Benjamin Szold
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Szold was an American rabbi and scholar.
Szold studied under Rabbis Jacob Fischer
of Shalgaw, Wolf Kollin of Werbau, and Benjamin Wolf at the Pressburg Yeshiva
, and received the rabbinical authorization from Judah Assod of Bur
and Simon Sidon of Tyrnau
. In 1848, he studied in Vienna
, but when the revolution of that year broke out he went to Pressburg. From 1849 to 1855 he tutored in private families in Hungary, and in the latter year entered the University of Breslau, where he remained until 1858. While a student he officiated during the holy days at Brieg, Silesia
(1857), and at Stockholm
, Sweden (1858). In 1859, he accepted a call from the Temple Oheb Shalom (Baltimore, Maryland)
in whose service he remained until his death, first as rabbi and later (after 1892) as rabbi emeritus. He arrived in the United States on September 21, 1859, about a month after his marriage to Sophie Schaar, and immediately took active charge of the congregation. Under his guidance it grew rapidly, and, actuated by his example, it became widely known for its strict observance of Shabbat
. Before Szold's arrival the congregation had adopted for use in its Shabbat service the Minhag America
, (which was the new prayer-book authored by Isaac Meyer Wise, a Reform
rabbi) on the great fall holy days it reverted to the Minhag Ashkenaz; after much discussion with his congregation Szold introduced a new prayer-book, Abodat Yisrael, which closely followed traditional lines. The first edition of this prayer-book appeared in 1863, with German translation, and was widely adopted by congregations in the United States; new editions were published in 1864 and 1865 (the latter with English translation), and another, revised edition in 1871, Rabbis Marcus Jastrow
of Philadelphia and Henry Hochheimer of Baltimore being associated with Szold in its publication.
During his entire career Szold opposed radicalism, and fought the extreme tendencies that had already manifested themselves when he went to the United States. He took prominent part in communal life, and besides aiding in establishing the charitable institutions of Baltimore, he devoted himself to helping Russian refugees who had emigrated to America on account of the iniquitous May Laws
. He was in sympathy with the nationalist (later Zionistic) movement, speaking in its favor as early as the winter of 1893-94 before the Zion Society of Baltimore. As an exegete he developed a subtle and original system in which full account was taken of the work of the Masorites. His "Commentary on Job" (Baltimore, 1886), written in classical Hebrew and conceived in an original and deeply Jewish spirit, attests the accuracy of his scholarship. His publications include articles in Jewish and in secular periodicals, as well as sermons, lectures, religious school-books, and devotional literature. He wrote also a commentary on the eleventh chapter of Daniel
(Kohut Memorial Volume), edited "Bibelkritische Notizen" by Michael Heilprin, and published a sketch of Moses Mendelssohn
on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of his birth. He left numerous manuscripts.
His daughter Henrietta
was a translator, editor, philanthropist, educator, Zionist leader and the founder of Hadassah
.
Szold studied under Rabbis Jacob Fischer
Jacob Fischer
Jacob Fischer is a self-taught Danish Jazz guitarist.Since 1992 he has been a member of the Svend Asmussen Quartet and he has founded his own Jacob Fischer Trio where he plays alongside Hugo Rasmussen on bass and Janus Templeton on drums...
of Shalgaw, Wolf Kollin of Werbau, and Benjamin Wolf at the Pressburg Yeshiva
Pressburg Yeshiva (Austria-Hungary)
Pressburg Yeshiva, established in 1807 in the city of Pressburg, Austrian Empire by Rabbi Moses Sofer , was the largest and most influential yeshiva in Central Europe...
, and received the rabbinical authorization from Judah Assod of Bur
BUR
BUR may refer to:* Bur, a saying by Gucci Mane* Burs , a Germanic tribe* Bob Hope Airport, Burbank, California * Burmese language * Burkina Faso...
and Simon Sidon of Tyrnau
Tyrnau
Tyrnau is a town in the district of Graz-Umgebung in Styria in Austria....
. In 1848, he studied 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...
