Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-11-25
orq'uE JEWS IN PdRlS.

J !
The German papers, having most strange.
| " perverted Tire answers given by the Sy-
nod of the Jews convened in Paris, more
particularly those given to the third and
sixth questions, we have to CRAFTY num-
Der Of our subscribers republished all the
answers, rs we have obtained them from a
well informed correspondent.
(Jou7nQk dee Commerce. J
r1st Qurs.--4s plurality of wives per-
mitted to the Jews?
.fas.--lt is not lawful forthc Jews to take
more than one wife. They generally com
ply with the laws of the European states in
which they reside, and those forhidding
polygamy, the Jews comply with those laws.
Noses didnot expressly command to mar
ry more than one, neither did he forbid it
1t would appear that taking it for granted
that such thing would happen, he regu-
lates the portions Of children of different
wives. Although polygamy was tolerated
( III the East, the ancicnts prescribe to the
Jews not to marry more than one woman,
unless their substance afforded the means
of providing for more, and their issue. it
was different in the west, where DESTROYS of
conforming to the usagcs of the nations a.
mong which they settled, the Jews rene
rGlly renowned po'ygayny. Some few in
|
| tjce, a Synod was convened at Worms in
the llth century, in which the Ra5bi Gucr-
shen presided, composed Of 100 Rabies.
/ This assembly pronounced an an!thcma a
I gainst every Jsrac'itc, who should thereaf-
ter marry more thsRone woman, this pro
( hihiticn, seconded BY the influence of Eu-
ropcan manners and laws, has been o0eyctl
ever since
ID Ques-Does the religion of the Jews
admit of divorce is such a divorce consi-
6ered as conclusive, when at variance with
the laws Of France?
-Ins.-Divorcc is allowed by the law Of
| Moses, but it is not valid unless previously
decided by the trl5pla;s according 10 the
laws If France. Submission to the laws Of
tho Prince, is the first duty of all Jews, *
if it is fundamental maxim adopted a.
m0Dg them, that in whatever relates to CT
VII and political concerns, the laws Of the
state snail be paramount Before they en-
loved in France the same rights az other
citizens, and when by special acts of the
state, which permitted them to govern
themselves in conformity with their reliei-
Gus customs, they bad the liberty Of divOr-
chg their wives it was however very
rarely used. Since the Revolution they
have entirely conformed to the French le ws ;
and when admitted to the rights OF Citi-
zenship, the Rabies and principal Jews oil
France appeared before the local munich
qualities, and took the oath, strictly to con-
form in all things to the laws Of France, and
to have no other rule in the adjustment Of
their civil concerns. Thus they canno lon
ger consider divorce pronounced by their
Rabies and valid, since tob be so it must be
previously pronounced by the civil tribu.
nails of the state.
Inasmuch as the Rabies, by decree o
thc Consuls, were forbidden TO administer
the marriage ceremony, unless the partic,
could shew that they were previously mar.
ricd by municipal officer, so in like man.
liner they cannot pronounce divorce, unless
previously pronounced by the civil authori
~. If even this decree did not decide thc
point the sentence OF the Rabies woalt
not be valid, as the law in regard TO civi
concerns, would he superior, to which eli
ther Of the parties would have the right O
appealing; from all which il results that
the sentence Of the Rabbie, without thC
sanction Of the civil law, cannot lie valid
And it is further evident, that since the
Jews marry before the civil magistrate
that no Jew, who respects his religion car
repudiate his wife, unless by double divorce
ard on which account it is asserted that
tho law Of Moses, is perfectly conformablc
ITO the civil law.
! Ques. 3.--May Jewess marry a Chris.
tan, or a Christian woman marry a Jew
or does their law allow them only to mar.
ry among themselves?
Ins The laws does not say, that Jew
\ ess shall not marry a christian, nor a chris
titan woman, Jew neither docs it declare
that the Jews can only marry among them
selves. The law forbids only marriages
with the seven Cananean nations, with A.
mon, Moab and the Egyptians. The pro-
hibition with the seven nations is absolute,
that respecting Anon and Moab is accor-
ding to the laws of the Talmud, confined to
the men, and not to the women, but it is
believed that the latter ought to have en-
braced the Jewish religion. The law con-
corning the Egyptians is confined to the
third generation. The prohibition is strict
I ~ applicable to the nations who worship l.
dolls. The Talmud declares Formally, that
the modern nations are not idolatcss. Sec
ing that they, as VIC do, worship the Lord
God Of heaven and earth, hence many mar.
riages have taken place between Jews and
Christians, in France, Spain and Germa.
ny. These marriages were permitted OF
prohibited by the Princes in whose king
doms or states the Jews resided :. some sucl
marriages are to be found in France AZ pre
. sent, yet we caunot conceal that these mar