The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1873-03-08
CNALITZA.
the TAKING OFF OF the SnoE.
Az IMfercsfisO Ceremony iM a .Jcsr
'.a. isk Synagogue.

lFrUm the San Francisco CArOnicic.l
In Deuteronomy, or, - the Jews term II.
the Fifth book of Moses, twenty fifth chap.
ter, beginning Al the fifth verse. Is given .
law declaring the duty of surviving broth
er to wed the childless widow Of dead
brother. This Mosaic law tho reformed
congregations abolished; because the law of
States and the law of Judaism after tho
Biblical time forbids such marriages;' hut
the old. unrcformcd, or orthodox congrega.
tons, although they agree that it is not
proper for . man 10 marry his brothers
widow, still contend that the letter and
spirit of the law must be obeyed, and 'lha.
the ceremony above referred to must be per.
formed in accordance with Scriptures
marriage by the widow not being lawful
until after refusal by the deceased hus-
bands brUtber. The ceremony, called in
ancient Hebrew, ''ChslItza" (thc taking of
Of the shoe), was lately performed in this
city under the following circumstances
Fifteen months ago, David Gottmsn, =
Jewish tailor, Who resided in Oakland, died
and left his wife Rebecca, to whom he had
been married seven years, ciildless and
poor. Remembering the tcachings Of the
law quoted at the beginning of this article,
and being orthodox, rs are nearly oil foreign.
born Jewesscs, the widow determined to
carry out the law and customs Of her people.
So, although in reduced circumstances. she
managed to accumulate sufficient money,
and sent to Moses Gottman, her husbands
brother, in Ysrochen de Posen, In Prussia,
. through ticke. TO this city, ard enough
additional funds 10 bear bis incidental cx.
pcnses, telling him To come to this country
that the ''Chalitzs" might be performed.
The young man, who isonly twenty. eight
years of age, reached her eight days ago,
but before he arrived letter came 70 Rabbi
Messing, of the Congregation Beth Israel,
In this city, from the Rabbi In larochen de
Poseu. saying that . young man had left
there for Sun Francisco to aid in performing
the ''Chslitza" for his deceased broiher's
wife. Tho reverend gentleman alse asked
that Rabbi Messing would not refuse to per.
form the ceremony for the woman, who had
exhibited cou.mendable desire 70 carry out
the ancient law. Soon after the arrival Of
her young brotber.in-law Mrs. GOttman
went 10 DR.. Messing and told him that she
had promised to herself on the grave Of her
dead husband that she would 20 through
the ceremony of the ''Cbalitzs," and 50. con-
sidcring the womsn's earnest desire % well
ss the request of the Rabbi in Prussia, DR..
Messing consented. Accordingly four learn.
ed judges, appointed by the Rabbi IN ac-
cosisnce with Rabbinical law, met together
In the western rooms of the Synagogue Of
the Congregation Beth Israel, corner of Pest
and Tsylor streets, last Wednesday evening.
and BY common accord appointed that tho
ceremony should take place IN the follow.
Ing morning at 10 O'Clock. Al the sppointe<!
hour the Synagogue was crowded by large
assembly of ladies and gentlemen curious to
wituess this very ancient ceremony, which
does not occur once in hundreds Of years.
| The lrother-in.lsw wore sandals Of the reg,
ular Turkish- -Asiatic pattern, used in The
East from time immemOrisl. The ceremony
i took place a. described in the passage Of
Scripture st the beginning Of this article
all words used being in ancient Hebrew
A. soon IS Rebecca had taken the sands
from Moses foot sl,e said And now thou
art Haliiz" (he from whose foot the shoe Il
tskcn) and Rabbi : Messing eopcloded tl'
ceremony by praying that such ceremou,
might not again b equisiss ID h,s eongre
CATION forever. As provided by the Rab
b,uical law, Rabbi Messing was assisted b,
four other learned Doc.ors, the Reverend
Rosenthsl, Peschncr, Lewis and Dc Sola
The ''Halltz" being stout young Prussisn
and liking this fair land of ours. will remai'
with US and become an American citizen.