The Israelite Central Consistory of France (french: link=no, Consistoire central israélite de France) is an institution set up by

Napoleon I Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

by the Imperial Decree of 17 March 1808 to administer Jewish worship and congregations in France. He also directed the establishment of regional Israelite Consistories, subordinate to the Central Consistory, across France. The consistories were ranked as ''établissements publics du culte'' ( public-law corporations of

worship Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. It may involve one or more of activities such as veneration, adoration, praise, and praying. For many, worship is not about an emotion, it is more about a recognition ...

). Given Napoleon's political emancipation of the Jews, he wanted a representative body that could deal with his government. Following the separation of religion and state in 1905, the Israelite consistories lost their public-law status. Jewish congregations of France developed Jewish liturgical associations under an umbrella organisation called the Union of Jewish Congregations of France (

Union des Communautés juives de France Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''Un ...

). It retained the name of Central Consistory for its executive body. The 12 members of the Central Consistory elect the

Chief Rabbi of France Chief Rabbi ( he, רב ראשי ''Rav Rashi'') is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities. Since 1911, through a ...

. In the 21st century, France has the third-largest Jewish congregation after Israel and the United States.

References

*David Feuerwerker. ''L'Emancipation Des Juifs En France. De L'Ancien Régime A La Fin Du Second Empire''. Albin Michel:

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

, 1976.

References

See also