Archisynagogus

ARCHISYNAGOGUS, Chief of the Synagogue. This was the title of an Office among the Jews. There were generally many men of eminency who presided in the Synagogues, and in all Assemblies that were held there; their number was not fixed, nor equal in all places: this depended upon the extent of the several Cities they were in, or the number of the people who came to their Synagogues. In some particular Synagogues there were perhaps seventy Elders, who presided; others perhaps had but ten, others nine, others four or five only, or no more than one Head or Archisynagogus. They are sometimes called the Angels or Princes of the Synagogue. The Jews give them the name likewise of Chachamim, or Wise. They presided in religious Assemblies, invited those to speak who were thought capable of it; judged of affairs relating to money, of thefts, and other matters of this nature. They had a right to have those whipt who were convicted of acting contrary to the Law. They had a power likewise to excommunicate and expel those out of the Synagogue who had deserved this punishment. See Basnage’s History of the Jews, l. vii. c. 7. and Vitringa de Synagog.

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