Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-05-27
JEWISH DIVORCE.
interesting Ceremony The Jewish Rile
Divorce.



From the " Washington Chronicle, %.
A ceremony, which has created nc
small degree of anxiety, has been on
the tapis among our Hebrew brethren
for several weeks past, and was, on
Thursday, contaminated by O decree
according to the faith, aosolving from
the holy estate of natrimony two OF
its believers.
For some time past the welded re-
lations of man and wife, existing be-
tween Mr.. and Mrs. j. Burnstine,
have not been of the most pleasant
order, and to relieve the unpleasant-
ness for both a mutual separation was
agreed upon. To whose discredit or
for what alleged cause this separation
was found to be necessary we are not
prepared to state. Mrs. Burnstine al
leges that she has been lily treated
by her husband, and from this numer-
Gus collisions between the husband of
Mrs. y. and her father and brothers
have taken place. Mr.. B., however,
comes in with a contra statement, and
charges his wife with not having at
tempted to livewith him in pleasant
manner, and not rendering unto him
that degree Of affection and love to be
expected by a husband, Altogether
affairs are pretty well mixed up, and
have been food for gossip for some
time past among the Israelites of this
city. 1t had been reported that the
service divOrcing Mr.. and Mrs. Burn
stine would take place at the Jewish
Synagogue, on Eighth street, about
noon on Thursday, and a considerable
number of persons assembled there,
and were rather chagrined to find out
that the ceremony would take place
at the private residence of the parties
with but a few witnesses present.
The ceremony relating to divorce
ment is founded from Holy Writ.
(Deut, XIV, 1-4;) the parties are sep
arated and free-the husband to marry
another at any time, and the wife to
marry after ninety-One days have
passed, but not to 4 descendant Of the
tribe of Levi.
At one O'clock the Rabbis, Phillip,
of this city, and Michler, of New
York, with few invited friends, as
sembled at the residence of the par
ties, and the services began.
The articles of agreement having
bNNlA StlJACh upOit3 W NClt NIdLSCllbCu
on parchment; the fOrmalities Of the
being about as follows Il
Rabbi Phillip havihg taken his posi-
ton, with Rabbi Michler and Mr.. ia !
cObsOn on either side, the parties were
brought in and faced the Rabbis. Ger
tain passages of the Pentateuch were |
read, as also the enforcement article |
on the parchment. The wife was then |
called forward and her face uncovered, /
and her hands were placed together, |
the thumbs upward and extended. |
Rabbi Phillip asked certain questions
Of the husband, which were answered, |
and placed the parchment iil his
hands, and he advanced toward her, |
placing il in her hands, and in turn
the Rabbi took it. Messrs. jacobson |
and Mundhelm having attested their
names as witnesses to file with the
records Of the church, the ceremony
here closed, and shortly after Mrs. B.
eft the room.
By the existing civil laws il is
Questionable whether the, freedom
with which Judaism allows its adhe-
'ents to remarry would not be consid-
red an offense, and in the event there
If lead TO an Interesting legal de-
.ision.
In the articles Of enforcement Mrs.
3. Is well provided for. All the legal
papers will shortly be executed giving
Ter title to certain property in her
)wn name.