused him to be imprisoned and experience terrible suffering, and the merit of the congregation saved him, elevated him and seated him among influential people”. A lengthy descri