Jecamiah
Jecami'ah (1Ch 3:18). SEE JELKAIAH. Jechiel ben-Joseph, of Paris, a Rabbi, flourished in the 13th century. He was a disciple of the celebrated Jehudah Sir-Leon (q.v.). But little is known of the early history of his life. In the prime of life we find him in Paris, at the head of a theological school, and an officiating Rabbi in the capital of France. During the reign of Louis IX the Romanists made every effort to cause the expulsion of the Jews from France, where they were enjoying at this time special favors. They accused the Jews of manifold crimes, and asserted that the Talmud contained disrespectful language towards Jesus, etc.; and though the king hesitated to believe this, he was finally persuaded to appoint a commission of both Christians and Jews to search the Talmud for obnoxious passages. Of the four Rabbis appointed, Jechiel-ben-Joseph headed the Jewish commission, and he alone, in the main, carried on the disputation, which resulted unfavorably to the Jews. In the dispute Jechiel displayed great ability and learning, but it is to be deplored that he injured his cause in the eyes of the historian by the assertion which he made that the name of Jesus occurring in the Talmud does not refer to 'Jesus the Christ. See Jews in France; Wagenseil, Tela ignea Saatdme (2 vols. 4to); Gritz, Geschichte der Juden, 7, 115 sq. (J. H.W.)
