Isidor, Lazare

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ISIDOR, LAZARE

ISIDOR, LAZARE (1814–1888), French rabbi. Born in Lixheim, Lorraine, he became rabbi of Pfalzburg in 1838, of Paris in 1847, and chief rabbi of France in 1867. While rabbi of Pfalzburg, he refused to permit a member of the congregation of Saverne to pronounce the humiliating *oath more Judaico, in the synagogue of Saverne when requested by the tribunal of Sarrebourg. As rabbi in charge, Isidor closed the synagogue, and was consequently prosecuted (1839). A brilliant defense by Adolphe *Crémieux brought about Isidor's acquittal. This and similar cases contributed to the final abolition of the oath more Judaico in France (1846).

bibliography:

ai, 49 (1888), 310; Consistoire Central des Israélites de France, La mort de M. Lazare Isidor (funeral orations, 1888); L. Berman, Histoire des juifs de France (1937), 412.