The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-13

tion on their part. Similar ordinances were on
forced by the Governments OF Rome. France
and Germany. Tho voluntary announcements
OF this kind, too, were at least as numerous NJ
the enforced. 1t was an ancient custom. DATING
back 10 carly Talmudical times, for the shamash
or vcrgcr to announce every Saturday in the
synagogue the results of lawsuits, and to inform
the congregation that certain properties were
in tho market. A rabbi of the fourteenth cen.
tury in Vienna caused n jew to be branded as
liar and deceiver in a public announcement in
the synagogue, because he would not stand by q
bargain which he had agreed to verbally. In
Frankfort the beadlo of the synagogue took his
stand before the ARK during the services on the
Sabbath and proclaimed that certain artt.
Giles had been stolen or lost, and solcmnly
ordered that any worshlpper who knew any.
thing OF the missing property should iinmedi.
ately give information TO tho authorities. In
Italy II was necessary for q jew who intended
to leave his town to publicly announce HIS in.
tention in the synagogue, and to invite all
who had claims against him to prefer them.
1t is n custom still prevalent in many jewish
congregations for a man who wishes to sell Q
piece Of land to announce in the synagogue
that every one who has a claim on tho property
should lay It before the rabbinical tribunal
Such n proclamation is to DO made three timee
and n record of It inserted In the deed of sale. :
The distant Jewish communities in all parts
of the world were always in intercommunica-
tion with each other. In the Talmudlc and
Gaonic periods, from the first to the eleventh
century, the sents OF rabbinical authority were
in Persia, In tho towns OF Sura and Pnmbedita,
and the eyes of all Israel were turned thither
for religious Instruction. After the disorVani-
cation Of those schools. all the Jewish mmu
ties sought their religious instruction mt the
hands OF the great rabbis that arose in various
marta of the world mt yariOuA times. Tho cen.
trail seat OF Judaism was where a great rabbi
presided over a school of competent scholars,
and Its location changed from Babylon to Cor.
dova. thence TO CAIRO. then again to the
Rhine country: still later to Hollands: In the
latest periods to Poland and Russia. And as the
spiritual interests of the jews from all
parts OF the world gravitated toward the
seat or rabbinical learning wherever 1t was,
the most distant communities came into con.
tact with each other. and a constant intercourse
between them was the result. The Jews Of
the most isolated places became familiar with
the manners of their brethren. as with their
trade. and their social condition in foreign
countries. The vehicles of intercommunication
were In the first place the messengers of the
rabbinical school in authority. who carried the
decisions and enactments Of the school 10 the
various communities. where they were made
known through the local rabbls in the syna-
@''. ta>aN ~ S"N VA WV
communities that applied to the school for de-
cis!ons in cases OF difficulty which their
local teachers could not decide. or in cases
OF dispute between various communities.
There were also many itinerant preachers,
students who made long Journeys to learn the
wisdom and methods Of distant rabbis of re-
nown; merchants and artisans who plodded
many a weary mile in search or EN- p!oyment or
OF new markets for their wares: strollirg can.
tors whn yvere N m bftipua ~ tint rod ,oa ,baIr na-
hymns and tunes in as wide a circle as possible,
pious pilgrims travelling to the Holy Land. and
in some rare instances professional travellers
who ventured into the remotest parts of tho
world to discover the traces of their dispersed
co-reilRionists Inc armies OF Jewish timer
ants who Kept up intercourse between the
various communities OF their brethren
always grew larger as jewish persecu-
lions and repatriation grew moro frequent
from the time OF the Crusades Town to the end
OF the eighteenth century. In this way a very
complete system Recommendation was keptuD
between remote countries. and news spread
very fast When the ghettos were established.
the German Jews had their own regular letter
30 compete were their means OF COM
muhication that jews were o'ten employed 70
carry the messages OF the Government. Tho
privacy OF letters IN the hands OF jewish car
riers was absolutely safe. Tor nowhere up to the
"hNSu
such u trust was violated. though there was no
enactment registered to the enect
that II must be Kept sacred. IL seems that the
lalmudic teachings. bearing In general on Inn
pl!cit good faith In private affairs between the
were suticient Tor that purpose
in the eleventh century Rabbi Gershom OF
Aiayence. aferward or Metz, Issued an order
that every one who rend another mans letter
permission should be in contumely
JHerem). and the mere mention of this order by
a formula of five Hebrew letters tB'h'd'r'gp pue
IN the envelope secured the desired privacy bet
Ter thnn twenty seals. Among the pioue Jews
n Russia and the Orient the formula still has
he same effect.
The instance lust cited furnishes a fair en-
ample Of the activity of the rabbits during the
Ages. Their function wasn mt mare,v Tn
each the law md to decide on religious ones.
ions, but by the authority which the law
invested in them they also had 10 enforce reou.
Iations for the conduct OF the faithful in every