Michael Heilprin
Encyclopedia
Michael Heilprin was a Polish-American Jewish biblical scholar, critic, and writer, born at Piotrków
, Russian Poland
, to Jewish parents. His family was distinguished by its knowledge of Hebrew
lore as far back as the sixteenth century. Michael Heilprin was a scholar who was familiar with more than a dozen languages.
His father, Phineas Mendel Heilprin
, left Poland for Hungary
in 1842. On the outbreak of the Hungarian revolution
in 1848, Michael threw himself ardently into the movement led by Kossuth
. The collapse of the revolution resulted in him leaving Europe
by 1858 for the United States
where he remained for the rest of his life.
He was connected with the American Cyclopædia from 1858 and was one of the associate editors of the new edition of that publication (1873–1876). From the time of its establishment in 1865, he became a regular contributor to the New York Nation
. In 1879-1880, he published two volumes of The Historical Poetry of the Ancient Hebrews, Translated and Critically Examined, a work of profound original research. The work was left incomplete at the author's death.
He directed the establishment of several successful agricultural colonies in the United States for Russian-Jewish immigrants.
, prominent Jewish religious leaders in the United States engaged in public debates about slavery. Generally, rabbis from the Southern states
supported slavery, and those from the North
opposed slavery. The most notable debate was between rabbi Morris Jacob Raphall
, who endorsed slavery, and rabbi David Einhorn who opposed it.
In 1861, Raphall published his views that slavery in a treatise called "The Bible View of Slavery". He wrote, "I am no friend to slavery in the abstract, and still less friendly to the practical working of slavery, But I stand here as a teacher in Israel; not to place before you my own feelings and opinions, but to propound to you the word of G-d, the Bible view of slavery." Heilprin, concerned that Raphall's position would be seen as the official policy of American Judaism, vigorously refuted his arguments, and argued that slavery - as practiced in the South - was immoral and not endorsed by Judaism.
Piotrków Trybunalski
Piotrków Trybunalski is a city in central Poland with 80,738 inhabitants . It is situated in the Łódź Voivodeship , and previously was the capital of Piotrków Voivodeship...
, Russian 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...
, to Jewish parents. His family was distinguished by its knowledge of Hebrew
Hebrew literature
Hebrew literature consists of ancient, medieval, and modern writings in the Hebrew language. It is one of the primary forms of Jewish literature, though there have been cases of literature written in Hebrew by non-Jews...
lore as far back as the sixteenth century. Michael Heilprin was a scholar who was familiar with more than a dozen languages.
His father, Phineas Mendel Heilprin
Phineas Mendel Heilprin
Phineas Mendel Heilprin was a Jewish scholar.-Biography:He early settled in Piotrków and subsequently in Tomaszów, where he became a manufacturer and merchant, but, in consequence of oppression by the Russian government, he removed in 1842 to Hungary...
, left Poland for Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
in 1842. On the outbreak of the Hungarian revolution
Hungarian Revolution
Hungarian Revolution may refer to:* The Hungarian Revolution of 1848.* The Hungarian Revolution of 1919, which led to the formation of the Hungarian Soviet Republic headed by Béla Kun.* The Hungarian Revolution of 1956....
in 1848, Michael threw himself ardently into the movement led by Kossuth
Lajos Kossuth
Lajos Kossuth de Udvard et Kossuthfalva was a Hungarian lawyer, journalist, politician and Regent-President of Hungary in 1849. He was widely honored during his lifetime, including in the United Kingdom and the United States, as a freedom fighter and bellwether of democracy in Europe.-Family:Lajos...
. The collapse of the revolution resulted in him leaving Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
by 1858 for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he remained for the rest of his life.
He was connected with the American Cyclopædia from 1858 and was one of the associate editors of the new edition of that publication (1873–1876). From the time of its establishment in 1865, he became a regular contributor to the New York Nation
The Nation
The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
. In 1879-1880, he published two volumes of The Historical Poetry of the Ancient Hebrews, Translated and Critically Examined, a work of profound original research. The work was left incomplete at the author's death.
He directed the establishment of several successful agricultural colonies in the United States for Russian-Jewish immigrants.
Views on Slavery
In the civil-war eraAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, prominent Jewish religious leaders in the United States engaged in public debates about slavery. Generally, rabbis from the Southern states
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
supported slavery, and those from the North
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
opposed slavery. The most notable debate was between rabbi Morris Jacob Raphall
Morris Jacob Raphall
Morris Jacob Raphall was a rabbi and author born at Stockholm, Sweden. At the age of nine he was taken by his father, who was banker to the King of Sweden, to Copenhagen, where he was educated at the Hebrew grammar-school...
, who endorsed slavery, and rabbi David Einhorn who opposed it.
In 1861, Raphall published his views that slavery in a treatise called "The Bible View of Slavery". He wrote, "I am no friend to slavery in the abstract, and still less friendly to the practical working of slavery, But I stand here as a teacher in Israel; not to place before you my own feelings and opinions, but to propound to you the word of G-d, the Bible view of slavery." Heilprin, concerned that Raphall's position would be seen as the official policy of American Judaism, vigorously refuted his arguments, and argued that slavery - as practiced in the South - was immoral and not endorsed by Judaism.