Abba Hillel Silver
Encyclopedia
Abba Hillel Silver was a U.S.
Rabbi
and Zionist
leader. He was a key figure in the mobilization of American support for the founding of the State of Israel.
, Lithuania
, son and grandson of Orthodox rabbis, he was brought to the US at the age of nine. A Zionist from his youth he made his first speech at a Zionist meeting at age fourteen. Educated in the public schools and after-school Jewish schools of New York City
's Lower East Side
, he left after high school to attend the Hebrew Union College
and the University of Cincinnati
. After graduation as valedictorian
of his HUC class — and now known as Abba Hillel Silver — and ordination in 1915, he served as rabbi of a small congregation, Leshem Shomayim, now Temple Shalom (Wheeling, West Virginia)
.
In 1917, at age twenty-four, he became rabbi of The Temple
in Cleveland, Ohio
, one of the nation's largest and best known Reform congregations, where he served for forty-six years. Abba Hillel Silver was an early champion of rights for labor, for worker's compensation and civil liberties, though his highest priorities were to advance respect for and support of Zionism. He canvassed first Reform Jewish
congregations, then American Jewry, then the American public and politicians, and last the international community, the United Nations
in particular. Silver was a keynote speaker in the Allied Jewish Campaign to raise funds jointly for Zionist projects in Palestine and for European Jewry. Silver was one of the chief Zionist spokesmen appearing before the United Nations in the Palestine
hearings of 2 October 1947 in what the Israeli government say is the acceptance speech, 2 weeks before Moshe Shertok made the case for Israel on 17 October 1947. Silver expressed reservations about the UN partition plan. Ultimately a practical man, Silver did accept partition as the only way to obtain a homeland for the Jewish people.
Abba Hillel Silver was a leading proponent of Zionism in America, meeting with President Truman several times until his bombastic manner caused friction, leading to alienation with the White House and him being barred from further meetings and appearing on national television to announce to Americans the advancement of Israel. There is, however, no confirmation for the story of his pounding on Harry Truman's desk.
Silver, by mobilizing Jewish and non-Jewish support and his relationship with the Republican party which resulted in a pro-Israel plank in their party platform, gave Truman no choice but to support Israel and to recognize it immediately after it declared its independence.
A nationally-known orator and author of many scholarly works, he also served as head of many Jewish and Zionist organizations.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
and Zionist
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
leader. He was a key figure in the mobilization of American support for the founding of the State of Israel.
Biography
Born Abraham Silver in NaumiestisKudirkos Naumiestis
Kudirkos Naumiestis is in the Šakiai district municipality, Lithuania. It is located south-west of Šakiai.The settlement was first mentioned in 1561 as a village called Duoliebaičiai. In 1639 the town was renamed Vladislavovas by Cecilia Renata of Austria after her husband Władysław IV Vasa. He...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, son and grandson of Orthodox rabbis, he was brought to the US at the age of nine. A Zionist from his youth he made his first speech at a Zionist meeting at age fourteen. Educated in the public schools and after-school Jewish schools of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
, he left after high school to attend the Hebrew Union College
Hebrew Union College
The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is the oldest extant Jewish seminary in the Americas and the main seminary for training rabbis, cantors, educators and communal workers in Reform Judaism.HUC-JIR has campuses in Cincinnati, New York, Los Angeles and Jerusalem.The Jerusalem...
and the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
. After graduation as valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
of his HUC class — and now known as Abba Hillel Silver — and ordination in 1915, he served as rabbi of a small congregation, Leshem Shomayim, now Temple Shalom (Wheeling, West Virginia)
Temple Shalom (Wheeling, West Virginia)
Temple Shalom is a Reform Jewish synagogue in Wheeling, West Virginia.-History:Reform Temple Shalom of Wheeling WV is the result of the merger of several smaller congregations with Congregation L'Shem Shomayim which was founded in 1849 by Jews who had immigrated from German-speaking Central...
.
In 1917, at age twenty-four, he became rabbi of The Temple
The Temple (Cleveland, Ohio)
The Temple built in 1924 is a historic synagogue building located on University Circle at Silver Park in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1963, a branch synagogue, Tifereth-Israel, was established in suburban Beachwood, which is now the main place of worship...
in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, one of the nation's largest and best known Reform congregations, where he served for forty-six years. Abba Hillel Silver was an early champion of rights for labor, for worker's compensation and civil liberties, though his highest priorities were to advance respect for and support of Zionism. He canvassed first Reform Jewish
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
congregations, then American Jewry, then the American public and politicians, and last the international community, the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in particular. Silver was a keynote speaker in the Allied Jewish Campaign to raise funds jointly for Zionist projects in Palestine and for European Jewry. Silver was one of the chief Zionist spokesmen appearing before the United Nations in the Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
hearings of 2 October 1947 in what the Israeli government say is the acceptance speech, 2 weeks before Moshe Shertok made the case for Israel on 17 October 1947. Silver expressed reservations about the UN partition plan. Ultimately a practical man, Silver did accept partition as the only way to obtain a homeland for the Jewish people.
Abba Hillel Silver was a leading proponent of Zionism in America, meeting with President Truman several times until his bombastic manner caused friction, leading to alienation with the White House and him being barred from further meetings and appearing on national television to announce to Americans the advancement of Israel. There is, however, no confirmation for the story of his pounding on Harry Truman's desk.
Silver, by mobilizing Jewish and non-Jewish support and his relationship with the Republican party which resulted in a pro-Israel plank in their party platform, gave Truman no choice but to support Israel and to recognize it immediately after it declared its independence.
A nationally-known orator and author of many scholarly works, he also served as head of many Jewish and Zionist organizations.
Works
- Religion in the Changing World (1930)
- Where Judaism Differed; an Inquiry Into the Distinctiveness of Judaism (1956)