Misplaced Pages

Zecharias Frankel: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 23:46, 17 August 2021 editRsjaffe (talk | contribs)Administrators55,190 editsm clean up, typo(s) fixed: 352-363 → 352–363 (3)Tag: AWB← Previous edit Latest revision as of 16:12, 10 December 2024 edit undoIljhgtn (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users35,460 edits cut identical "aka"Tag: Visual edit 
(27 intermediate revisions by 16 users not shown)
Line 29: Line 29:
| birth_place = ], ] | birth_place = ], ]
| death_date = {{death date and age |1875|2|13|1801|9|30|df=y}} | death_date = {{death date and age |1875|2|13|1801|9|30|df=y}}
| death_place = ], ], ], ]<br>(now ], ]) | death_place = ], ], ], ]<br />(now ], ])
| yahrtzeit = | yahrtzeit =
| buried = | buried =
Line 48: Line 48:
}} }}


'''Zecharias Frankel''', also known as '''Zacharias Frankel''' (30 September 1801 – 13 February 1875) was a Bohemian-German ] and a historian who studied the historical development of Judaism. He was born in ] and died in ]. He was the founder and, the most eminent member of, the school of historical ], which advocates freedom of research, while upholding the authority of traditional Jewish belief and practice. This school of thought was the intellectual progenitor of ]. '''Zecharias Frankel''' (30 September 1801 – 13 February 1875) was a Bohemian-German ] and a historian who studied the historical development of Judaism. He was born in ] and died in ]. He was the founder and the most eminent member of the school of positive-historical ], which advocates freedom of research while upholding the authority of traditional Jewish belief and practice. This school of thought was the intellectual progenitor of ].


Through his father, he was a descendant of the ] exiles of 1670 and of the famous ]nical Spira family; on his mother's side he descended from the Fischel family, which has given the community of Prague a number of distinguished ]ists. He received his early Jewish education at the ] of ] (Daniel Rosenbaum). In 1825 he went to ], where he prepared himself for the university, from which he graduated in 1831. In the following year he was appointed district rabbi (''Kreisrabbiner'') of ] by the government, being the first rabbi in ] with a modern education. He made ] his seat, where the congregation, the largest in the district, had elected him rabbi. He was called to ] in 1836 as chief rabbi, and was confirmed in this position by the ] government. In 1843 he was invited to become the chief rabbi at Berlin, which position had been vacant since 1800. However, after a long correspondence he declined, chiefly because the ]n government, in accordance with its fixed policy, refused to officially recognize the office. He remained in Dresden until 1854, when he was called to the presidency of the ] seminary, where he remained until his death. Through his father, he was a descendant of the ] exiles of 1670 and of the famous ]nical Spira family; on his mother's side he descended from the Fischel family, which has given the community of Prague a number of distinguished ]ists. He received his early Jewish education at the ] of ] (Daniel Rosenbaum). In 1825 he went to ], where he prepared himself for the university, from which he graduated in 1831. In the following year he was appointed district rabbi (''Kreisrabbiner'') of ] by the government, being the first rabbi in ] with a modern education. He made ] his seat, where the congregation, the largest in the district, had elected him rabbi. He was called to ] in 1836 as chief rabbi, and was confirmed in this position by the ] government. In 1843 he was invited to become the chief rabbi at Berlin, which position had been vacant since 1800. However, after a long correspondence he declined, chiefly because the ]n government, in accordance with its fixed policy, refused to officially recognize the office. He remained in Dresden until 1854, when he was called to the presidency of the ] seminary, where he remained until his death.
Line 59: Line 59:
His position in the ] (1842) displeased both parties; the liberals were dissatisfied because, instead of declaring that their prayer-book was in accord with Jewish tradition, he pointed out inconsistencies from the historical and dogmatic points of view; and the ] were dissatisfied because he declared changes in the traditional ritual permissible (l.c. iii. 352–363, 377–384). His position in the ] (1842) displeased both parties; the liberals were dissatisfied because, instead of declaring that their prayer-book was in accord with Jewish tradition, he pointed out inconsistencies from the historical and dogmatic points of view; and the ] were dissatisfied because he declared changes in the traditional ritual permissible (l.c. iii. 352–363, 377–384).


