Paris, Plassan, April, 1807.
Accusations of usury against the Jews of Alsace early in 1806 threatened more than the equality granted
to the Jews of France in 1791; it prompted the suggestion that the Jews; separatism made them
fundamentally unsuited to citizenship, in which case, it was argued, they must all be expelled. The
emperor ordered a commission of inquiry, charged with ascertaining from the leaders of French Jewry
whether Frenchness and Jewishness were compatible, or could be made so. To that end, a 111-strong
Assembly of Jewish Notables, composed of rabbinic and lay leaders, representing the Yiddish-speaking
Ashkenazic majority and the Portuguese and Provencal minorities, met in Paris continuously from July
1806 through April 1807, clarifying to the satisfaction of the authorities that usury was not acceptable;
that neither was polygamy; that Jews considered all Frenchmen to be their brothers; and much more in
the same vein. The positions worked out in the Assembly were ratified by a Great Sanhedrin, convened
in February-March 1807 by Rabbi David Sinzheim of Strasbourg, the star of the Assembly and of the
Sanhedrin alike, who proved to be not only a brilliant talmudist but a brilliant diplomatist, too.
This breathtakingly florid "exhortation to the Jews of France and the Kingdom of Italy" represents the
final statement of the Assembly, which concluded its business on 6 April 1807. "Providence", those who
read this document, or heard it read, were told "has chosen as the instrument for its designs one of the
most powerful monarchs on earth. It is his wish that our ancient religion should take its place in the
midst of the procession of public virtues".
final statement of the Assembly, which concluded its business on 6 April 1807. "Providence", those who
read this document, or heard it read, were told "has chosen as the instrument for its designs one of the
most powerful monarchs on earth. It is his wish that our ancient religion should take its place in the
midst of the procession of public virtues".
The following are the key points in the rhapsodic text that
follows: The religion condemns usury absolutely–no matter who the person or what the circumstances.
The French are our brothers and France is our fatherland. You may not entertain other ideas or feelings;
the faith of our fathers demands of us a benevolent fraternity to all our fellow citizens. Jews would do
well to consider farming as an occupation. On the beautiful soil of France, they may experience the
charms of property ownership. Thus it was among the Israelites of old, each of them resting from his
labors under his vine or under his fig tree. Jews, whose ancestors took on the Romans when they were
already the masters of Asia, should be eager to follow their example and throw in their lot with the
heroes who are today immortalizing the name of France. Jews live in the midst of a generous nation. To
identify with it, to win its esteem, no sacrifice should seem to them too great. Jews have distinguished
themselves in all ages by their attachment to the religion of their fathers. Burning at the stake could not
shake their faith. It is no longer possible for them to differentiate between this feeling for the religion
and that which they owe to the Prince who protects it. Let them defend his august person with the same
love, the same fearlessness. Let them swear together indestructible faithfulness to the G-d of Israel,
indestructible faithfulness to NAPOLEON THE GREAT.
follows: The religion condemns usury absolutely–no matter who the person or what the circumstances.
The French are our brothers and France is our fatherland. You may not entertain other ideas or feelings;
the faith of our fathers demands of us a benevolent fraternity to all our fellow citizens. Jews would do
well to consider farming as an occupation. On the beautiful soil of France, they may experience the
charms of property ownership. Thus it was among the Israelites of old, each of them resting from his
labors under his vine or under his fig tree. Jews, whose ancestors took on the Romans when they were
already the masters of Asia, should be eager to follow their example and throw in their lot with the
heroes who are today immortalizing the name of France. Jews live in the midst of a generous nation. To
identify with it, to win its esteem, no sacrifice should seem to them too great. Jews have distinguished
themselves in all ages by their attachment to the religion of their fathers. Burning at the stake could not
shake their faith. It is no longer possible for them to differentiate between this feeling for the religion
and that which they owe to the Prince who protects it. Let them defend his august person with the same
love, the same fearlessness. Let them swear together indestructible faithfulness to the G-d of Israel,
indestructible faithfulness to NAPOLEON THE GREAT.
For more, see R. Anchel, Napoléon et les Juifs, 1928.
pp. 4, 10 x 8 inches. Unbound bifolium.
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פריט #165