Page "Abba Mari" Paragraph 7

Encouraged, however, by letters signed by the rabbis of Argentière and Lunel, and particularly by the support of Kalonymus ben Todros, the nasi of Narbonne, and of the eminent Talmudist Asheri of Toledo, Ben Adret issued a decree, signed by thirty-three rabbis of Barcelona, excommunicating those who should, within the next fifty years, study physics or metaphysics before their thirtieth year of age ( basing his action on the principle laid down by Maimonides, Guide for the Perplexed part one chapter 34 ), and had the order promulgated in the synagogue on Sabbath, July 26, 1305.

When this heresy-decree, to be made effective, was forwarded to other congregations for approval, the friends of liberal thought, under the leadership of the Tibbonites, issued a counter-ban, and the conflict threatened to assume a serious character, as blind party zeal ( this time on the liberal side ) did not shrink from asking the civil powers to intervene.

But an unlooked-for calamity brought the warfare to an end.

The expulsion of the Jews from France by Philip IV (" the Fair "), in, caused the Jews of Montpellier to take refuge, partly in Provence, partly in Perpignan and partly in Majorca.

Consequently, Abba Mari removed first to Arles, and, within the same year, to Perpignan, where he finally settled and disappeared from public view.

There he published his correspondence with Ben Adret and his colleagues.