Encyclopaedia Judaica. (Alr-Az)

788 Pages·2006·18.196 MB·English

ENCYCLOPAEDIA
JUDAICA
ENCYCLOPAEDIA
JUDAICA
S E C O N D E D I T I O N
VOLUME 2
Alr–Az
Fred Skolnik, Editor in Chief
Michael Berenbaum, Executive Editor
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
KETER PUBLISHING HOUSE LtD., JERUSALEM
ENCYCLOPAEDIA JUDAICA, Second Edition
Fred Skolnik, Editor in Chief
Michael Berenbaum, Executive Editor
Shlomo S. (Yosh) Gafni, Editorial Project Manager
Rachel Gilon,EditorialProject Planning and Control
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Encyclopaedia Judaica / Fred Skolnik, editor-in-chief ; Michael Berenbaum, executive editor. -- 2nd ed.
v. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents: v.1. Aa-Alp.
ISBN 0-02-865928-7 (set hardcover : alk. paper) -- ISBN 0-02-865929-5 (vol. 1 hardcover : alk. paper) -- ISBN 0-02-
865930-9 (vol. 2 hardcover : alk. paper) -- ISBN 0-02-865931-7 (vol. 3 hardcover : alk. paper) -- ISBN 0-02-865932-5 (vol.
4 hardcover : alk. paper) -- ISBN 0-02-865933-3 (vol. 5 hardcover : alk. paper) -- ISBN 0-02-865934-1 (vol. 6 hardcover :
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ISBN 0-02-865937-6 (vol. 9 hardcover : alk. paper) -- ISBN 0-02-865938-4 (vol. 10 hardcover : alk. paper) -- ISBN 0-02-
865939-2 (vol. 11 hardcover : alk. paper) -- ISBN 0-02-865940-6 (vol. 12 hardcover : alk. paper) -- ISBN 0-02-865941-4
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paper) -- ISBN 0-02-865944-9 (vol. 16: alk. paper) -- ISBN 0-02-865945-7 (vol. 17: alk. paper) -- ISBN 0-02-865946-5 (vol.
18: alk. paper) -- ISBN 0-02-865947-3 (vol. 19: alk. paper) -- ISBN 0-02-865948-1 (vol. 20: alk. paper) -- ISBN 0-02-865949-
X (vol. 21: alk. paper) -- ISBN 0-02-865950-3 (vol. 22: alk. paper)
1. Jews -- Encyclopedias. I. Skolnik, Fred. II. Berenbaum, Michael, 1945-
DS102.8.E496 2007
909’.04924 -- dc22
2006020426
ISBN-13:
978-0-02-865928-2 (set) 978-0-02-865933-6 (vol. 5) 978-0-02-865938-1 (vol. 10) 978-0-02-865943-5 (vol. 15) 978-0-02-865948-0 (vol. 20)
978-0-02-865929-9 (vol. 1) 978-0-02-865934-3 (vol. 6) 978-0-02-865939-8 (vol. 11) 978-0-02-865944-2 (vol. 16) 978-0-02-865949-7 (vol. 21)
978-0-02-865930-5 (vol. 2) 978-0-02-865935-0 (vol. 7) 978-0-02-865940-4 (vol. 12) 978-0-02-865945-9 (vol. 17) 978-0-02-865950-3 (vol. 22)
978-0-02-865931-2 (vol. 3) 978-0-02-865936-7 (vol. 8) 978-0-02-865941-1 (vol. 13) 978-0-02-865946-6 (vol. 18)
978-0-02-865932-9 (vol. 4) 978-0-02-865937-4 (vol. 9) 978-0-02-865942-8 (vol. 14) 978-0-02-865947-3 (vol. 19)
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10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Entries Alr–Az
5
•
Abbreviations
General Abbreviations
779
Abbreviations used in Rabbinical Literature
780
Bibliographical Abbreviations
786
•
Transliteration Rules
799
Glossary
802
Initial “A” at the opening of the Book of
Judith in a bible from Citeau, Eastern
France, 1109, showing Judith decapitating
Holofernes. Dijon, Bibliothèque Munici- Alr–Az
pale, Ms. 14, fol. 158.