, but when the revolution of that year broke out he went to Pressburg. From 1849 to 1855 he tutored in private families in Hungary, and in the latter year entered the University of Breslau, where he remained until 1858. While a student he officiated during the holy days at Brieg, Silesia
Brzeg
Brzeg is a town in southwestern Poland with 38,496 inhabitants , situated in Silesia in the Opole Voivodeship on the left bank of the Oder...
(1857), and at Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden (1858). In 1859, he accepted a call from the Temple Oheb Shalom (Baltimore, Maryland)
Temple Oheb Shalom (Baltimore, Maryland)
Temple Oheb Shalom is a Reform synagogue in Baltimore, Maryland. The highest point in the city is located in its parking lot.-History:The congregation was founded in 1853 by Jewish immigrants from German Confederation member states...
in whose service he remained until his death, first as rabbi and later (after 1892) as rabbi emeritus. He arrived in the United States on September 21, 1859, about a month after his marriage to Sophie Schaar, and immediately took active charge of the congregation. Under his guidance it grew rapidly, and, actuated by his example, it became widely known for its strict observance of 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...
. Before Szold's arrival the congregation had adopted for use in its Shabbat service the Minhag America
Minhag America
Minhag America is a siddur created in 1857 by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise that was intended to address conflict between sides supporting and opposing traditionalism in early Reform Judaism in the United States...
, (which was the new prayer-book authored by Isaac Meyer Wise, a Reform
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
rabbi) on the great fall holy days it reverted to the Minhag Ashkenaz; after much discussion with his congregation Szold introduced a new prayer-book, Abodat Yisrael, which closely followed traditional lines. The first edition of this prayer-book appeared in 1863, with German translation, and was widely adopted by congregations in the United States; new editions were published in 1864 and 1865 (the latter with English translation), and another, revised edition in 1871, Rabbis Marcus Jastrow
Marcus Jastrow
Marcus Jastrow was a renowned Talmudic scholar, most famously known for his authorship of the popular and comprehensive A Dictionary of the Targumim, Talmud Babli, Talmud Yerushalmi and Midrashic Literature....
of Philadelphia and Henry Hochheimer of Baltimore being associated with Szold in its publication.
During his entire career Szold opposed radicalism, and fought the extreme tendencies that had already manifested themselves when he went to the United States. He took prominent part in communal life, and besides aiding in establishing the charitable institutions of Baltimore, he devoted himself to helping Russian refugees who had emigrated to America on account of the iniquitous May Laws
May Laws
Temporary regulations regarding the Jews were proposed by minister of internal affairs Nikolai Ignatyev and enacted on May 15 , 1882, by Tsar Alexander III of Russia...
. He was in sympathy with the nationalist (later Zionistic) movement, speaking in its favor as early as the winter of 1893-94 before the Zion Society of Baltimore. As an exegete he developed a subtle and original system in which full account was taken of the work of the Masorites. His "Commentary on Job" (Baltimore, 1886), written in classical Hebrew and conceived in an original and deeply Jewish spirit, attests the accuracy of his scholarship. His publications include articles in Jewish and in secular periodicals, as well as sermons, lectures, religious school-books, and devotional literature. He wrote also a commentary on the eleventh chapter of Daniel
Book of Daniel
The Book of Daniel is a book in the Hebrew Bible. The book tells of how Daniel, and his Judean companions, were inducted into Babylon during Jewish exile, and how their positions elevated in the court of Nebuchadnezzar. The court tales span events that occur during the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar,...
(Kohut Memorial Volume), edited "Bibelkritische Notizen" by Michael Heilprin, and published a sketch of Moses Mendelssohn
Moses Mendelssohn
Moses Mendelssohn was a German Jewish philosopher to whose ideas the renaissance of European Jews, Haskalah is indebted...
on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of his birth. He left numerous manuscripts.
His daughter Henrietta
Henrietta Szold
Henrietta Szold was a U.S. Jewish Zionist leader and founder of the Hadassah Women's Organization. In 1942, she co-founded Ihud, a political party in Mandate Palestine dedicated to a binational solution.-Biography:...
was a translator, editor, philanthropist, educator, Zionist leader and the founder of Hadassah
Hadassah
Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America is an American Jewish volunteer women's organization. Founded in 1912 by Henrietta Szold, it is one of the largest international Jewish organizations, with around...
.