Anne Louis Henri de la Fare

France had a population of 26 million in 1789, including thirty thousand Jews. Although Jews were allowed to practice their religion, they were not considered citizens. The National Assembly, France’s legislative body during the first two years of the revolution, debated the issue of Jewish citizenship and awarded Jews full civil rights on September 27, 1791.

In the following viewpoint Anne Louis Henri de la Fare, the Bishop of Nancy, argues against citizenship for French Jews. La Fare asserts that Jews should not be granted the same rights as other inhabitants of France because Jews’ customs are completely different from those of the rest of the nation and because Jews are not sufficiently attached to France. According to La Fare, Jews have sought a return to their homeland (Israel) since being expelled...