David Sintzheim, a rabbi born in Trier in 1745, presided in 1807 over the assembly that Napoleon convened on the ancient model of the Sanhedrin, to settle what fell under Jewish law and what under civil law. As early as 1789 he had pleaded before the Constituent Assembly for the emancipation of the Jews of Alsace. First president of the Central Consistory, he died in 1812. His death is dated, on the epitaph, according to the Hebrew calendar.
The story
David Sintzheim presided over the Grand Sanhedrin, the assembly Napoleon summoned to Paris in 1807 on the model of the supreme court of ancient Israel, to settle what in Jewish law had to give way before French civil law. Seventy-one rabbis and notables sat on it.
Born in Trier in 1745 and taught by his father, a rabbi, he directed from 1786 the yeshiva of Bischheim, the Talmudic school founded by his brother-in-law Cerf Berr, the most powerful Jew in Alsace. In August 1789 he was part of the Alsatian delegation that came to demand from the National Assembly the emancipation of the Jews; he became rabbi of Strasbourg three years later.
Made first president of the Central Consistory of the Israelites of the Empire after the Sanhedrin, he died in 1812. His epitaph dates his death by the Hebrew calendar: “le 7 du mois de Kislev, l'an 5573 de la création” — the seventh day of the month of Kislev, in the year 5573 from the creation.
The grave in Division 7, along the south-east wall, ends on a lament: “Pleurons l'interprète fidèle de la loi divine.” Let us weep for the faithful interpreter of the divine law. The first Chief Rabbi of France lies beneath a date few visitors can read.
The grave
An epitaph that mixes the official titles of the Empire with liturgical poetry. It begins with the office: “Ici repose le grand rabbin, David SINTZHEIM, ancien chef du Grand Sanhédrin, qui s'est tenu à Paris en 1807, Président du Consistoire Central, des Israélites de l'Empire” — Here rests the Chief Rabbi David Sintzheim, former head of the Grand Sanhedrin held in Paris in 1807, President of the Central Consistory of the Israelites of the Empire — then gives the date according to the Hebrew calendar — “décédé le 7 du mois de Kislev, l'an 5573 de la création”, died on the 7th of the month of Kislev, in the year 5573 of the creation —, before ending on a lamentation: “Pleurons, l'interprète fidèle, de la loi divine, le soutien de la foi, le prince des docteurs, le luminaire…” — Let us weep for the faithful interpreter of the divine law, the pillar of the faith, the prince of doctors, the luminary…
On site, do not miss
A bilingual epitaph dating the death according to the Hebrew calendar — “le 7 du mois de Kislev, l'an 5573 de la création”, the 7th of the month of Kislev, in the year 5573 of the creation — and ending with: “Pleurons l'interprète fidèle de la loi divine.” — Let us weep for the faithful interpreter of the divine law.
Visitors' questions
Where is David Sintzheim's grave?
In Division 7, along the south-east wall of the cemetery. The epitaph calls him “ancien chef du Grand Sanhédrin”, former head of the Great Sanhedrin, and “Président du Consistoire Central des Israélites de l'Empire”.
RachelWhat was the Great Sanhedrin of 1807?
An assembly of rabbis and notables summoned by Napoleon to Paris, on the model of the ancient Sanhedrin, to rule on the relation between Jewish law and civil law. Sintzheim presided over it.
James de RothschildDid he argue for Jewish emancipation?
He did: in August 1789 he was Alsace's delegate to the National Constituent Assembly, sent to call for the emancipation of the Jews of Alsace — eighteen years before he presided over Napoleon's Sanhedrin.
Jacob RoblesWhen exactly did he die?
His epitaph gives a date in the Hebrew calendar: the 7th of the month of Kislev 5573, that is December 1812. The year 1810 is sometimes read: it is the inscription that is right.
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