ALROY, DAVID (Menahem; 12t century), leader of a mes- ers of the movement addressed a missive “to all Jews dwelling
sianic movement in *Kurdistan. Alroy was born in Amadiya, nearby or far-off and in all the surrounding countries” an-
east of Mosul. His personal name was Menahem b. Solomon, nouncing that “the time has come in which the Almighty will
but he called himself David as befitted his claim to be king of gather together His people Israel from every country to Jeru-
the Jews. “Alroy” (יאִוֹרלְאַ) and “al-Rūḥī” (יחִוֹר־לאַ) are evidently salem the holy city.” They emphasized penitential preparation
corruptions of al-Dūjī, his family name in Arabic. The avail- by fasting and praying. Their opponents viewed such propa-
able information about the movement and its initiators is con- ganda as dangerous, and shortly afterward the movement was
tradictory and tendentious. The movement probably started suppressed. Alroy, however, reestablished his center in Ama-
among the “mountain Jews” of northeast Caucasus before 1121, diya on the route leading then from Khazaria to the Crusader
although some sources and historians place its beginnings in kingdom. Its strategic position as a Muslim base for operating
the second half of the century. It gathered momentum from against Edessa (Urfa) had been strengthened by fortifications
the ferment that accompanied the struggle waged between constructed by Zangī, ruler of Mosul. Alroy now proposed to
Christendom and Islam in the wake of the First Crusade, and capture Amadiya. He was encouraged by the contemporary
during the wars preceding the second. The tribulations of the Muslim sectarians (Yezidis) who also sought to gain control
period and massacres in which they were the victims appeared of the stronghold and its surroundings, aided by the supersti-
to many Jews as the pangs heralding the advent of the Messiah. tious awe with which its inhabitants regarded miracle workers
The principal leader of the movement was initially Solomon, and mystics. Rumors were circulated that when imprisoned
Alroy’s father, who claimed to be the prophet Elijah. An im- by the Seljuk sultan, then overlord of the local rulers, Alroy
portant role was played by one Ephraim b. Azariah, called “the had magically freed himself. Alroy then invited the Jews of the
Jerusalemite.” The young Menahem was declared the Messiah, vicinity as well as those living in Azerbaijan, Persia, and the
a claim assisted by his personal charm. He was of fine appear- Mosul region, to Amadiya. They were to come with weapons
ance, had excelled in his studies in the Baghdad academy, was concealed in their garments to witness how he would obtain
acquainted with Muslim customs, learned in Jewish mysticism, control of the city. According to an anti-Jewish tradition, ru-
and skilled in sorcery. To announce their intentions, the lead- mors of his activities reached Baghdad. Two impostors had
ENCYCLOPAEDIA JUDAICA, Second Edition, Volume 2 5
alsace
forged a letter from Alroy in which he promised to convey the were admitted into Strasbourg during the day to carry on
Jews of Baghdad to Jerusalem by night, on the wings of angels. trade, but were compelled to leave the city at nightfall. Regu-
Alroy, therefore, acquired many adherents in Baghdad, and lar contact and traffic existed between the Jews of Alsace and
those who waited up all night for the promise to be fulfilled those in western Germany, Switzerland, Holland, and Lor-
became a laughingstock. Before Alroy managed to do more, raine. Alsace Jewry, basically Ashkenazi, developed individ-
he was murdered – according to one version by order of the ual characteristics, in certain ritual matters, for instance, in
authorities – according to another, by his father-in-law, who the choice of seliḥot (“penitential prayers”). The Alsatian rite
had been bribed. A number of his followers in Azerbaijan who (Minhag Elzos), has been published several times in at least
continued to believe in him after his death became known as ten editions (for the first time in Frankfurt, 1725). Commu-
Menahemites. Alroy’s death probably occurred long before the nal leadership was centralized and authoritarian. The out-
date recorded by Benjamin of Tudela (c. 1160). The character standing personality in Alsace Jewry during the Renaissance
in Benjamin Disraeli’s novel, Wondrous Tale of Alroy (1839), is period was the shtadlan (“interceder”) *Joseph (Joselmann)
largely fictional as he is depicted there as a conquerer. of Rosheim. The works of Joselmann’s older contemporary,
Johanan Luria, show that Alsace Jews at this period were
Bibliography: A.N. Poliak, David Alro’i (Heb., 1958); idem,
Khazaria (19513), 232–4; Baron, Social 2:5 (1957), 202–5. much influenced by Christian society, ideas, and manners;
their social and religious life shows on this evidence much
[Abraham N. Poliak]
variety, and indicates the social tensions and patrician ten-
dencies in certain circles.