A great impression was produced by his letter of 18 July 1845, published in a ] journal, in which he announced his secession from the rabbinical conference then in session in that city. He said that he could not cooperate with a body of rabbis who had passed a resolution declaring the ] unnecessary for public worship. This letter made Frankel one of the leaders of the conservative element. In opposition to the rabbinical conferences, he planned conventions of scholars. His principles were enunciated in his monthly ''Journal of the Religious Interests of Judaism'',<ref>German language name: </ref> which he published from 1844 onward. But Frankel's conciliatory attitude was bound to create for him enemies on both liberal and orthodox sides, and such was the case with ] and ], respectively. A great impression was produced by his letter of 18 July 1845, published in a ] journal, in which he announced his secession from the rabbinical conference then in session in that city. He said that he could not cooperate with a body of rabbis who had passed a resolution declaring the ] unnecessary for public worship. This letter made Frankel one of the leaders of the conservative element. In opposition to the rabbinical conferences, he planned conventions of scholars. His principles were enunciated in his monthly ''Journal of the Religious Interests of Judaism'',<ref>Geiger, Abraham. 1855. "The Future of Judaism." In ''Reform and Continuity'', edited by Jakob J. Petuchowski, 18-35. New York: Hebrew Union College Press.</ref> which he published from 1844 onward. But Frankel's conciliatory attitude was bound to create for him enemies on both liberal and orthodox sides, and such was the case with ] and ], respectively.


== Controversy == == Controversy ==
Frankel was chosen president of the new ] at ] (10 August 1854). Geiger, who had inspired ], the president of his congregation, to found this institution, opposed the appointment vigorously, and when the examination questions given by Frankel to the first graduating class appeared, Geiger published them in a German translation with the evident intention of ridiculing his methods of Talmudic instruction as ] (Geiger, "Jüd. Zeit." i. 169 et seq.). Frankel was chosen president of the new ] at ] (10 August 1854). Geiger, who had inspired ], the president of his congregation, to found this institution, opposed the appointment vigorously, and when the examination questions given by Frankel to the first graduating class appeared, Geiger published them in a German translation with the evident intention of ridiculing his methods of Talmudic instruction as ] (Geiger, "Jüd. Zeit." i. 169 et seq.).


], immediately on the opening of the seminary, addressed an open letter to Frankel, demanding a statement as to the religious principles which would guide the instruction at the new institution. Frankel ignored the challenge. When the fourth volume of Grätz's history appeared, Hirsch impeached the orthodoxy of the new institution (1856), and his attacks became more systematic when Frankel in 1859 published his Hebrew introduction to the ]. The first attack began with the letter of {{Interlanguage link multi|Jedidiah Gottlieb Fischer|hu|3=Fischer Jedidja Gottlieb}}, rabbi of ], published in Hirsch's "Jeschurun", 1860. Hirsch himself began in the following year a series of articles in which he took exception to some of Frankel's statements, especially to his definition of rabbinical tradition, which he found vague; he further objected to Frankel's conception of the rabbinical controversies, which were, according to Frankel, improperly decided by certain devices common in parliamentary bodies. ], immediately on the opening of the seminary, addressed an open letter to Frankel, demanding a statement as to the religious principles which would guide the instruction at the new institution. Frankel ignored the challenge. When the fourth volume of ]'s history appeared, Hirsch impeached the orthodoxy of the new institution (1856), and his attacks became more systematic when Frankel in 1859 published his Hebrew introduction to the ]. The first attack began with the letter of {{Interlanguage link multi|Jedidiah Gottlieb Fischer|hu|3=Fischer Jedidja Gottlieb}}, rabbi of ], published in Hirsch's "Jeschurun", 1860. Hirsch himself began in the following year a series of articles in which he took exception to some of Frankel's statements, especially to his definition of rabbinical tradition, which he found vague; he further objected to Frankel's conception of the rabbinical controversies, which were, according to Frankel, improperly decided by certain devices common in parliamentary bodies.


