The Decree of Caesar Augustus to the Jews of Cyrene

Caesar Augustus, high priest and tribune of the people, ordains as follows: Since the nation of the Jews has been found agreeable to the Roman people, not only at this time but also in the past, and chiefly Hyrcanus, their high priest, in the time of my father, the emperor Caesar, I and my counselors have hereby decided, in accordance with the oath and by the judgment of the Roman people, that the Jews have liberty to practice their own customs according to their ancestral law, just as they used to practice them in the time of Hyrcanus, high priest of God Most High, and that their sacred money shall not be touched but be sent to Jerusalem, and that it be committed to the care of the financial officials of Jerusalem, and that the Jews not be obliged to appear before any judge on the Sabbath day or on the day of preparation for it, following the ninth hour. But if anyone is caught stealing their holy books or sacred funds, whether it be out of the synagogue or public hall, he shall be deemed a sacrilegious person, and his goods shall be carried away to the public treasury of the Romans.

Translated byWilliam Whiston, adapted byAaron Samuels.