ALSACE, former province of the Germanic (Holy Roman)
The aristocracy and citizenry found the Jews a profitable
Empire, and from 1648, of *France, including the present de-
source of income and oppressed them in every way. In places
partment of Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin.
where Jews were not granted the right of residence, they had
Middle Ages to pay exorbitant transit tolls. Whenever Alsace was ravaged
The first evidence of Jews in Alsace is reported by *Benjamin by war, the Jews were the first victims of the soldiers. The Jews
of Tudela who mentions (c. 1170) Jews in Strasbourg. From living in Alsace were subjected to many restrictions. These ex-
the beginning of the 13t century, Jews are also mentioned in tended to the wearing of the Jewish *badge, the humiliating
Haguenau, Obernai, and Rosheim, and later, during the same form of *oath, and to family life. (Every Jewish marriage was
century, in Wissembourg, *Guebwiller, Colmar, Marmoutier, submitted for authorization, and illegitimate children were
*Rouffach, *Ensisheim, Molsheim, Mulhouse, and Thann. forcibly baptized.) Jews were not permitted to own land or any
Probably many refugees expelled from France in 1306 went to building except their place of residence. Newcomers were ex-
Alsace. Jews are henceforward found residing in some 40 ad- cluded unless they obtained special authorization.
ditional localities there, notably, *Ribeauvillé, *Sélestat, Boux-
Under France (the Ancien Regime)
willer, Kaysersberg, and *Saverne. The Jews of some 20 com-
Although a new tax, the Leibzoll (“body-tax”) was imposed
munities in Alsace were victims of the *Armleder massacres,
on Alsace Jewry by the French, Jews continued to enter Al-
principally at the beginning of 1338. Further anti-Jewish perse-
sace, and in certain cities their numbers rapidly increased.
cutions affected the communities of Colmar, Sélestat, Obernai,
There were 522 Jewish families living in Alsace in 1689, 1,269
Rosheim, Mulhouse, Kaysersberg, Turckheim, and Munster
families in 1716, and 2,125 in 1740. The “General Enumera-
in 1347. Later, the Jews were accused of spreading the *Black
tion of the Jews Tolerated in the Province of Alsace” of 1784,
Death, even before the epidemic began to ravage Alsace. A
published in Colmar in 1785, shows that Jewish communities
gathering of nobles and representatives of the imperial cities
were scattered throughout the province, numbering 3,910
of Alsace discussed the subject in *Benfeld at the beginning of
families (nearly 20,000 persons). The principal settlements
1349, and the city of Strasbourg alone defended the Jews. Sub-
were often near main towns, from which the Jews had been
sequently, the Jews were cruelly put to death in some 30 towns
expelled but into which they were temporarily admitted for
in Alsace. After the artisans gained control of the municipal
purposes of trade under differing regulations. Communities
council of Strasbourg, having eliminated the patricians, the
existed in *Bischheim, a suburb of Strasbourg (473 persons),
important Jewish community of this city met the same fate.
Haguenau (325), Marmoutier (299), Westhoffen (282), Mutzig
These events left their mark on the folklore and the toponyms
(307), Rosheim (268), Wintzenheim, near Colmar (381), Ber-
of Alsace. The Jews reappeared in several towns of Alsace after
gheim (327), Ribeauville (286), Bisheim (256), *Hegenheim,
a short while, apparently with an improved legal status. They
near Basle (409), Niederhagenthal (356), Oberhagenthal (271),
were admitted as citizens in Colmar from 1361, in Sélestat from
Durmenach (340), Zillisheim (332), and Rixheim (243).
the end of the 14t century, and in Mulhouse from 1403, with
Economic conditions for the Jews in Alsace were pre-
almost the same rights as the Christian citizens.