It can hardly be denied that Frankel evaded the clear definition of what "tradition" meant to him. He contented himself with proving from ] that not everything called a "law", and reputed as given by ] on ], was actually of Mosaic origin. Hirsch was seconded by various Orthodox rabbis, such as ], ] of Colmar, and ], while some of Frankel's supporters, like ], were half-hearted.<ref></ref> Frankel but once published a brief statement in his magazine, in which, however, he failed to give an outspoken exposition of his views ("Monatsschrift", 1861, pp.&nbsp;159 et seq.). The general Jewish public remained indifferent to the whole controversy, and Frankel's position was gradually strengthened by the number of graduates from the seminary who earned reputations as scholars and as representatives of conservative Judaism. It can hardly be denied that Frankel evaded the clear definition of what "tradition" meant to him. He contented himself with proving from ] that not everything called a "law", and reputed as given by ] on ], was actually of Mosaic origin. Hirsch was seconded by various Orthodox rabbis, such as ], ] of Colmar, and ], while some of Frankel's supporters, like ], were half-hearted.<ref>Geiger, Abraham. 1852. ''The Dynamics of Reform in Jewish Law''. Frankfurt: F.A. Hoffmann.</ref> Frankel but once published a brief statement in his magazine, in which, however, he failed to give an outspoken exposition of his views ("Monatsschrift", 1861, pp.&nbsp;159 et seq.). The general Jewish public remained indifferent to the whole controversy, and Frankel's position was gradually strengthened by the number of graduates from the seminary who earned reputations as scholars and as representatives of conservative Judaism.


== Literary activity == == Literary activity ==
Frankel began his literary career rather late. His first independent publication was his work on the ], ''Jewish Oaths in Theology and History''<ref>Translated from the German title: ''Die Eidesleistung bei den Juden in Theologischer und Historischer Beziehung''</ref> (Dresden, 1840, 2d ed. 1847). This work owed its origin to a political question. The law of 16 August 1838, had improved the position of the Jews in Saxony, but still discriminated with regard to the Jewish oath, which was to be taken under conditions which seemed to involve the supposition that a Jew could not fully be trusted in his testimony before a civil court. Frankel proved that no Jewish doctrine justified such an assumption, and owing to his work, a new regulation (13 February 1840) put the Jews on the same basis as Christians as regards testimony in court. Frankel began his literary career rather late. His first independent publication was his work on the ], ''Jewish Oaths in Theology and History''<ref>Frankel, Zechariah. 1845. ''On Changes in Judaism''. Translated by Edward Breuer. Breslau: J. Springer.</ref> (Dresden, 1840, 2d ed. 1847). This work owed its origin to a political question. The law of 16 August 1838, had improved the position of the Jews in Saxony, but still discriminated with regard to the Jewish oath, which was to be taken under conditions which seemed to involve the supposition that a Jew could not fully be trusted in his testimony before a civil court. Frankel proved that no Jewish doctrine justified such an assumption, and owing to his work, a new regulation (13 February 1840) put the Jews on the same basis as Christians as regards testimony in court.


== Biblical studies == == Biblical studies ==
His second great work was his ''Historical-Critical Studies on the Septuagint as Addition to the ''Targumim ''Contributions: Preliminary Studies for the Septuagint''<ref>Translated from the German title: ''Historisch-Kritische Studien zu der Septuaginta Nebst Beiträgen zu den Targumim: Vorstudien zu der Septuaginta''</ref> (Leipzig, 1841). To the same category belong three later works: ''On the Influence of Palestinian Exegesis on Alexandrian Hermeneutics''<ref>Translted from the German title: ''Ueber den Einfluss der Palästinensischen Exegese auf die Alexandrinische Hermeneutik''</ref> (Leipzig, 1851); ''About Palestinian and Alexandrian Writing Research''<ref>Translated from the German title: ''Ueber Palästinensische und Alexandrinische Schriftforschung''</ref> published in the program for the opening of the Breslau seminary (Breslau, 1854); and ''On the Targum of the Prophets''<ref>Translated from the German title: ''Zu dem Targum der Propheten''</ref> (Breslau, 1872). His second great work was his ''Historical-Critical Studies on the Septuagint as Addition to the ''Targumim ''Contributions: Preliminary Studies for the Septuagint''<ref>Frankel, Zechariah. 1850. ''Historical Continuity in Jewish Practice''. Leipzig: F.A. Brockhaus.</ref> (Leipzig, 1841). To the same category belong three later works: ''On the Influence of Palestinian Exegesis on Alexandrian Hermeneutics''<ref>Frankel, Zechariah. 1852. "Positive-Historical Reflections on Reform." In ''Jewish Historical Writings'', edited by Solomon Schechter, 22-42. Berlin: Julius Springer.</ref> (Leipzig, 1851); ''About Palestinian and Alexandrian Writing Research''<ref>Geiger, Abraham. 1845. ''Preface to the Frankfurt Prayerbook''. Frankfurt: M. J. Kaufmann.</ref> published in the program for the opening of the Breslau seminary (Breslau, 1854); and ''On the Targum of the Prophets''<ref>Geiger, Abraham. 1848. "The Role of Language in Jewish Prayer." In ''Collected Works on Reform Judaism'', edited by Michael A. Meyer, 15-26. Leipzig: Gustav Engel.</ref> (Breslau, 1872).


