Herem

A Herem is the complete exclusion of a person from the Jewish community (similar to excommunication in the Catholic faith). Used primarily during the Talmudic period and Middle Ages, Herem were used by Rabbis as punishment in rabbinic courts. A Herem was a rare form of punishment (normally reserved for those who showed no remorse for their crime) and usually offenders were sentenced to a Talmudic niddui (temporary excommunication). Those sentenced to a herem were not allowed to be taught by anyone in the community, have anyone work for them or benefit from anyone else. Herem fell out of regular use after the Enlightenment and used in rare cases within the Haredi and Chassidic communities. DG