Israelite Central Consistory of France
The Israelite Central Consistory of France is an institution set up by Napoleon I by the Imperial Decree of 17 March 1808 to administer Jewish worship and congregations in France. He also directed the establishment of regional Israelite Consistories, subordinate to the Central Consistory, across France. The consistories were ranked as établissements publics du culte. Given Napoleon's political emancipation of the Jews, he wanted a representative body that could deal with his government.
Following the separation of religion and state in 1905, the Israelite consistories lost their public-law status. Jewish congregations of France developed Jewish liturgical associations under an umbrella organisation called the Union of Jewish Congregations of France. It retained the name of Central Consistory for its executive body. The 12 members of the Central Consistory elect the Chief Rabbi of France.
In the 21st century, France has the third-largest Jewish congregation after Israel and the United States.
