Letter 2027: Just as we willingly grant consent to lawful petitions, we do not approve of our generosity being used to circumvent...

Just as we willingly grant consent to lawful petitions, we do not approve of our generosity being used to circumvent the law -- especially in matters we believe concern reverence toward God. Those who lack the grace of the divine should not appear to be gloating. Therefore, we authorize you to place a new roof on the old walls of your synagogue, granting your request only to the extent permitted by imperial law. You are not allowed to add any decoration or to expand the building. You should know that you will not escape the severity of the ancient statute if you fail to refrain from what is forbidden. Even for covering and supporting those walls, we grant permission only if the thirty-year statute of limitations does not work against you. Why do you seek what you should avoid? We grant the permission, but we cannot approve the wish of those who err. We cannot command religion, because no one can be forced to believe against his will.

XXVII. UNIVERSIS IUDAEIS GENUA CONSISTENTIBUS THEODERICUS REX. [1] Sicut exorati iustum cupimus praebere consensum, ita per nostra beneficia fraudes fieri legibus non amamus, in ea parte praecipue, in qua divinae reverentiae credimus interesse. non ergo insultare videantur elati, divinitatis gratia destituti. quapropter tegumen tantum vetustis parietibus superimponere synagogae vestrae praesenti vos auctoritate censemus, petitionibus vestris eatenus licentiam commodantes, quatenus constituta divalia permiserunt. nec aliquid ornatus fas sit adicere vel in ampliandis aedibus evagari. [2] Et noveritis vos severitatem minime defugere veteris sanctionis, si rebus non abstineatis illicitis. in ipsis vero parietibus cooperiendis vel fulciendis tantum licentiam damus, si vobis tricennalis non potest obesse praescriptio. quid appetitis, quae refugere deberetis? damus quidem permissum, sed errantium votum laudabiliter improbamus: religionem imperare non possumus, quia nemo cogitur ut credat invitus.