In all these works it was his object to show that the exegesis of the ], and with it that of the early ], was dependent on Talmudic exegesis. In this investigation he became a pioneer, and many of his disciples followed him with similar investigations, not only of the ], but also of the ] and of the ]. A political motive was involved in his study on legal procedure, "Der Gerichtliche Beweis nach Mosaisch-Talmudischem Rechte: Ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis des Mosaisch-Talmudischen Criminal-und Civilrechts: Nebst einer Untersuchung über die Preussische Gesetzgebung Hinsichtlich des Zeugnisses der Juden" (Berlin, 1846). The law of ] discriminated against the Jews insofar as the testimony of a Jew against a Christian was valid only in civil cases, and in these only when they involved a sum less than fifty thalers. It was due to Frankel's work, which was cited as an authority in the Prussian Diet, that the new law of 23 July 1847 referring to the Jews, abolished this discrimination. In all these works it was his object to show that the exegesis of the ], and with it that of the early ], was dependent on Talmudic exegesis. In this investigation he became a pioneer, and many of his disciples followed him with similar investigations, not only of the ], but also of the ] and of the ]. A political motive was involved in his study on legal procedure, "Der Gerichtliche Beweis nach Mosaisch-Talmudischem Rechte: Ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis des Mosaisch-Talmudischen Criminal-und Civilrechts: Nebst einer Untersuchung über die Preussische Gesetzgebung Hinsichtlich des Zeugnisses der Juden" (Berlin, 1846). The law of ] discriminated against the Jews insofar as the testimony of a Jew against a Christian was valid only in civil cases, and in these only when they involved a sum less than fifty thalers. It was due to Frankel's work, which was cited as an authority in the Prussian Diet, that the new law of 23 July 1847 referring to the Jews, abolished this discrimination.
Line 83: Line 83:
Frankel's studies in the history of Talmudic literature had convinced him that the neglect of the ] was a serious drawback in the critical investigation of the development of Talmudic law. To this field he determined to devote the remainder of his life. In 1870 he published his introduction to the Jerusalem Talmud under the title "Mebo ha-Yerushalmi" (Breslau). He afterward began a critical edition of the Jerusalem Talmud, with a commentary, but only three treatises had appeared, Berakot and Peah (Vienna, 1874) and Demai (Breslau, 1875), when his death intervened. Frankel's studies in the history of Talmudic literature had convinced him that the neglect of the ] was a serious drawback in the critical investigation of the development of Talmudic law. To this field he determined to devote the remainder of his life. In 1870 he published his introduction to the Jerusalem Talmud under the title "Mebo ha-Yerushalmi" (Breslau). He afterward began a critical edition of the Jerusalem Talmud, with a commentary, but only three treatises had appeared, Berakot and Peah (Vienna, 1874) and Demai (Breslau, 1875), when his death intervened.


He wrote frequently for the two magazines which he edited, the '']'' (Leipzig, 1844–46), and the '']'', begun in 1851, and which he edited until 1868, when Grätz succeeded him as editor. Though a son of the rationalistic era which produced two of its most intense partisans, ] and ] in his native city, Frankel developed, partly through opposition to shallow rationalism and partly through the romantic environments of the ancient city of Prague, that love and sympathy for the past that made him the typical expounder of the historical school which was known as the "Breslau school." He wrote frequently for the two magazines which he edited, the '']'' (Leipzig, 1844–46), and the '']'', begun in 1851, and which he edited until 1868, when Graetz succeeded him as editor. Though a son of the rationalistic era which produced two of its most intense partisans, ] and ] in his native city, Frankel developed, partly through opposition to shallow rationalism and partly through the romantic environments of the ancient city of Prague, that love and sympathy for the past that made him the typical expounder of the historical school which was known as the "Breslau school."


