The Dowry Return Edict of R. Tam in Medieval Europe

Adolescent marriage was the norm for the Jewish girls of medieval France. The frequency of death of these brides was high, which led R. Tam to decree that in the event of death during the first year of marriage all dowries shall be refunded. This edict contradicted Talmudic law that awarded the husband rights to his wife's estate. Factors that led to the decree include personal tragedy, Palestinian custom, Roman law, and norms of royalty and feudal society. The edict of R. Tam was accepted in France and the Rhine Valley communities. However, East German communities rejected the decree by means of clever literary devices, including the invention of the author's retraction. The conflict surrounding the Dowry Edict opens a portal to the spiritual world of the Eastern communities during their formation.