CHIARINI, LUIGI: Italian abb; born near Montepulciano, Italy, April 26, 1789; died at Warsaw Feb.

28, 1832. He was appointed professor of history and Oriental languages at the Un iversity of Warsaw, Poland (1826). Chiarini was a prominent member of the so-called "Jewish Committee," consisting exclusively of Christian members, organized by imperial decree May 22, 1825. Thi s committee established schools for Jewish boys and girls as well as classes of Hebrew for Christian young men to study Jewish history, rabbinical literature, a nd even Judo-German, which would enable them to do organization (missionary) work among the Jews of Poland. Chiarini was entrusted by this body to translate the Babylonian Talmud, for which the Russian government granted him a subsidy of 12, 000 thalers. He published his work, "Theorie de Judasme Applique la Rforme des Israli tes do Tous les Pays do l'Europe, et Servant en Mme Temps d'Ouvrage Prparatoire la Version du Talmud de Babylone," 2 vols., Paris, 1830, as a precursor to the pre scribed version of the Talmud which was to appear in six large folio volumes. Ch iarini's book planned the reform of the Polish Jews, and also the general improv ement of the condition of all Jews. This workis divided into three parts; in the first Chiarini states the difficulties of knowing the true character of Judaism ; in the second he elucidates the theory of Judaism; and in the third the author treats of the reform of Judaism and discusses the means of removing its "pernic ious" elements. In brief, Chiarini endeavors to prove that the so-called evils o f Judaism originate chiefly from the alleged harmful antisocial teachings of the Talmud. He argues that the state should assist the Jews in freeing themselves f rom the influence of the Talmud, and that they should return to the simple Mosai c faith. This goal can be attained in two ways: first, by the establishment of s chools where Bible instruction is given and the Hebrew grammar studied; and, sec ondly, by a French translation of the Babylonian Talmud, with explanatory notes and refutations. Chiarini recognized that the popular knowledge of the Jews and Judaism was inade quate and defective, and that their enemies furnish nothing but distorted instea d of correct information. Nevertheless, his work is pervaded with some of the tr aditional prejudices against which he protests; but, at the same time, he expres ses a sincere concern for the spiritual and material welfare of the Jews, and a desire to improve their condition. Of Chiarini's translation of the Talmud only two volumes appeared, under the tit le "Le Talmud de Babylone, Traduit en Langue Franaise et Complt par Celui de Jrusale m et par d'Autres Monuments de l'Antiquit Judaque," Leipsic, 1831. It contains a c opious preface. The translation of Berakot, which is partly based on previous tr anslations, has many faults. Chiarini's "Thorie du Judasme" was widely criticized and caused considerable discussion in the "Revue Encyclopdique" and in separate p amphlets by Zunz, Josi, and others. Besides many other works on Italian poetry ( Pisa, 1816 and 1818) and on the history of astronomy in the Orient, Chiarini wro te a Hebrew grammar and a Hebrew dictionary, both in Latin, translated into Poli sh by Piotr Chlebowski, Warsaw, 1826 and 1829; he wrote also "Dei Funerari degli Ebrei Polacchi," Bologna, 1826. Bibliography: Zunz, G. S. i. 271-298, Berlin, 1878; Jost, Eine Freimthige und Unparthesche Beleuchtung des Werkes: Thorie du Judaisme, Berlin, 1830; Orgelbrand, Encyklopedja Powszechna, iii., s.v., Warsaw, 1898; Nuova Enciclopedia Italiana, 6th ed., vol. v., Turin, 1878; E. Bischoff, Kritische Geschichite der Talnmud-Uebersetzungen, etc., p. 68, Fran kfort-on-the-Main, 1899.