“Regarding the execution of the office of the Rabbinate” issued by Duke Fredrick Francis I (‘Friedrich Franz’) of Mecklenburg-Schwerin [Present-day Germany; Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]: “Frederick Francis, Duke of Mecklenburg […] the copulation/marriages performed by your [local Rabbi] co-religionists and the hiring of a school master, as well as Jewish ceremonies have caused disorder and disagreement […] and in order to prevent such (discord) in the future, we wish to order herewith [the following] most graciously and seriously: 1) Even though, the schoolmaster, who is also to perform shechita*, shall be appointed by the Jewry of each place, they shall not be (formally) hired before they have been tested, found competent, and certified [… Rabbi Nazarus is the only one to preside over marriages but can transfer his duties – in writing – to a schoolmaster in the aforementioned manner […]. You and your co-religionists are to strictly obey this and the latter are to receive severe punishment from Us for any transgressions. […]” [Editor’s note: *According to chabad.org on 3/22/2021, “Shechita is the Jewish religious and humane method of slaughtering permitted animals and poultry for food.”]
Sammlung aller für das Großherzogthum Mecklenburg-Schwerin gültigen Landes-Gesetze von den ältesten Zeiten bis zu Ende des Jahres 1834. Vierter Band. Kirchen- und Schulgesetze. (Collection of all state laws issued in the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin from the earliest times to the end of 1834. 4th Volume. Church and school laws.); (Wismar; 1836); Researched and Translated by Ziba Shadjaani 2/3/2020