The Gaonic R. Amram permitted interest charges to non-Jews (Shaarei Tzedek 40a). The twelfth century Sefer Hassidim(#133; #808)) prohibited the charging of interest to non-Jews while Rashi took it for granted that interest would be charged.'” Slightly later we find a similar answer from R. Tam which was followed by Meir of Rothenburg , but making. use of a non-Jewish intermediary which became a frequent practice and was often cited in the responsa literature of the Middle Ages. Similar decisions came from the Spanish Solomon B. Adreth(1235-1310). We should note that the Tosafists continuing a discussion of Nahmanides (to A. Z. 2a) expressed some doubts as they no longer considered Christians as idolaters. On this we have a difference of opinion especially in the late Middle Ages with the path of Meiri slowly taken into modern times as shown by my earlier discussion.” As in other matters a wide range of rabbinic traditions existed and could be used as the basis for a statement to Napoleon.
THE NATURE OF NAPOLEON’S QUESTIONS
Both the nature of the questions and their sequence were unusual. The beginning with polygamy and family matters is curious; they then proceeded to the matter of French national authority, the corporate existence of the Jewish community and finally to the issue of usury that had been raised by the conflict in Strasbourg . The primary concern was the elimination of the semi-autonomous existence of the community. There was to be no“nation within a nation” accompanied by the assimilation of the Jewish community
The actual work of providing initial answers to these questions was delegated to a commission which consisted of nine members of the Assembly who met along with the French Commissioners assigned to
the Assembly who had been carefully instructed in great detail.”