Abraham Epstein
Encyclopedia
Abraham Epstein was a Russo-Austrian rabbinical scholar born in Staro Constantinov, Volhynia
.
Epstein diligently studied the works of Levinsohn, Krochmal
, and S. D. Luzzatto, and when he traveled in western Europe for the first time in 1861, he made the acquaintance of J. L. Rapoport, Z. Frankel, and Michael Sachs
. After his father's death in 1874 Epstein took charge of his extensive business interests, but gradually wound up all his affairs, and since 1884 devoted most of his time to travel and study. He settled in Vienna
in 1876 and became an Austrian
subject. He was the possessor of a large library which contained many valuable manuscripts.
(Vienna, 1887). He also wrote:
He wrote in addition many critical, biographical, historical, and archeological articles for the Jewish periodical press, especially for Monatsschrift, Revue des Etudes Juives, and Ha-Ḥoḳer, some of which have been reprinted in book form.
Volhynia
Volhynia, Volynia, or Volyn is a historic region in western Ukraine located between the rivers Prypiat and Southern Bug River, to the north of Galicia and Podolia; the region is named for the former city of Volyn or Velyn, said to have been located on the Southern Bug River, whose name may come...
.
Epstein diligently studied the works of Levinsohn, Krochmal
Krochmal
Krochmal is surname of:* Menahem Mendel ben Abraham Krochmal , a Polish-Moravian rabbi* Nachman Kohen Krochmal...
, and S. D. Luzzatto, and when he traveled in western Europe for the first time in 1861, he made the acquaintance of J. L. Rapoport, Z. Frankel, and Michael Sachs
Michael Sachs
Michael Sachs was a German rabbi from Glogau , Silesia.He was one of the first Jewish graduates from the modern universities, earning a Ph.D. degree in 1836. He was appointed Rabbi in Prague in 1836, and in Berlin in 1844...
. After his father's death in 1874 Epstein took charge of his extensive business interests, but gradually wound up all his affairs, and since 1884 devoted most of his time to travel and study. He settled 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...
in 1876 and became an Austrian
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
subject. He was the possessor of a large library which contained many valuable manuscripts.
Literary works
Epstein is the author of the Ḳadmut ha-Tanḥuma, a review of S. Buber's edition of the Midrash Tanḥuma (Presburg, 1886), and of Mi-Ḳadmoniyyot ha-Yehudim, which contains (1) treatises on Jewish chronology and archeology, and (2) a revised and annotated edition of Midrash TadsheMidrash Tadshe
Midrash Tadshe is a small midrash which begins with an interpretation of Gen. i. 11:The name of the author occurs twice , and the midrash closes with the words "'ad kan me-dibre R. Pineḥas ben Ya'ir." No other authors are named...
(Vienna, 1887). He also wrote:
- Bereschit-Rabbati, Dessen Verhältnisse zu Rabba, etc. (Berlin, 1888)
- R. Simeon Kara und der Jalkut Schimeoni (Cracow, 1891)
- Eldad ha-Dani, a critical edition, with variations from divers manuscripts, of the well-known work of EldadEldadEldad may refer to:* Eldad and Medad, two Biblical figures mentioned in the Book of Numbers* Kfar Eldad, an Israeli Communal settlement in the Gush Etzion Regional Council* Maccabi Neve Sha'anan Eldad F.C., an Israeli football club...
, with an introduction and notes (Vienna, 1891) - La Lettre d'Eldad sur les Dix Tribus (Paris, 1892; reprinted from R. E. J. xxv)
- R. Moshe ha-Darshan mi-Narbona (Vienna, 1891)
- Dibre Biḳḳoret li-Kebod Rabbi S. L. Rapoport, a defense of J.L. Rapoport against the attacks of I. H. Weiss (Vienna, 1896)
- Jụdische Alterthümer in Worms und Speier (Breslau, 1896; reprinted from Monatsschrift, v.40).
He wrote in addition many critical, biographical, historical, and archeological articles for the Jewish periodical press, especially for Monatsschrift, Revue des Etudes Juives, and Ha-Ḥoḳer, some of which have been reprinted in book form.
Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography
- Autobiographical sketch in Sokolow's Sefer Zikaron, pp. 162-166, Warsaw, 1890;
- William ZeitlinWilliam ZeitlinWilliam Zeitlin was a Russian scholar and bibliographer born at Homel, government of Moghilef, about the middle of the 19th century...
, Bibliotheca Hebraica Post-Mendelssohniana p. 79; - Chaim David LippeChaim David LippeChaim David Lippe was an Austrian Jewish publisher and bibliographer....
, Bibliographisches Lexicon, iii.98-99, Vienna, 1899.