Aaron Hart
Encyclopedia
Chief Rabbi Aaron Uri Phoebus Hart ' onMouseout='HidePop("94453")' href="/topics/London">London
) was the first chief rabbi
of the United Kingdom
and the rabbi
of the Great Synagogue of London
from 1704 until his death.
He was son of Naphtali Hertz of Hamburg
(Hartwig Moses Hart), a prosperous Jewish resident of that city. After studying at a yeshiva
in Poland
, he married the daughter of R. Samuel ben Phoebus
of Fürth
, author of a commentary on Eben ha'Ezer
. It was probably through the influence of his wealthy brother, Moses Hart
, founder of the Great Synagogue, in Dukes Place in London
, that he was appointed rabbi of the first Ashkenazic synagogue in that city. This was opened in Broad street
, Miter square, in 1692.
Hart published in 1707 a small work entitled Urim ve-Tummim
, which is of interest as being the first Hebrew book printed in London.
His tenure saw a great expansion in Jewish life in Britain
, and the growth of a number of small provincial communities. Such communities were often served by single hard-worked officials, who referred questions to the Rabbi of the Great Synagogue in London. Hart's advice was also sought when appointing shochetim
and other officials. They looked to him to authorise marriages; both functions are still exercised by the Chief Rabbinate today.
A portrait of Rabbi Hart hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in London.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) was the first chief rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
of the Great Synagogue of London
Great Synagogue of London
The Great Synagogue of London was, for centuries, the centre of Ashkenazi synagogue and Jewish life in London. It was destroyed during World War II, in the Blitz.-History:...
from 1704 until his death.
He was son of Naphtali Hertz of Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
(Hartwig Moses Hart), a prosperous Jewish resident of that city. After studying at a yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, he married the daughter of R. Samuel ben Phoebus
Samuel ben Uri Shraga Phoebus
Samuel ben Uri Shraga Phoebus was a Polish rabbi and Talmudist of Woydyslaw in the second half of the 17th century. In his early youth he was a pupil of Rabbi Heshel in Cracow, and on the latter's death he continued his studies under R...
of Fürth
Fürth
The city of Fürth is located in northern Bavaria, Germany in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. It is now contiguous with the larger city of Nuremberg, the centres of the two cities being only 7 km apart....
, author of a commentary on Eben ha'Ezer
Eben-Ezer
Eben-Ezer , is the name of a location that is mentioned by the Books of Samuel as the scene of battles between the Israelites and Philistines. It is specified as having been less than a day's journey by foot from Shiloh, near Aphek, in the neighbourhood of Mizpah, near the western entrance of the...
. It was probably through the influence of his wealthy brother, Moses Hart
Moses Hart (1675-1756)
Moses Hart was an English businessman, founder of Duke's Place Synagogue . He was the brother of Rabbi Aaron Hart, chief rabbi of the Ashkenazic Jews of England. He was considered the leader of Ashkenazi Jewry in London....
, founder of the Great Synagogue, in Dukes Place in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, that he was appointed rabbi of the first Ashkenazic synagogue in that city. This was opened in Broad street
Broadwick Street
Broadwick Street is a street in Soho, City of Westminster, London. It runs for 0.18 mile approximately west-east between Marshall Street and Wardour Street, crossing Berwick Street....
, Miter square, in 1692.
Hart published in 1707 a small work entitled Urim ve-Tummim
Urim and Thummim
In ancient Israelite religion and culture, Urim and Thummim is a phrase from the Hebrew Scriptures or Torah associated with the Hoshen , divination in general, and cleromancy in particular...
, which is of interest as being the first Hebrew book printed in London.
His tenure saw a great expansion in Jewish life in Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, and the growth of a number of small provincial communities. Such communities were often served by single hard-worked officials, who referred questions to the Rabbi of the Great Synagogue in London. Hart's advice was also sought when appointing shochetim
Shechita
Shechita is the ritual slaughter of mammals and birds according to Jewish dietary laws...
and other officials. They looked to him to authorise marriages; both functions are still exercised by the Chief Rabbinate today.
A portrait of Rabbi Hart hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in London.