carious. Many engaged in moneylending almost always on a
End of 15t Century to Middle of 17t Century small scale, frequently to peasants. A few Jews acquired wealth
Jews were able to settle in the villages of Alsace when expelled as army contractors. The majority consisted of hawkers and
from its cities. They mainly engaged in moneylending. Jews dealers in livestock, grain, and scrap iron. In most of the vil-
6 ENCYCLOPAEDIA JUDAICA, Second Edition, Volume 2
alsace
lages where they were living, the Jews kept the butcher shops. sace and severely limiting Jewish marriages. Tensions built up
The chief communities of Bouxwiller, Haguenau, Mutzig, and toward the end of the 18t century: in 1777 a band of criminals,
Niedernai wielded extensive jurisdiction according to the ad- egged on by the bailiff François-Joseph of Hell, forged a mass
ministrative division of Alsace. The inflexible piety of the Jews of false receipts which they sold to peasants indebted to Jews,
and their distinctive Judeo-Alsatian language distinguished purportedly freeing them from their obligations. Although the
them clearly from their neighbors, although in many aspects culprits were eventually executed, this affair aggravated the
they blended into the Alsatian environment. economic difficulties of the Jews and inflamed the Christian
In 1735 Jews were forbidden to draw up their accounts in populace against them. In 1775 Herz Mendelsheim *Cerfberr
Hebrew characters and they were ordered to keep registers of of Bischheim, a wealthy purveyor to the king, obtained per-
civil status in 1784. Efforts were made to reduce their numbers mission to reside in Strasbourg permanently with his family,
by preventing Jews from other countries from settling in Al- although this was opposed by the municipality. Cerfberr was
(cid:53)(cid:73)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:87)(cid:74)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:70)
2
(cid:40) (cid:38) (cid:51) (cid:46) (cid:34) (cid:47) (cid:58)
(cid:55)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:69)(cid:86)(cid:79)
1 (cid:45)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:66)(cid:86)
(cid:46)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:91) (cid:51)(cid:15)
(cid:70)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:1) 6 6 (cid:52)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:70)(cid:84) (cid:56)(cid:74)(cid:84)(cid:84)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:67)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:72) (cid:51)(cid:73)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:70)(cid:1)
(cid:84) (cid:45)(cid:66)(cid:86)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:67)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:72)
(cid:80)(cid:46) (cid:52)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:14)(cid:54)(cid:79)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79) (cid:47)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:69)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:67)(cid:83)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:79) (cid:52)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:77)(cid:85)(cid:91)(cid:14)
(cid:51)(cid:70)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:84)(cid:73)(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:70)(cid:79) (cid:84)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:84)(cid:14)(cid:39)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:203)(cid:85)(cid:84)
(cid:36)(cid:73)(cid:196)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:66)(cid:86)(cid:14)(cid:52)(cid:66)(cid:77)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:84) (cid:42)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:88)(cid:74)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:83) (cid:46)(cid:41)(cid:70)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:91)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:74)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:83) (cid:47)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:69)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:80)(cid:70)(cid:69)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:79)
1 (cid:35)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:89)(cid:88)(cid:74)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:83) (cid:41)(cid:66)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:66)(cid:86)
(cid:41)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:71)(cid:70)(cid:77)(cid:69)(cid:70)(cid:79) (cid:52)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:74)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:73)(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:70)(cid:79)
(cid:56)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:84)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:74)(cid:78)
(cid:53)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:77) (cid:47)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:90) (cid:52)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:67)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:72) (cid:52)(cid:66)(cid:87)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:70) (cid:35)(cid:83)(cid:86)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:73)
2 2 4(cid:46)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:78)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:83) (cid:42)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:74)(cid:78)
(cid:51)(cid:80)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:74)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:83) (cid:50)(cid:86)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:91)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:74)(cid:78)
(cid:45)(cid:86)(cid:79)(cid:202)(cid:87)(cid:74)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:70) (cid:56)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:70)(cid:79) (cid:35)(cid:74)(cid:84)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:74)(cid:78)
1 (cid:56)(cid:80)(cid:77)(cid:71)(cid:74)(cid:84)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:74)(cid:78) (cid:52)(cid:85)(cid:83)(cid:66)(cid:84)(cid:67)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:72)
