Seligman Baer Bamberger
Encyclopedia
Seligman Baer Bamberger (born Wiesenbronn, near Kitzingen
, Bavaria
, 6 November 1807; died Würzburg
13 October 1878) was a Talmudist and a leader of Orthodox Judaism
in Germany. Between 1840 and his death he served as rabbi of Würzburg, and is therefore often referred to by his position as the Würzburger Rav.
studies in Fürth
at the age of fifteen, under Rabbis Wolf Hamburger and Judah Leib Halberstadt. Five years later he received semicha
(rabbinic ordination), but did not enter the rabbinate, choosing instead to open a general business store in Kitzingen. He married two years later, to the daughter of Rabbi Seckel Wormser of Fulda
. The store was not successful (possibly because Bamberger preferred to spend as much time as possible studying Talmud).
In 1838 he represented the Orthodox camp at a conference instigated by the Bavarian government at which several reform-minded
notables had hoped to bring about changes in the organisation of the Jewish communities. As a result of his success at this conference he was invited to succeed Rabbi Abraham Bing
as rabbi of Würzburg
.
In Würzburg he rapidly opened a yeshiva. In 1855 he opened an elementary school, the first of its kind in Germany (previously children had been instructed in small synagogue schools). In 1864, after a two-year preparation, he also opened a seminary specifically for the training of teachers of Jewish subjects, of which there was a shortage in Germany.
, tefillin
(phylacteries) and mezuzot
(door scrolls).
A work first published in 1858 titled Amirah le-Beth Ya'akov (Words to the House of Jacob, a reference to Exodus 19:2 and Rashi's commentary there) deals with the three areas of practical Jewish law pertaining specifically to women: niddah
(separation during menstruation), challah (a tithe from dough) and the lighting of candles on the night of the Shabbat
. It has been widely translated and is still in use today.
Moreh la-Zovechim (Teacher for those who bring Sacrifices, 1863) deals with the practical laws of shechita
(ritual slaughter). Nachalath Devash (An Inheritance of Honey, 1867) deals primarily with the halizah
ritual, and his work Yitzchak Yeranen (Isaac will Rejoice, 1861-2, a reference to the Sabbath afternoon prayers) is a commentary on Shaarei Simcha by Rabbi Yehuda ibn Gayat. Koreh be-Emeth (Reading in Truth, 1871 and 1879, a reference to Psalms 145:18) addresses Torah exegesis where Talmud
or Midrash
use changes in letters to derive meanings from particular words.
In 1850 he published a pamphlet outlining the attitude towards non-Jews in the Talmud
. This was intended to inform a debate in the Bavarian parliament on civil rights for the Jews.
of Frankfurt
, who had campaigned for the law to be passed, declared that Orthodox Jews in Frankfurt had the duty to officially secede from the non-Orthodox Grossgemeinde. Bamberger visited Frankfurt, and declared that this was not mandatory. A heated exchange of open letters followed between the rabbis. The conflict ultimately led to only a relatively small number of Orthodox Jews seceding from the main community, and until the Second World War there were two Orthodox communities in Frankfurt: one under the auspices of the Grossgemeinde and the other one being Hirsch' community Adath Yeshurun.
Kitzingen
Kitzingen is a town in the German state of Bavaria, capital of the district Kitzingen. It is part of Franconia geographical region and has around 21,000 inhabitants.Surrounded by vineyards, Kitzingen County is the largest wine producer in Bavaria...
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, 6 November 1807; died Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
13 October 1878) was a Talmudist and a leader of Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
in Germany. Between 1840 and his death he served as rabbi of Würzburg, and is therefore often referred to by his position as the Würzburger Rav.
Life
He commenced his yeshivaYeshiva
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...
studies in Fürth
Fürth
The city of Fürth is located in northern Bavaria, Germany in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. It is now contiguous with the larger city of Nuremberg, the centres of the two cities being only 7 km apart....
at the age of fifteen, under Rabbis Wolf Hamburger and Judah Leib Halberstadt. Five years later he received semicha
Semicha
, also , or is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized". It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within Judaism. In this sense it is the "transmission" of rabbinic authority to give advice or judgment in Jewish law...
(rabbinic ordination), but did not enter the rabbinate, choosing instead to open a general business store in Kitzingen. He married two years later, to the daughter of Rabbi Seckel Wormser of Fulda
Fulda
Fulda is a city in Hesse, Germany; it is located on the river Fulda and is the administrative seat of the Fulda district .- Early Middle Ages :...
. The store was not successful (possibly because Bamberger preferred to spend as much time as possible studying Talmud).
