March 16, 1722
Berlin’s Jewish community is reorganized with a new constitution, the Aeltesten Reglement, after Prussian authorities issue statutes regulating the structure of the community.
The new constitution, which is to be read annually in the synagogue, establishes a new communal hierarchy led by two permanent chief elders. In addition to the chief elders, a board — a communal committee of various sizes — is organized for handling important matters, such as caring for the poor, deciding who could live in the community, and collecting taxes. Every three years, an election is held for the board, except for the permanent chief elders.
The Aeltesten Reglement reinforces the notion of Jewish communal autonomy within Prussia and enjoys the full support of the government, which insists on collective responsibility of the Jewish population. The constitution also increases the power of the lay leadership within the Jewish community. The appointment of rabbis becomes the function of the board, which also has the power to replace them. Some communities pass regulations requiring the appointment of rabbis who come from outside the community, so as to be unbiased in their work.
The system of Jewish communal autonomy ends with Jewish emancipation and the granting of civil rights in the late 19th century. Jewish communal authority and self-governing institutions become part of Jewish life in the Diaspora, where self-help and communal insularity develop. Separatism helps sustain Jewish identity among the vast numbers of disparate Jewish communities throughout Europe and the Middle East.