(cid:46)(cid:86)(cid:85)(cid:91)(cid:74)(cid:72) (cid:46)(cid:80)(cid:77)(cid:84)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:74)(cid:78)
(cid:51)(cid:80)(cid:84)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:74)(cid:78) (cid:39)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:84)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:74)(cid:78)
(cid:48)(cid:67)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:66)(cid:74)
(cid:52)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:88)(cid:74)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:83)
(cid:39) (cid:51) (cid:34) (cid:47) (cid:36) (cid:38) (cid:52)(cid:202)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:85) (cid:46)(cid:86)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:84)(cid:73)(cid:80)(cid:77)(cid:85)(cid:91)
(cid:51)(cid:74)(cid:67)(cid:70)(cid:66)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:74)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:202) (cid:35)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:74)(cid:78)
(cid:44)(cid:66)(cid:90)(cid:84)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:84)(cid:67)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:72) (cid:40)(cid:83)(cid:86)(cid:84)(cid:84)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:74)(cid:78)
(cid:56)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:91)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:74)(cid:78) (cid:36)(cid:80)(cid:77)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:83)
(cid:35)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:74)(cid:78)
(cid:41)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:85) (cid:41)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:67)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:72)
(cid:46)(cid:80)(cid:77)(cid:84)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:74)(cid:78) Jewish community in (cid:52)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:77)(cid:85)(cid:91)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:85) (cid:51)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:66)(cid:68)(cid:73)
Middle Ages only (cid:40)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:67)(cid:88)(cid:74)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:83)
(cid:52)(cid:85)(cid:83)(cid:66)(cid:84)(cid:67)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:72) Jewish community continuing from (cid:52)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:77)(cid:85)(cid:91)
(cid:38)(cid:79)(cid:84)(cid:74)(cid:84)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:74)(cid:78)
Middle Ages to mid 19th cent (cid:53)(cid:73)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:79)
(cid:49)(cid:71)(cid:66)(cid:84)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:85)
(cid:46)(cid:86)(cid:77)(cid:73)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:84)(cid:70)
Jewish population in 1850
l5e0s0s_ t1ha0n0 0500 Jews (cid:35)(cid:70)(cid:77)(cid:71)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:85) (cid:52)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:91)
(cid:39)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:84)(cid:84)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:70)
onuvemrb 1e0r 0o0f peripheral communities (cid:34)(cid:77)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:35)(cid:73)(cid:86)(cid:41)(cid:84)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:77)(cid:73)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:74)(cid:78) (cid:51)(cid:73)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:70)(cid:1)
6 with more than 100 Jews (cid:37)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:78)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:66)(cid:68)(cid:73)
Jewish communities of Alsace, including those of the Middle Ages.
ENCYCLOPAEDIA JUDAICA, Second Edition, Volume 2 7
alsace
in contact with Christian Dohm who advocated reform of the The Expansion (1844–1871)
Jewish status. Cerfberr appealed also to Louis XVI for its ame- The Jews rapidly adapted themselves to the modern society.
lioration. An edict was issued in 1784 repealing the Leibzoll. They retained strong roots in the villages. In about 1900 there
Subsequent letters patent brought some security to the Jews, were still some 30 official rabbinical posts in Alsace, apart
although reinforcing other restrictions. A commission pre- from those in Strasbourg and Colmar which with the seats of
sided over by *Malesherbes was considering the position of consistorial chief rabbis. However, the Jewish population in-
the Jews in Alsace, when the French Revolution swept away creased in the large towns, such as Strasbourg, Metz, Nancy,
the Ancien Régime. Mulhouse, Colmar, Belfort, Sélestat, and Saverne. A consid-
erable number moved to Paris, or emigrated mainly to North
The Emancipation (1789–1844)
and South America. Many became wealthy through wholesale
Despite the efforts of Jewish notables, such as Cerfberr, Isaiah
trade and industry, and soon large numbers entered the liberal
*Beer-Bing of Metz, and Berr Isaac Berr of Turique, supported
professions. The Jewish communal elementary schools, which
by *Mirabeau, Robespierre and, above all, by Abbé Grégoire,
after the emancipation increasingly replaced the ḥeder system
a change in the status of the “German” Jews was strenuously
and private teaching, provided a complete education, giving
and successfully opposed in the first years of the Revolu-
religious and preponderantly secular instruction. Those who
tion by the deputies from Alsace and Lorraine. They claimed
could afford it preferred the state secondary schools to the
that such a move would provoke riots and massacres in their
Jewish vocational schools opened in the main towns (Metz,
districts. Even when the equality of the Jews before the law
Strasbourg, Mulhouse, and Colmar) so as to direct the young
was proclaimed on Sept. 27, 1791, people in the eastern prov-
toward handicrafts and agriculture. Jews also distinguished
inces became used to it only gradually. These districts of
themselves in the universities. Local writers, such as Alex-
France became in practice, and in formulation of anti-Jew-
andre *Weill (1811–95) of Schirrhoffen and Lémon Cahun of
ish theory, the hotbed of opposition to Jewish emancipation.
