Rabbeinu Gershom

Question 1

Where did רבינו גרשום live?

Answer 1

Mainz, France

Question 2

Who was his Rebbe?

Answer 2

Rabbi Yehuda

Question 3

What is חרם רבינו גרשום? Give a few examples.

Answer 3

These are new laws that he instituted. For example:

1. the איסור against polygamy (marrying more than 1 wife)
2. the requirement of a wife’s agreement for divorce
3. forced converts into Christianity automatically being accepted back into the community
4. the איסור against reading letters meant for others

Question 4

How did the decrees of חרם רבינו גרשום relate to the effects and culture of that time?

Answer 4

1. Christianity viewed marriage in a negative way, so it was hard to allow marrying more than one, which was considered immoral
2. now that a man could have only one wife, he was more likely to divorce, so the wife’s agreement is needed
3. התר מאה רבנים allowed to marry more than 1 wife if 100 רבנים agree
4. it was אסור to open other’s letters because Jewish merchants’ פרנסה was dependent on the privacy of their mail

Question 5

What was Rabbeinu Gershom known as?

Answer 5

Me’or HaGolah