Les conversions dans l'élite juive strasbourgeoise sous la Restauration

Résumé 0

By the end of the Napoleonian Empire, among the Israelite population in France – about 65000 persons – 60 conversions are recorded, which is not much but is striking, mainly in Alsace, because of the characters concerned, who are often related to notables belonging to the Consistory. Which meaning may be underlined to this abandoning happening among the Jewish elite during the Restoration, a phenomenon unique in the xixth century ? The article brings to light the fact that these converted persons are in no way unconventional: unlike those of following generations, some of them have a thorough knowledge of Judaism; they got involved in the establishment of the educational system together with the Consistories, preoccupied as they were with the “regeneration” of the Jews of France. Outcome of a spiritual quest and of the appealing aspect of the catholic religion which was prominent, the conversion – which even brings them often enough to go into the Church – is seen as a successful endeavour to carry out their regeneration. From there, two kinds of attitude will emerge: preaching to their former coreligionists, or evangelization of the pagans.