His marriage with Rachel Meyer was childless. His marriage with Rachel Meyer was childless.
Line 89: Line 89:
== Zacharias Frankel College == == Zacharias Frankel College ==
{{see|List of rabbinical schools#Conservative|Yeshiva#Conservative_movement_yeshivas}} {{see|List of rabbinical schools#Conservative|Yeshiva#Conservative_movement_yeshivas}}
Zacharias Frankel College, a ] in Berlin, is named after him.<ref>http://zacharias-frankel-college.de/fileadmin/upload/News/ZSRS_Press_Release_v6.pdf</ref><ref name="RabbiKokin">{{cite web|author=Ryan Torok |url=http://jewishjournal.com/news/los_angeles/moving-shaking/220837/moving-shaking-wise-school-jerusalem-gold-gene-simmons/ |title=Moving & Shaking: Wise School, "Jerusalem of Gold," and Gene Simmons — Jewish Journal |publisher=Jewishjournal.com |date= 2017-06-22|access-date=2017-06-23}}</ref> Zacharias Frankel College, a ] in Berlin, is named after him.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://zacharias-frankel-college.de/fileadmin/upload/News/ZSRS_Press_Release_v6.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2017-06-23 |archive-date=2019-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124041659/http://zacharias-frankel-college.de/fileadmin/upload/News/ZSRS_Press_Release_v6.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="RabbiKokin">{{cite web|author=Ryan Torok |url=http://jewishjournal.com/news/los_angeles/moving-shaking/220837/moving-shaking-wise-school-jerusalem-gold-gene-simmons/ |title=Moving & Shaking: Wise School, "Jerusalem of Gold," and Gene Simmons — Jewish Journal |publisher=Jewishjournal.com |date= 2017-06-22|access-date=2017-06-23}}</ref>
The Yeshiva is headed by Rabbi ]. The Yeshiva is headed by Rabbi ].


Line 96: Line 96:
== Marriage == == Marriage ==


He married Rachel Maier of Teplice. Through her mother, she was the great-granddaughter of Isak Landesmann of Police u Jemnice, who was remembered as a notable victim of eighteenth century antisemitism.<ref>H. Gold, ''Die Juden und Judengemeinden Mährens in Vergangenheit und Gegenwart'', 1929, pp. 503-511</ref> He married Rachel Maier of Teplice. Through her mother, she was the great-granddaughter of Isak Landesmann of Police u Jemnice, who was remembered as a notable victim of eighteenth century antisemitism.<ref>Geiger, Abraham. 1851. ''Judaism and Its Evolution''. Breslau: Heinrich Costenoble.</ref>

== Popular culture ==

In ]'s best-selling novel '']'', the protagonist, Reuven Malter, does research for his father's book in the library at the fictional "Zechariah Frankel Seminary," patterned after the real-life ].


== Bibliography == == Bibliography ==
* Monatsschrift, 1875, pp.&nbsp;97–98, 145–148; 1876, pp.&nbsp;12–26 * ], ''Monatsschrift'', 1875, pp.&nbsp;97–98, 145–148; 1876, pp.&nbsp;12–26
* Andreas Braemer: ''Rabbiner Zacharias Frankel. Wissenschaft des Judentums und konservative Reform im 19. Jahrhundert.'' Hildesheim : Olms, 2000 (in German) * ]: ''Rabbiner Zacharias Frankel. Wissenschaft des Judentums und konservative Reform im 19. Jahrhundert.'' Hildesheim : Olms, 2000 (in German)
* S.P. Rabbinowitz, Rabbi Zechariah Frankel, Warsaw, 1898–1902 (in Hebrew) * ], Rabbi Zechariah Frankel, Warsaw, 1898–1902 (in Hebrew)
* Menorah, 1901, pp.&nbsp;329–366 * Menorah, 1901, pp.&nbsp;329–366
* Much material is contained in Monatsschrift, 1901, to which several of his disciples contributed, and which contains a complete bibliography of Frankel's writings by Brann (pp.&nbsp;336–352). * Much material is contained in ''Monatsschrift'', 1901, to which several of his disciples contributed, and which contains a complete bibliography of Frankel's writings by Brann (pp.&nbsp;336–352).


