or KARÆITES, an ancient Jewish sect. The name signifies
_Textualists_, or _Scripturists_, and was originally given to the school
of Shammai, (about thirty years or more before Christ,) because they
rejected the traditions of the elders, as embraced by the school of
Hillel and the Pharisees, and all the fanciful interpretations of the
Cabbala. They claim, however, a much higher antiquity, and produce a
catalogue of doctors up to the time of Ezra. The rabbinists have been
accustomed to call them Sadducees; but they believed in the inspiration
of the Scriptures, the resurrection of the dead, and the final judgment.
They believe that Messiah is not yet come, and reject all calculations
of the time of his appearance: yet they say, it is proper that even
every day they should receive their salvation by Messiah, the Son of
David. As to the practice of religion, they differ from the rabbinists
in the observance of the festivals, and keep the Sabbath with more
strictness. They extend their prohibition of marriage to more degrees of
affinity, and admit not of divorce on any slight or trivial grounds. The
sect of Caraites still exists, but their number is inconsiderable. They
are found chiefly in the Crimea, Lithuania, and Persia; at Damascus,
Constantinople, and Cairo. Their honesty in the Crimea is said to be
proverbial.
_Textualists_, or _Scripturists_, and was originally given to the school
of Shammai, (about thirty years or more before Christ,) because they
rejected the traditions of the elders, as embraced by the school of
Hillel and the Pharisees, and all the fanciful interpretations of the
Cabbala. They claim, however, a much higher antiquity, and produce a
catalogue of doctors up to the time of Ezra. The rabbinists have been
accustomed to call them Sadducees; but they believed in the inspiration
of the Scriptures, the resurrection of the dead, and the final judgment.
They believe that Messiah is not yet come, and reject all calculations
of the time of his appearance: yet they say, it is proper that even
every day they should receive their salvation by Messiah, the Son of
David. As to the practice of religion, they differ from the rabbinists
in the observance of the festivals, and keep the Sabbath with more
strictness. They extend their prohibition of marriage to more degrees of
affinity, and admit not of divorce on any slight or trivial grounds. The
sect of Caraites still exists, but their number is inconsiderable. They
are found chiefly in the Crimea, Lithuania, and Persia; at Damascus,
Constantinople, and Cairo. Their honesty in the Crimea is said to be
proverbial.