Adolf Rosenzweig
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Dr. Adolf Rosenzweig (October 20, 1850, Turdossin, Hungry – August 16, 1918, Kolberg, Germany
) was a German moderate liberal rabbi
and Biblical and Talmud
ic scholar. In his publications he dealt with historical and archaeological
matters.
at Pest, later at the Yeshiva
of Pressburg. After graduation he went to Berlin
, where he studied philosophy
and Oriental languages and literatures at the University of Berlin, and theology
at the Hochschule für die Wissenschaft des Judentums
. Finally he earned his Phd
.
On October 20, 1874, he entered upon the rabbinate of Pasewalk
, Province of Pomerania, whence he was called to Birnbaum
, Posen. In 1879 he went to Teplitz, Bohemia
, and in 1887 he accepted a rabbinate at the New Synagogue (Neue Synagoge) in Oranienburger Straße, Berlin, where he remained until his death in 1918. There he came to be known as an outstanding preacher
.
Rosenzweig died in 1918, at 68, and was buried in Berlin. On his gravestone was written: "The law of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found in his lips" (Malachi
2:6).
), was a spiritual leader.
His daughter, Hedwig, married Rabbi Juda Bergmann (1874-1956) - Galician-born, studied in the Rabbinical Seminary in Vienna
; rabbi in Berlin from 1908; emigrated to Mandate Palestine
in 1933. They had 8 children. Their elder son, Ernst David Bergmann
(October 18, 1903, Karlsruhe - 1975), was a professor
of Organic Chemistry
in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
(1954-1975), and often considered the father of the Israeli nuclear program. His brother, Felix Eliezer Bergmann (August 17, 1908, Frankfurt - 2002, Israel), raised in Berlin, PhD in chemistry and MD from the University of Berlin in 1933; chair of Pharmacology
in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
(1950-2002). Theodor Bergmann (born March 7, 1916 in Berlin) is a professor of Agricultural Economy in the University of Hohenheim
in Stuttgart
since 1981.
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
) was a German moderate liberal 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 Biblical and 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 scholar. In his publications he dealt with historical and archaeological
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
matters.
Biography
Adolf Aharon Rosenzweig was born in Turdossin, Hungary. He studied at the gymnasiumGymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
at Pest, later at the 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...
of Pressburg. After graduation he went to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, where he studied philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and Oriental languages and literatures at the University of Berlin, and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the Hochschule für die Wissenschaft des Judentums
Hochschule für die Wissenschaft des Judentums
The Hochschule für die Wissenschaft des Judentums, or Higher Institute for Jewish Studies, was a rabbinical seminary, established in Berlin in 1872 destroyed by the Nazi government of Germany in 1942...
. Finally he earned his Phd
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
.
On October 20, 1874, he entered upon the rabbinate of Pasewalk
Pasewalk
Pasewalk is a town in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany. Located on the Uecker river, it is the capital of the former Uecker-Randow district, and the seat of the Uecker-Randow-Tal Amt of which it is not part.Pasewalk became a town during the 12th...
, Province of Pomerania, whence he was called to Birnbaum
Miedzychód
Międzychód is a town in Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, about 75 km west of Poznań. It is the capital of Międzychód County. Population is 10,920 .-Notable residents:* Manuel Joël , philosopher...
, Posen. In 1879 he went to Teplitz, Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, and in 1887 he accepted a rabbinate at the New Synagogue (Neue Synagoge) in Oranienburger Straße, Berlin, where he remained until his death in 1918. There he came to be known as an outstanding preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
.
Rosenzweig died in 1918, at 68, and was buried in Berlin. On his gravestone was written: "The law of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found in his lips" (Malachi
Book of Malachi
Malachi is a book of the Hebrew Bible, the last of the twelve minor prophets and the final book of the Neviim...
2:6).
Family
Rosenzweig's son, Rabbi Dr. Arthur Rosenzweig (March 27, 1883, Teplitz - 1935, PraguePrague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
), was a spiritual leader.
His daughter, Hedwig, married Rabbi Juda Bergmann (1874-1956) - Galician-born, studied in the Rabbinical Seminary in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
; rabbi in Berlin from 1908; emigrated to Mandate Palestine
Mandate Palestine
Mandate Palestine existed while the British Mandate for Palestine, which formally began in September 1923 and terminated in May 1948, was in effect...
in 1933. They had 8 children. Their elder son, Ernst David Bergmann
Ernst David Bergmann
Ernst David Bergmann was an Israeli nuclear scientist and chemist. He is often considered the father of the Israeli nuclear program.- Life and Education :...