== See also == == See also ==
Line 126: Line 130:
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
]

Latest revision as of 16:12, 10 December 2024

Bohemian-German rabbi and historian (1801–1875)
Zecharias Frankel
Personal life
Born(1801-09-30)30 September 1801
Prague, Bohemia
Died13 February 1875(1875-02-13) (aged 73)
Breslau, Silesia, Kingdom of Prussia, Germany
(now Wrocław, Poland)
SpouseRachel Maier
Religious life
ReligionJudaism

Zecharias Frankel (30 September 1801 – 13 February 1875) was a Bohemian-German rabbi and a historian who studied the historical development of Judaism. He was born in Prague and died in Breslau. He was the founder and the most eminent member of the school of positive-historical Judaism, which advocates freedom of research while upholding the authority of traditional Jewish belief and practice. This school of thought was the intellectual progenitor of Conservative Judaism.

Through his father, he was a descendant of the Vienna exiles of 1670 and of the famous rabbinical Spira family; on his mother's side he descended from the Fischel family, which has given the community of Prague a number of distinguished Talmudists. He received his early Jewish education at the yeshiva of Bezalel Ronsburg (Daniel Rosenbaum). In 1825 he went to Budapest, where he prepared himself for the university, from which he graduated in 1831. In the following year he was appointed district rabbi (Kreisrabbiner) of Litoměřice by the government, being the first rabbi in Bohemia with a modern education. He made Teplice his seat, where the congregation, the largest in the district, had elected him rabbi. He was called to Dresden in 1836 as chief rabbi, and was confirmed in this position by the Saxon government. In 1843 he was invited to become the chief rabbi at Berlin, which position had been vacant since 1800. However, after a long correspondence he declined, chiefly because the Prussian government, in accordance with its fixed policy, refused to officially recognize the office. He remained in Dresden until 1854, when he was called to the presidency of the Breslau seminary, where he remained until his death.

Religious attitude

Frankel held that reason based on scholarship, and not mere desire on the part of the laity, must be the justification for any reforms within Judaism. In this sense Frankel declared himself when the president of the Teplice congregation expressed the hope that the new rabbi would introduce reforms and do away with the "Missbräuche" (abuses). He stated that he knew of no abuses; and that if there were any, it was not at all the business of the laity to interfere in such matters (Brann, in his "Jahrbuch," 1899, pp. 109 et seq.).

He introduced some slight modifications in Jewish prayer services such as: the abrogation of some hymns, the introduction of a choir of boys, and the like. He was opposed to any innovation which was objectionable to Jewish sentiment. In this respect, his denunciation of the action of the "Landesrabbiner" Joseph Hoffmann of Saxe-Meiningen, who permitted Jewish high-school boys to write on the Sabbath, is very significant ("Orient," iii. 398 et seq.).

His position in the controversy on the new Hamburg prayer book (1842) displeased both parties; the liberals were dissatisfied because, instead of declaring that their prayer-book was in accord with Jewish tradition, he pointed out inconsistencies from the historical and dogmatic points of view; and the Orthodox were dissatisfied because he declared changes in the traditional ritual permissible (l.c. iii. 352–363, 377–384).

A great impression was produced by his letter of 18 July 1845, published in a Frankfurt-am-Main journal, in which he announced his secession from the rabbinical conference then in session in that city. He said that he could not cooperate with a body of rabbis who had passed a resolution declaring the Hebrew language unnecessary for public worship. This letter made Frankel one of the leaders of the conservative element. In opposition to the rabbinical conferences, he planned conventions of scholars. His principles were enunciated in his monthly Journal of the Religious Interests of Judaism, which he published from 1844 onward. But Frankel's conciliatory attitude was bound to create for him enemies on both liberal and orthodox sides, and such was the case with Abraham Geiger and Samson Raphael Hirsch, respectively.

Controversy

Frankel was chosen president of the new rabbinical seminary at Breslau (10 August 1854). Geiger, who had inspired Jonas Fränkel, the president of his congregation, to found this institution, opposed the appointment vigorously, and when the examination questions given by Frankel to the first graduating class appeared, Geiger published them in a German translation with the evident intention of ridiculing his methods of Talmudic instruction as sophistry (Geiger, "Jüd. Zeit." i. 169 et seq.).