In 1838 he represented the Orthodox camp at a conference instigated by the Bavarian government at which several reform-minded
German Reform movement (Judaism)
The German Reform movement in Judaism identifies a period of disputes and innovation during the first two thirds of the 19th century. The ideas, practices, and debates of this period lead to the current denominational structure of Judaism....
notables had hoped to bring about changes in the organisation of the Jewish communities. As a result of his success at this conference he was invited to succeed Rabbi Abraham Bing
Abraham Bing
Abraham Bing was born in Frankfurt in 1752, and received his rabbinic training from Nathan Adler. From 1769 to 1778, he served as "Klaus" rabbi in the town of Offenbach am Main. Between 1778-1796 he served as dayan in Frankfurt, and from 1796 to 1814 he served as rabbi of the town in...
as rabbi of Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
.
In Würzburg he rapidly opened a yeshiva. In 1855 he opened an elementary school, the first of its kind in Germany (previously children had been instructed in small synagogue schools). In 1864, after a two-year preparation, he also opened a seminary specifically for the training of teachers of Jewish subjects, of which there was a shortage in Germany.
Works
Bamberger was one of the last rabbinical writers in Germany. His first work was Melecheth Shamayim (The Work of the Heaven, Altona, 1853, a reference to Babylonian Talmud, Eruvin 13a) on the laws pertaining to Torah scrollsSefer Torah
A Sefer Torah of Torah” or “Torah scroll”) is a handwritten copy of the Torah or Pentateuch, the holiest book within Judaism. It must meet extremely strict standards of production. The Torah scroll is mainly used in the ritual of Torah reading during Jewish services...
, tefillin
Tefillin
Tefillin also called phylacteries are a set of small black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah, which are worn by observant Jews during weekday morning prayers. Although "tefillin" is technically the plural form , it is loosely used as a singular as...
(phylacteries) and mezuzot
Mezuzah
A mezuzah is usually a metal or wooden rectangular object that is fastened to a doorpost of a Jewish house. Inside it is a piece of parchment inscribed with specified Hebrew verses from the Torah...
(door scrolls).
A work first published in 1858 titled Amirah le-Beth Ya'akov (Words to the House of Jacob, a reference to Exodus 19:2 and Rashi's commentary there) deals with the three areas of practical Jewish law pertaining specifically to women: niddah
Niddah
Niddah is a Hebrew term describing a woman during menstruation, or a woman who has menstruated and not yet completed the associated requirement of immersion in a mikveh ....
(separation during menstruation), challah (a tithe from dough) and the lighting of candles on the night of the Shabbat
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
. It has been widely translated and is still in use today.
Moreh la-Zovechim (Teacher for those who bring Sacrifices, 1863) deals with the practical laws of shechita
Shechita
Shechita is the ritual slaughter of mammals and birds according to Jewish dietary laws...
(ritual slaughter). Nachalath Devash (An Inheritance of Honey, 1867) deals primarily with the halizah
Halizah
Under the Biblical system of levirate marriage known as Yibbum, Halizah is the ceremony by which a widow and her husband's brother could avoid the duty to marry after the husband's death....
ritual, and his work Yitzchak Yeranen (Isaac will Rejoice, 1861-2, a reference to the Sabbath afternoon prayers) is a commentary on Shaarei Simcha by Rabbi Yehuda ibn Gayat. Koreh be-Emeth (Reading in Truth, 1871 and 1879, a reference to Psalms 145:18) addresses Torah exegesis where 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....
or Midrash
Midrash
The Hebrew term Midrash is a homiletic method of biblical exegesis. The term also refers to the whole compilation of homiletic teachings on the Bible....
use changes in letters to derive meanings from particular words.
In 1850 he published a pamphlet outlining the attitude towards non-Jews in the 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....
. This was intended to inform a debate in the Bavarian parliament on civil rights for the Jews.
The Austrittsgesetz
On 28 July 1876 the German parliament passed the Austrittsgesetz, which allowed Jews to secede from their religious community. Many Jewish communities had by that time been dominated by the Reform movement, with Orthodox members forming informal groups (minyanim) to represent their interests. Following the passing of the Austrittsgesetz, Rabbi Samson Raphael HirschSamson Raphael Hirsch
Samson Raphael Hirsch was a German rabbi best known as the intellectual founder of the Torah im Derech Eretz school of contemporary Orthodox Judaism...
of Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, who had campaigned for the law to be passed, declared that Orthodox Jews in Frankfurt had the duty to officially secede from the non-Orthodox Grossgemeinde. Bamberger visited Frankfurt, and declared that this was not mandatory. A heated exchange of open letters followed between the rabbis. The conflict ultimately led to only a relatively small number of Orthodox Jews seceding from the main community, and until the Second World War there were two Orthodox communities in Frankfurt: one under the auspices of the Grossgemeinde and the other one being Hirsch' community Adath Yeshurun.
Sources
- N. Bamberger, Rabbiner Seligman Bär Bamberger, Würzburg, 1897;
- Meyer KayserlingMeyer KayserlingMeyer Kayserling was a German rabbi and historian.-Life:He was educated at Halberstadt, Nikolsburg , Prague, Würzburg, and Berlin. He devoted himself to history and philosophy...
, in Gedenkblätter, 1892, p. 6; in Allg. Zeit. des Judenthums, 1878, p. 716;