Haguenau (1841–1900), achieved some literary fame. In the ru-
Many attacks were made on Jews in Alsace-Lorraine. While
ral areas religious life continued nearly as in the past and Alsa-
the Jews themselves were not overly eager to integrate there,
tian villages provided rabbis for the whole of France, Algeria,
they gladly used their newly won rights, especially concerning
and some other countries. A great part of the urban popula-
freedom of settlement. The Jewish population of Strasbourg,
tion, however, tended to seek other more unorthodox means
for instance, grew in about ten years from less than 100 Jew-
in which to express their Jewish faith or Jewish identification.
ish inhabitants to over 1,000. *Napoleon I tried to force the
This took the form of a tendency to mild religious reform
Jews of Alsace-Lorraine to integrate, first on the basis of the
(opposed only by the leader of French Orthodoxy, the chief
document formulated by the *Assembly of Jewish Notables
rabbi of Colmar Solomon-Wolf *Klein), and of Jewish social
and the *Sanhedrin of 1807, and later by the edict of March
activity outside the scope of religion in the narrower sense of
17, 1808, called by the Jews the “infamous decree” (Décret in-
the work, such as the founding of Jewish newspapers and pe-
fâme).
riodicals. There were also cases of discreet withdrawals from
The repayment of debts owed to Jews by Christian peas-
Judaism and of some notorious conversions, such as those of
ants was deferred, trading by Jews was subjected to special
the Strasbourg-born rabbi David *Drach (1791–1865), son-in-
authorization, and the possibilities of finding replacements
law of the chief rabbi of France, E. Deutz; and the brothers
for the army draft were restricted. The regulations were theo-
*Ratisbonne, who were the sons of the first president of the
retically aimed at Jews throughout the country but were im-
Lower Rhine consistory.
plemented only in Alsace and Lorraine. Napoleon’s require-
ment that Jews should adopt family *names, and the creation Under Germany (1871–1918)
of the consistorial organization (see *Consistory), compelled, The annexation to Germany of a part of Lorraine and the
even the Jews most opposed to reforms, to conform to the whole of Alsace (except Belfort) after the Franco-Prussian War
general legal and economic structure of the country despite of 1870–71, found the Jews of this region so rooted in French
attempts at resistance. The discriminatory regulations were life that many families preferred emigration to accepting Ger-
not renewed in 1818, and the Jewish religion was recognized man nationality. Thus a number of textile enterprises belong-
by the July Monarchy in 1831 as one of the three religions ing to Jews were transferred to Normandy (Elbeuf), while the
supported financially by the state. This more liberal policy Epinal, *Lyons, Paris, and many others were vastly increased
finally succeeded in turning the Jews of Alsace, like their by newcomers from Alsace and Lorraine. In the climate of
French coreligionists, into loyal citizens of the realm. An opinion of the Third Republic, political activity, as well as the
Ordonnance, issued on May 17, 1849, supplied French Jewry sciences and the arts, were open to Jews. The army also, despite
with a strong constitution as one of the “spiritual families” of the *Dreyfus affair, was an attractive career for many young
the French nation. In that framework the Jews from Alsace Jews of Alsatian origin.
and Lorraine became a significant element in French Jewry A group of the Jews who had remained in Alsace-Lor-
because of their number and the tenacity of their Jewish reli- raine accepted the new situation and were strengthened by a
gious identification. large influx of Jews from the eastern side of the Rhine. The lo-
8 ENCYCLOPAEDIA JUDAICA, Second Edition, Volume 2