SPECIAL LAWS FOR JEWS.--The law of marriage and divorce which governs the Jews of Russia differs in many particulars from the rules applicable to adherents of other sects. This special set of regulations comes from the people of Israel themselves and is an outgrowth of the ancient Mosaic code of jurisprudence. In thus permitting the Jews to have a body of rules founded on the ancient precedents of their race and in agreement with their consciences we find at least one attitude of wise tolerance for which the Russian Empire is entitled to credit. BETROTHAL.--A Jewish betrothal must take place in the presence of two competent witnesses. The consent of the parents of either party is not required. Like marriage the betrothal can be dissolved only by death or by divorce. It obligates the parties to marry within thirty days from the date on which either demands marriage. A betrothal may be dissolved on the following grounds: A. Evil conduct. B. Change of religion. C. Insanity. D. Unchastity of either party or of one of his or her near relatives. E. By the man entering a dishonest occupation. IMPEDIMENTS.--Besides the impediments which prevent certain people of other sects from lawfully concluding marriage there are other impediments specially applicable to Jewish people. Briefly enumerated they are as follows: 1. A woman guilty of adultery, or even of secret association, with a man against her husband's will cannot marry her accomplice. 2. A marriage between a Jew and an idolator is forbidden. 3. If a woman's husband has died childless, and is survived by a brother, she can marry no one else than this brother until the latter has declined marriage with her in the prescribed form. 4. After the death of near relatives a marriage may not take place within thirty days. 5. A widow or divorced woman may not contract a new marriage within ninety days from the dissolution of her earlier marriage. 6. A pregnant woman may not marry before her delivery. 7. A widower may not marry before three feast days have passed since the death of his wife, but in case he is childless or his children require a mother's care he may marry after seven days. DIVORCE.--The Jewish law makes no distinction between divorce and annulment. The grounds for divorce are as follows: 1. Bigamy. 2. Difference of religion. 3. Relationship in the first degree in the direct line, by blood or marriage. No legal action is necessary for these three causes. 4. Adultery. 5. Leprosy of the husband. 6. Mutual consent of the parties. 7. Such conduct on the part of the wife as raises a reasonable suspicion of her adultery. 8. The cursing by the wife of her father-in-law in her husband's presence. 9. Wife's desertion of husband. 10. Wife's refusal for one year to perform marital duty. 11. Husband's cruelty to wife. 12. Husband's apostasy from the Jewish religion. 13. When the husband is a fugitive from justice. 14. Neglect of husband to support his wife.