Samson Raphael Hirsch, immediately on the opening of the seminary, addressed an open letter to Frankel, demanding a statement as to the religious principles which would guide the instruction at the new institution. Frankel ignored the challenge. When the fourth volume of Heinrich Graetz's history appeared, Hirsch impeached the orthodoxy of the new institution (1856), and his attacks became more systematic when Frankel in 1859 published his Hebrew introduction to the Mishnah. The first attack began with the letter of Jedidiah Gottlieb Fischer [hu], rabbi of Székesfehérvár, published in Hirsch's "Jeschurun", 1860. Hirsch himself began in the following year a series of articles in which he took exception to some of Frankel's statements, especially to his definition of rabbinical tradition, which he found vague; he further objected to Frankel's conception of the rabbinical controversies, which were, according to Frankel, improperly decided by certain devices common in parliamentary bodies.

It can hardly be denied that Frankel evaded the clear definition of what "tradition" meant to him. He contented himself with proving from Rabbenu Asher that not everything called a "law", and reputed as given by Moses on Mount Sinai, was actually of Mosaic origin. Hirsch was seconded by various Orthodox rabbis, such as Ezriel Hildesheimer, Solomon Klein of Colmar, and Benjamin Hirsch Auerbach, while some of Frankel's supporters, like Salomon Juda Rappoport, were half-hearted. Frankel but once published a brief statement in his magazine, in which, however, he failed to give an outspoken exposition of his views ("Monatsschrift", 1861, pp. 159 et seq.). The general Jewish public remained indifferent to the whole controversy, and Frankel's position was gradually strengthened by the number of graduates from the seminary who earned reputations as scholars and as representatives of conservative Judaism.

Literary activity

Frankel began his literary career rather late. His first independent publication was his work on the Jewish oath, Jewish Oaths in Theology and History (Dresden, 1840, 2d ed. 1847). This work owed its origin to a political question. The law of 16 August 1838, had improved the position of the Jews in Saxony, but still discriminated with regard to the Jewish oath, which was to be taken under conditions which seemed to involve the supposition that a Jew could not fully be trusted in his testimony before a civil court. Frankel proved that no Jewish doctrine justified such an assumption, and owing to his work, a new regulation (13 February 1840) put the Jews on the same basis as Christians as regards testimony in court.

Biblical studies

His second great work was his Historical-Critical Studies on the Septuagint as Addition to the Targumim Contributions: Preliminary Studies for the Septuagint (Leipzig, 1841). To the same category belong three later works: On the Influence of Palestinian Exegesis on Alexandrian Hermeneutics (Leipzig, 1851); About Palestinian and Alexandrian Writing Research published in the program for the opening of the Breslau seminary (Breslau, 1854); and On the Targum of the Prophets (Breslau, 1872).

In all these works it was his object to show that the exegesis of the Alexandrian Jews, and with it that of the early Church Fathers, was dependent on Talmudic exegesis. In this investigation he became a pioneer, and many of his disciples followed him with similar investigations, not only of the Septuagint, but also of the Vulgate and of the Peshitta. A political motive was involved in his study on legal procedure, "Der Gerichtliche Beweis nach Mosaisch-Talmudischem Rechte: Ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis des Mosaisch-Talmudischen Criminal-und Civilrechts: Nebst einer Untersuchung über die Preussische Gesetzgebung Hinsichtlich des Zeugnisses der Juden" (Berlin, 1846). The law of Prussia discriminated against the Jews insofar as the testimony of a Jew against a Christian was valid only in civil cases, and in these only when they involved a sum less than fifty thalers. It was due to Frankel's work, which was cited as an authority in the Prussian Diet, that the new law of 23 July 1847 referring to the Jews, abolished this discrimination.

Introduction to Mishnah

Frankel's duties as professor of Talmudic literature showed him the necessity of modern scientific text-books on rabbinical literature and archeology. To this necessity are due his introduction to the Mishnah, "Darkei ha-Mishnah" (Leipzig, 1859), with a supplement and index under the title "Tosafot u-Mafteah; le-Sefer Darkei ha-Mishnah" (1867).

Of the storm which this book created mention has been made already. It is one of the most valuable attempts at a systematized exposition of the history of early rabbinical literature and theology, and has largely inspired subsequent works of that kind, as those of Jacob Brüll and Isaac H. Weiss. His outline of rabbinical marriage law, "Grundlinien des Mosaisch-Talmudischen Eherechts" (Breslau, 1860), was likewise meant to serve as a textbook on that subject, as was also his attempt at a history of the post-Talmudic literature of sophistry, "Entwurf einer Geschichte der Literatur der Nachtalmudischen Responsen" (Breslau, 1865), which, however, is considered the weakest of his works.

