Editing Napoleon and the Jews (section)

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[[File:Napoleon stellt den israelitischen Kult wieder her, 30. Mai 1806.jpg|thumb|275px|1806 French print depicting Napoleon granting [[Freedom of religion|freedom of worship]] to the Jews]]
The first laws to [[Jewish emancipation|emancipate Jews]] in [[France]] were enacted during the [[French Revolution]], establishing them as citizens equal to other Frenchmen. In countries that [[Napoleon|Napoleon Bonaparte]]'s ensuing [[French Consulate|Consulate]] and [[First French Empire|French Empire]] conquered during the [[Napoleonic Wars]], he emancipated the Jews and introduced other ideas of liberty. He overrode old laws restricting Jews to reside in [[Jewish ghettos in Europe|ghettos]], removed the forced identification of Jews by their wearing the [[Star of David]]. In [[Malta]], he ended the enslavement of Jews and permitted the construction of a synagogue there. He also lifted laws that limited Jews' rights to property, worship, and certain occupations.<ref>Roberts, Andrew. ''Napoleon: A Life''. New York: Penguin Books 2015, 403</ref> In anticipation of a victory in the [[Holy Land]] that failed to come about, he wrote a proclamation published in April 1799 for a Jewish homeland there.<ref>Darwish, Mahmoud Ahmed, and Huda Abdel Rahim Abdel Kadir. "Napoleon Bonaparte's Declaration for the Establishment for of the National Home for the Jews in Palestine". ''International Journal of Cultural Inheritance & Social Sciences'' ISSN: 2632-7597 3.6 (2021): 1-30.</ref>

In an effort to promote Jewish integration into French society, however, Napoleon also implemented several policies that eroded Jewish separateness. He restricted the practice of Jews [[Loans and interest in Judaism|lending money]], in the [[Infamous Decree|Decree on Jews and Usury]] (1806), restricted the regions to which Jews were allowed to migrate, and required Jews to adopt formal names. He also implemented a series of [[Consistory (Judaism)|consistories]], which served as an effective channel utilised by the French government to regulate Jewish religious life.

Historians have disagreed about Napoleon's intentions in these actions, as well as his personal and political feelings about the Jewish community. Some{{Who|date=August 2020}} have said he had political reasons but did not have sympathy for the Jews. His actions were generally opposed by the leaders of monarchies in other countries. After his defeat by the [[War of the Sixth Coalition|Coalition]] against France, a [[Counter-revolutionary|counter-revolution]] swept many of these countries and restored discriminatory measures against the Jews.