(Jewish Telegraphic Agency Mail Service)
The decree of excommunication against Spinoza lapsed with his death and is therefore no longer in force. Dr. Ricardo, the Chief Rabbi of the Sephardic Community of Amsterdam, stated in an interview with the representative of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency here.
The question came up in connection with a report published by the “Acht Uhr Abendblatt” of Berlin and reprinted here by “De Telegraaf” in which it was said that while the whole world, cast and west, is paying homage to Spinoza the decree of excommunication pronounced against him 271 years ago in Amsterdam is still in force. Dr. Ricardo was reported to have stated in reply to an inquiry made by the paper that the decree of excommunication has never been repealed.
Dr. Ricardo told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency representative here that he was asked by the correspondent of the “Acht Uhr Abendblatt” whether the sentence of excommunication against Spinoza had ever been repealed and he had replied that it had not been repealed. That, however, did not mean that it was still in force. It had, in his opinion, lapsed with Spinoza’s death, and there was nothing now to prevent any Jew from studying Spinoza’s work and doing him honor.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
