The weekly Columbian., 1857-01-31
Ancient Customs and Usages Of
the Hebrews.

the l1cOfcWSs
From the Voice Of Iserael, a very SEN
sible Hebrew paper published in San
Francisco, we extract the following, in
relation to Jewish customs:
MARRIAGE.
Having explained the institution of
marriage as transmitted by divine COM
mand to man and practised in former
times as the sacred unity of two souls, for
the perpetuity Of the race, and having de-
scribed the various forms and ceremonies
which give solemnity to the holy ordi-
nance, there yet remains one law upon
which we shall offer few remarks
This law is recognized as that Of Levir-
ate and Chalizah, the former signifying
the necessity of marrying the wife OF
your fatherless deceased brother, the lat
ter adopting method of being rid of this
refusal by submitting to ignominy and
insult. We read in Deuter. xxxv. 5. 10
If brothers dwell together and one of
them die, and have no children, the wife
of the dead shall not be married abroad
unto stranger, her husbands brother
shall go in unto her and take her unto
himself for wife and perform the duty of
a husbands brother unto her.
6. And it shall be that the first born
whom she may bear with success in the
name of his brother who is dead so that
his name is not blotted out of Israel.
7. And if the man has no desire to
take his sister in law: then shall his sis
ter in law go up to the gates with the
elders and say my husbands brother re-
fuseth to raise up unto his brother name
in Israel, he will not perform on me the
duties of husbands brother.
s. Then shall the elders of the City
call him and speak unto him; and if he
persist and say have no desire to take
her.
g. Then shall his sister in law come
nigh unto him in the presence of the ell
der, and pull his shoes from sf his foot,
and spit out before him, and shall COM
mence and say, thus shall be done unto
that one will not build up his brothers
name.
A word from the special pleading
which might arise upon several minor
questions, 1t is sow our purpose to dis
cuss the useless futlity of practising Ell
ther the Levirate or the Chalizah at this
day; which however we regret is not
the case, and we are called upon to speak
thus from facts which lately occurred in
our city and which outraged decency
and morality.
A gentleman who had long lived in un-
disturbed felicity with his wife for many
years was reduced in sickness to become
convinced of his approaching end, and
was visited by consoling and encouraging
friends and spiritual adviser of our faith.
Being childless and about to leave his
wife at the tender mercies of his brother
in Europe he was prevailed upon in or
der either to prevent her complying with
Levirate law or resorting to Chalizah to
give her divorce previous to his death
according to the Mosaic law, that when
he died she might not be an unprotected
widow, and thus she could marry whom
she pleased.
The brother had not given release at
the marriage not to enforce the Levirate
as is generally done. Such was the death
scene counteuanced by learned and
distinguished minister of our religion in
San Francisco. Second marriage-di-
vorce-death bed-a d Shema Israel
what varied scene around the couch of
an expiring man. In the preparation of
his soul for the future world he is about
to enter, a second husband to his darlin :
wife starts up before him, his cast off
bride whom he vowed to love honor and
protect until the last hour, the happiness
in her new hymenials. his brother unjust
ly defrauded of his rights guaranteed to
him by the sacred scriptures. The very
contemplation of the scene is heart rem
ding.
What was sought to be accomplished,
evading the law of the Bible, deceiving
the Almighty God. How truly pious to
recognise that book as Divine authority,
and then seek some insignificant subter-
fuge from the working of its holy law.
Shameful, pitiful, ignominious and pre-
sumptous man to attempt it.
We believe the time has come when
all well meaning Jews will recognise the
impossibility of carrying out that law
and will be willing to disacknowledge its
authority in the same spirit as we fail to
sacrifice as when the temple was extant.
1t is argued they viii be reinstituted on
the rebuilding of Gods holy house,
Well, when Israel is reunited and this
law will not clash with the expressed
law of the land then we shall be willing
to abide by it.
The law says If brothers dwell to-
rether" now what constitutes DWELLING