Abraham Auerbach
Encyclopedia
Abraham Auerbach was a German rabbi
.
A descendant of an old rabbinical family, he was destined from his childhood for the rabbinate, and was educated first by his grandfather at Worms
, and later by his uncle, Joseph David Sinzheim
, subsequently president of the central consistory at Paris
. Under the latter's direction, Auerbach acquired not only extensive Talmud
ic knowledge, but a secular education as well. When, owing to the efforts of Samson Cerfberr of Medelsheim
, a Jewish community had been formed at Strasbourg
, Auerbach was charged with its administration.
At the outbreak of the Reign of Terror
in France, Auerbach, on account of his connection with Cerfberr (who as former contractor to the royal army was suspected by the revolutionists), was thrown into prison where he remained for a year. On leaving Strasbourg he was appointed rabbi at Forbach
, then at Neuwied
, and in 1809 at Bonn
. In 1837 he resigned the position, ostensibly on account of his great age, but really to have his son succeed him in his place.
Auerbach was the author of several liturgical poems and prayers, and of a poem on the abolition of the poll tax
, entitled Dibre ha-Mekes we-Beṭuloh (History of the Tax and its Abolition), still extant in manuscript. The poem was dedicated to Cerfberr, who by his intervention brought about the abolition. A specimen of the poem was given by Samuel Joseph Fuenn
, who was the possessor of the manuscript.
Auerbach left seven sons, among whom the best known was Benjamin Hirsch Auerbach
, rabbi at Darmstadt
and Halberstadt
.
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...
.
A descendant of an old rabbinical family, he was destined from his childhood for the rabbinate, and was educated first by his grandfather at Worms
Worms, Germany
Worms is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Rhine River. At the end of 2004, it had 85,829 inhabitants.Established by the Celts, who called it Borbetomagus, Worms today remains embattled with the cities Trier and Cologne over the title of "Oldest City in Germany." Worms is the only...
, and later by his uncle, Joseph David Sinzheim
Joseph David Sinzheim
Joseph David Sinzheim was the chief rabbi of Strasbourg. He was son of Rabbi Isaac Sinzheim of Treves, and brother-in-law of Herz Cerfbeer....
, subsequently president of the central consistory at Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Under the latter's direction, Auerbach acquired not only extensive Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
ic knowledge, but a secular education as well. When, owing to the efforts of Samson Cerfberr of Medelsheim
Samson Cerfberr of Medelsheim
Samson Cerfberr of Medelsheim was a French soldier and author.He led an erratic and adventurous life, wandering over the world, changing his name and even his religion several times...
, a Jewish community had been formed at Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, Auerbach was charged with its administration.
At the outbreak of the Reign of Terror
Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror , also known simply as The Terror , was a period of violence that occurred after the onset of the French Revolution, incited by conflict between rival political factions, the Girondins and the Jacobins, and marked by mass executions of "enemies of...
in France, Auerbach, on account of his connection with Cerfberr (who as former contractor to the royal army was suspected by the revolutionists), was thrown into prison where he remained for a year. On leaving Strasbourg he was appointed rabbi at Forbach
Forbach
Forbach is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.It is located near the German border. Population : 22,784....
, then at Neuwied
Neuwied
Neuwied is a town in the north of the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, capital of the District of Neuwied. Neuwied lies on the right bank of the Rhine, 12 km northwest of Koblenz, on the railway from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne...
, and in 1809 at Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
. In 1837 he resigned the position, ostensibly on account of his great age, but really to have his son succeed him in his place.
Auerbach was the author of several liturgical poems and prayers, and of a poem on the abolition of the poll tax
Poll tax
A poll tax is a tax of a portioned, fixed amount per individual in accordance with the census . When a corvée is commuted for cash payment, in effect it becomes a poll tax...
, entitled Dibre ha-Mekes we-Beṭuloh (History of the Tax and its Abolition), still extant in manuscript. The poem was dedicated to Cerfberr, who by his intervention brought about the abolition. A specimen of the poem was given by Samuel Joseph Fuenn
Samuel Joseph Fuenn
Samuel Joseph Fuenn was a Russian scholar born in Vilnius. He received the usual Talmudic education, and also acquired an extensive general knowledge of the profane sciences. In 1848 the government appointed him professor of Hebrew and Jewish history in the newly founded rabbinical school of...
, who was the possessor of the manuscript.
Auerbach left seven sons, among whom the best known was Benjamin Hirsch Auerbach
Benjamin Hirsch Auerbach
Benjamin Hirsch Auerbach was a German rabbi and one of the most prominent leaders of modern Orthodox Judaism....
, rabbi at Darmstadt
Darmstadt
Darmstadt is a city in the Bundesland of Hesse in Germany, located in the southern part of the Rhine Main Area.The sandy soils in the Darmstadt area, ill-suited for agriculture in times before industrial fertilisation, prevented any larger settlement from developing, until the city became the seat...
and Halberstadt
Halberstadt
Halberstadt is a town in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt and the capital of the district of Harz. It is located on the German Half-Timbered House Road and the Magdeburg–Thale railway....
.