(October 18, 1903, Karlsruhe - 1975), was a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Organic Chemistry
Organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-based compounds, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives...
in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
(1954-1975), and often considered the father of the Israeli nuclear program. His brother, Felix Eliezer Bergmann (August 17, 1908, Frankfurt - 2002, Israel), raised in Berlin, PhD in chemistry and MD from the University of Berlin in 1933; chair of Pharmacology
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
(1950-2002). Theodor Bergmann (born March 7, 1916 in Berlin) is a professor of Agricultural Economy in the University of Hohenheim
University of Hohenheim
The University of Hohenheim is a university in Stuttgart, Germany. Founded in 1818 it is Stuttgart's oldest university and one of Germany's leading universities both in agricultural sciences and economics.-History:...
in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
since 1981.
Works
- Zur Einleitung in die Bücher Esra und Nehemia (Berlin, 1875)
- Zum Hundertsten Geburtstage des Nathan der Weise (Posen, 1878)
- I. Des Schofars Rufe und die drei Bücher des Lebens ; II. Des Wächters Stimmen: zwei Predigten für Rosch Haschana und Jom Hakippurim (Magdeburg, 1879)
- Das Jahrhundert nach dem babylonischen Exile: mit besonderer Rücksicht auf die religiöse Entwicklung des Judentums, (Berlin, 1885)
- Künstler und Jugendbildner: eine pädagogische Parellele (Neuhaus, 1886)
- Der politische und religiöse Charakter des Flavius Josephus (Berlin, 1889).
- Jerusalem und Caesarea: ein historisches Essay mit besonderer Rücksicht auf die Bedeutung Caesarea’s für Judenthum und Christenthum (Berlin, 1890)
- Das Auge in Bibel und Talmud: ein Essay (Berlin, 1892)
- Geselligkeit und Geselligkeits-Freuden in Bibel und Talmud: ein Beitrag zur Culturgeschichte des Alterthums (Berlin, 1895)
- Kohelet’s Welt- und Lebensanschauung / Predigt von A.R. (Berlin, 1903)
- Kleidung und schmuck im biblischen und talmudischen schrifttum (Berlin, 1905)
- Die Al-tikri-Deutungen: ein Beitrag zur talmudischen Schriftdeutung (Breslau, 1911)
Other Publications
- Wort des Dankes, gesprochen am 2. Tage des Pessah-Festes (5629): im Locale der Israelitischen Speise-Anstalt in Wien, Wien: Theilnehmern der Speise-Anstalt, 1869.
- Rede, gehalten am 11. August in der Neuen Synagoge bei der Feier von Leopold ZunzLeopold ZunzLeopold Zunz was a German Reform rabbi and writer, the founder of what has been termed "Jewish Studies" or "Judaic Studies" , the critical investigation of Jewish literature, hymnology and ritual...
’ens hundertjährigem Geburtstage (Berlin, 1894) - Des Gotteshauses Botschaft und Forderung: Rede gehalten am 4. Sept. 1898 bei der Einweihung der Synagoge des Synagogenvereins Moabit, Berlin: Moabit, 1898.
- Des Gotteshauses Bedeutung und Berechtigung: Weiherede, gehalten am 4. September 1904 bei der Einweihung der Gemeindesynagoge in der Rykestrasse (Berlin, 1904)
- In deinem Blut sollst du leben! Predigt und Gebet beim Trauergottesdienste für die Opfer der Judenverfolgungen in Russland am 10. Dez. 1905, in der Synagoge Ryke-Strasse 53, Berlin: L. Lamm, 1905.
Further Reading
- "Rosenzweig, Adolf", in The new Schaff-Herzog encyclopedia of religious knowledgeSchaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious KnowledgeThe Schaff–Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge is a religious encyclopedia. It is based on an earlier German encyclopedia, the Realencyklopädie für protestantische Theologie und Kirche. Like the Realencyklopädie, it focuses on Christianity from a primarily Protestant point of...
, Vol. 10, p. 96. - Hermann Simon & Jochen Boberg (eds.), Tuet auf die Pforten: Die Neue Synagoge 1866-1995, Berlin: Stiftung "Neue Synagoge Berlin - Centrum Judaicum", Museumspädagogischer Dienst, 1995.
External Links
- Adolf Rosenzweig's portrait, in his article 'Aus den Kinderjahren der "Lehranstalt für die Wissenschaft des Judentums"', Ost und West, Jg 7 (1907) Nr 11, Sp. 719-724 (in Compact Memory)