Language:
German
Year of publication:
1997
Titel der Quelle:
Trumah
Angaben zur Quelle:
6 (1997) 107-149
Keywords:
Herz, Marcus,
;
Jews History 18th century
;
Antisemitism History 18th century
;
Death Religious aspects
;
Judaism
;
Burial Religious aspects
;
Judaism
;
Burial laws (Jewish law)
Abstract:
Discusses the controversy which arose in German-speaking countries in the mid-18th century concerning the Jewish custom of burying the dead quickly, on the day of their deaths. During the 18th century there was a great dread amongst Christians of being buried alive. The "hasty funeral" of the Jews was considered by supporters and critics of Jewish emancipation as an obstacle in their path of becoming civilized, and evoked antisemitic reactions. Mentions the struggle of adherents of Reform Judaism against the "stubbornness" of Orthodox rabbis on this issue; the reformists viewed rabbinical scholasticism as the cause of all Jewish calamities. Relates, in particular, to Marcus Herz's booklet "Über die frühe Beerdigung der Juden" (1788). The eminent Jewish physician and philosopher was opposed to the Jewish laws of burial, but when he died in 1803 he was buried according to Halakhah.
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