Frankel's studies in the history of Talmudic literature had convinced him that the neglect of the Jerusalem Talmud was a serious drawback in the critical investigation of the development of Talmudic law. To this field he determined to devote the remainder of his life. In 1870 he published his introduction to the Jerusalem Talmud under the title "Mebo ha-Yerushalmi" (Breslau). He afterward began a critical edition of the Jerusalem Talmud, with a commentary, but only three treatises had appeared, Berakot and Peah (Vienna, 1874) and Demai (Breslau, 1875), when his death intervened.

He wrote frequently for the two magazines which he edited, the Zeitschrift für die Religiösen Interessen des Judenthums (Leipzig, 1844–46), and the Monatsschrift für die Geschichte und Wissenschaft des Judenthums, begun in 1851, and which he edited until 1868, when Graetz succeeded him as editor. Though a son of the rationalistic era which produced two of its most intense partisans, Peter Beer and Herz Homberg in his native city, Frankel developed, partly through opposition to shallow rationalism and partly through the romantic environments of the ancient city of Prague, that love and sympathy for the past that made him the typical expounder of the historical school which was known as the "Breslau school."

His marriage with Rachel Meyer was childless.

Zacharias Frankel College

Further information: List of rabbinical schools § Conservative, and Yeshiva § Conservative_movement_yeshivas

Zacharias Frankel College, a conservative yeshiva in Berlin, is named after him. The Yeshiva is headed by Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson.

In 2017, Nitzan Stein Kokin, who was German, became the first person to graduate from Zacharias Frankel College, which also made her the first Conservative rabbi to be ordained in Germany since before World War II.

Marriage

He married Rachel Maier of Teplice. Through her mother, she was the great-granddaughter of Isak Landesmann of Police u Jemnice, who was remembered as a notable victim of eighteenth century antisemitism.

Popular culture

In Chaim Potok's best-selling novel The Chosen, the protagonist, Reuven Malter, does research for his father's book in the library at the fictional "Zechariah Frankel Seminary," patterned after the real-life Jewish Theological Seminary of America.

Bibliography

  • Steinschneider, Monatsschrift, 1875, pp. 97–98, 145–148; 1876, pp. 12–26
  • Andreas Braemer: Rabbiner Zacharias Frankel. Wissenschaft des Judentums und konservative Reform im 19. Jahrhundert. Hildesheim : Olms, 2000 (in German)
  • S.P. Rabbinowitz, Rabbi Zechariah Frankel, Warsaw, 1898–1902 (in Hebrew)
  • Menorah, 1901, pp. 329–366
  • Much material is contained in Monatsschrift, 1901, to which several of his disciples contributed, and which contains a complete bibliography of Frankel's writings by Brann (pp. 336–352).

See also

References

  1. Geiger, Abraham. 1855. "The Future of Judaism." In Reform and Continuity, edited by Jakob J. Petuchowski, 18-35. New York: Hebrew Union College Press.
  2. Geiger, Abraham. 1852. The Dynamics of Reform in Jewish Law. Frankfurt: F.A. Hoffmann.
  3. Frankel, Zechariah. 1845. On Changes in Judaism. Translated by Edward Breuer. Breslau: J. Springer.
  4. Frankel, Zechariah. 1850. Historical Continuity in Jewish Practice. Leipzig: F.A. Brockhaus.
  5. Frankel, Zechariah. 1852. "Positive-Historical Reflections on Reform." In Jewish Historical Writings, edited by Solomon Schechter, 22-42. Berlin: Julius Springer.
  6. Geiger, Abraham. 1845. Preface to the Frankfurt Prayerbook. Frankfurt: M. J. Kaufmann.
  7. Geiger, Abraham. 1848. "The Role of Language in Jewish Prayer." In Collected Works on Reform Judaism, edited by Michael A. Meyer, 15-26. Leipzig: Gustav Engel.
  8. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-01-24. Retrieved 2017-06-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ Ryan Torok (2017-06-22). "Moving & Shaking: Wise School, "Jerusalem of Gold," and Gene Simmons — Jewish Journal". Jewishjournal.com. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
  10. Leslee Komaiko (2017-05-24). "One L.A. school: two German rabbis — Jewish Journal". Jewishjournal.com. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  11. Geiger, Abraham. 1851. Judaism and Its Evolution. Breslau: Heinrich Costenoble.

External links

Categories: