Leo Baeck Institute
Encyclopedia
The Leo Baeck Institute-New York (LBI-NY) in Manhattan
is a library, archive, and exhibition centre devoted to the study of the history and culture of German-speaking Jewry. The Institutes's offices and collections are housed in Center for Jewish History
in New York City. Founded in 1955, the Institute is named in honor of Leo Baeck, the Rabbi who was the last leader of the Jewish Community under the Nazis. Baeck represented the modern assimilated Central European Jew.
The bulk of LBI-NY’s archives are the personal papers of German-speaking Jews. In addition to the personal papers, there is an 80,000 volume library which includes first editions of Moses Mendelssohn
and Heinrich Heine
, early 16th century writings, including Martin Luther
, Sir Thomas More and Erasmus, as well as a comprehensive collection of periodicals published from the 18th to 20th centuries. Limited editions of twentieth century artists’ portfolios and several illustrated eighteenth century books on Jewish customs are included in the rare book collection.
A project (DigiBaeck) is under way to digitize the archives and thereby provide on-line access to the entire collection. In addition to the archival processes of acquiring, cataloguing and preserving, LBI-NY promotes study by sponsoring fellowships, holding seminars, and exhibits. LBI-NY has a branch housed in the Jewish Museum Berlin
.
LBI annually presents The Leo Baeck Medal to individuals whose humanitarian work promotes tolerance, social justice. In November 2010, German conductor Kurt Masur
received the award. Some past recipients include German Chancellor Angela Merkel
, Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger
, Dr. Mathias Dopfner
, The Honorable James D. Wolfensohn, Mr. Otto Schily
, Dr. Ruth Westheimer
, Dr. Johannes Rau
, and The Honorable W. Michael Blumenthal
.
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
is a library, archive, and exhibition centre devoted to the study of the history and culture of German-speaking Jewry. The Institutes's offices and collections are housed in Center for Jewish History
Center for Jewish History
The Center for Jewish History is a partnership, or consortium, of five Jewish organizations based in Manhattan. It is a partnership of five organizations of Jewish history, scholarship, and art: the American Jewish Historical Society, the American Sephardi Federation, the Leo Baeck Institute, the...
in New York City. Founded in 1955, the Institute is named in honor of Leo Baeck, the Rabbi who was the last leader of the Jewish Community under the Nazis. Baeck represented the modern assimilated Central European Jew.
The bulk of LBI-NY’s archives are the personal papers of German-speaking Jews. In addition to the personal papers, there is an 80,000 volume library which includes first editions of Moses Mendelssohn
Moses Mendelssohn
Moses Mendelssohn was a German Jewish philosopher to whose ideas the renaissance of European Jews, Haskalah is indebted...
and Heinrich Heine
Heinrich Heine
Christian Johann Heinrich Heine was one of the most significant German poets of the 19th century. He was also a journalist, essayist, and literary critic. He is best known outside Germany for his early lyric poetry, which was set to music in the form of Lieder by composers such as Robert Schumann...
, early 16th century writings, including Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
, Sir Thomas More and Erasmus, as well as a comprehensive collection of periodicals published from the 18th to 20th centuries. Limited editions of twentieth century artists’ portfolios and several illustrated eighteenth century books on Jewish customs are included in the rare book collection.
A project (DigiBaeck) is under way to digitize the archives and thereby provide on-line access to the entire collection. In addition to the archival processes of acquiring, cataloguing and preserving, LBI-NY promotes study by sponsoring fellowships, holding seminars, and exhibits. LBI-NY has a branch housed in the Jewish Museum Berlin
Jewish Museum Berlin
The Jewish Museum Berlin , in Berlin, Germany, covers two millennia of German Jewish history. It consists of two buildings. One is the old Kollegienhaus, a former courthouse, built in the 18th century. The other, a new addition specifically built for the museum, designed by world-renowned architect...
.
LBI annually presents The Leo Baeck Medal to individuals whose humanitarian work promotes tolerance, social justice. In November 2010, German conductor Kurt Masur
Kurt Masur
Kurt Masur is a German conductor, particularly noted for his interpretation of German Romantic music.- Biography :Masur was born in Brieg, Lower Silesia, Germany and studied piano, composition and conducting in Leipzig, Saxony. Masur has been married three times...
received the award. Some past recipients include German Chancellor Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel
Angela Dorothea Merkel is the current Chancellor of Germany . Merkel, elected to the Bundestag from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, has been the chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union since 2000, and chairwoman of the CDU-CSU parliamentary coalition from 2002 to 2005.From 2005 to 2009 she led a...
, Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger
Wolfgang Ischinger
Wolfgang Friedrich Ischinger is a German diplomat. He was Germany's ambassador to the Court of St. James's from 2006 to May, 2008...
, Dr. Mathias Dopfner
Mathias Döpfner
Mathias Döpfner , is Chief Executive Officer of German media group Axel Springer AG.-Family:Mathias Döpfner grew up in Offenbach am Main. His mother was a housewife and his father Dieter C...
, The Honorable James D. Wolfensohn, Mr. Otto Schily
Otto Schily
Otto Georg Schily was Federal Minister of the Interior of Germany from 1998 to 2005, in the cabinet of former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder. He is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany .-Biography:...
, Dr. Ruth Westheimer
Ruth Westheimer
Ruth Westheimer is an American sex therapist, media personality, and author. Best known as Dr. Ruth, the New York Times described her as a "Sorbonne-trained psychologist who became a kind of cultural icon in the 1980s...
, Dr. Johannes Rau
Johannes Rau
Johannes Rau was a German politician of the SPD. He was President of Germany from 1 July 1999 until 30 June 2004, and Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia from 1978 to 1998.-Education and work:...
, and The Honorable W. Michael Blumenthal
W. Michael Blumenthal
Werner Michael Blumenthal served as United States Secretary of the Treasury under President Jimmy Carter from 1977-1979.-Life and career:...
.
See also
- Deborah HertzDeborah HertzDeborah Hertz, , is the Herman Wouk Chair in Modern Jewish Studies and Professor of History at the University of California, San Diego....
, Herman WoukHerman WoukHerman Wouk is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American author of novels including The Caine Mutiny, The Winds of War, and War and Remembrance.-Biography:...
Chair in Modern Jewish Studies at the University of California, San DiegoUniversity of California, San DiegoThe University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States... - Hannah ArendtHannah ArendtHannah Arendt was a German American political theorist. She has often been described as a philosopher, although she refused that label on the grounds that philosophy is concerned with "man in the singular." She described herself instead as a political theorist because her work centers on the fact...
External links
- German-Jewish Impact on European Culture
- German Missions in the United States
- YIVO Institute for Jewish Research
- Yeshiva University Museum
- Center for Jewish History
- American Jewish Historical Society
- Leo Baeck Institute, Jerusalem
- Leo Baeck Institute, London
- Leo Baeck Institute, New York
- Freunde und Förderer des Leo Baeck Instituts e.V.
- Leo Baeck Programme of the Fonds „Erinnerung und Zukunft“
- Leo Baeck Fellowship Programme of the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes
- Website of the Leo Baeck Fellows
- Texts Lost in War Are Surfacing in New York