Rabbinical Conference of Brunswick
Encyclopedia
The Rabbinical Conference of Brunswick was a conference held in 1844 in Brunswick, convoked by Levi Herzfeld
and Ludwig Philippson
. Other attendees included Solomon Formstecher
, Samuel Hirsch
, Mendel Hess
, Samuel Holdheim
. Although he did not attend due to impending death, following the conference Áron Chorin, on his death-bed, wrote a declaration of his support of its conclusions.
Responding to the various complaints raised over the centuries against the Kol Nidre
, the rabbinical conference decided unanimously that the formula was not essential, and that the members of the convention should exert their influence toward securing its abolition before the following Yom Kippur
.
The conference endorsed the Grand Sanhedrin's conclusions, except that they went further in relation to inter-faith marriage
, arguing that the marriage of a Jew with the adherent of any monotheistic
religion is permissible in Judaism, as long as the civil law in the place of marriage permits the children of such a union to be raised in the Jewish religion.
They also decided that the oath of a Jew would be binding if it invoked the name of God, regardless of any other consideration.
Some Jews opposed the decisions of the conference; Israel Moses Hazan
wrote a letter condemning the reforms advocated by it. Hirsch Lehren
, circulated a letter among several rabbis, which in the autumn following the conference resulted in a protest, signed by seventy-eight Orthodox rabbis of Germany, Bohemia, Moravia, and Hungary, against the results of the conference.
Levi Herzfeld
Levi Herzfeld was a German rabbi and historian.- Life :Having chosen the rabbinical career, he studied under Chief Rabbi Abraham Bing at Würzburg, and under District Rabbi Samuel Egers at Brunswick...
and Ludwig Philippson
Ludwig Philippson
Ludwig Philippson was a German rabbi and author, the son of Moses Philippson.He was educated at the gymanasium of Halle and at the University of Berlin, and maintained himself by tutoring and by doing literary work...
. Other attendees included Solomon Formstecher
Solomon Formstecher
Salomon Formstecher, in English also Solomon, was a German rabbi and student of Jewish theology.Formstecher was born in Offenbach am Main on July 28, 1808. After graduating Salomon Formstecher, in English also Solomon, (1808-1889) was a German rabbi and student of Jewish theology.Formstecher was...
, Samuel Hirsch
Samuel Hirsch
Samuel Hirsch, was a major Reform religious philosopher and rabbi.-Biography:Born in Thalfang , he received his training at Metz...
, Mendel Hess
Mendel Hess
Rabbi Mendel Hess was a German rabbi.He was one of the 1st Jewish theologians to combine a university education with Talmudical training. From 1828 until his death he was chief rabbi of the grand duchy of Weimar, residing first at Lengsfeld and later at Eisenach...
, Samuel Holdheim
Samuel Holdheim
Samuel Holdheim was a German rabbi and author, and one of the more extreme leaders of the early Reform Movement in Judaism. A pioneer in modern Jewish homiletics, he was often at odds with the Orthodox community.- Early life :...
. Although he did not attend due to impending death, following the conference Áron Chorin, on his death-bed, wrote a declaration of his support of its conclusions.
Responding to the various complaints raised over the centuries against the Kol Nidre
Kol Nidre
Kol Nidre is an Aramaic declaration recited in the synagogue before the beginning of the evening service on every Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement...
, the rabbinical conference decided unanimously that the formula was not essential, and that the members of the convention should exert their influence toward securing its abolition before the following Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur , also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue...
.
The conference endorsed the Grand Sanhedrin's conclusions, except that they went further in relation to inter-faith marriage
Interfaith marriage in Judaism
Interfaith marriage in Judaism was historically looked upon with very strong disfavour by Jewish leaders, and it remains a controversial issue amongst Jewish leaders today. In the Talmud, interfaith marriage is completely prohibited, although the definition of interfaith is not so simply expressed...
, arguing that the marriage of a Jew with the adherent of any monotheistic
Monotheism
Monotheism is the belief in the existence of one and only one god. Monotheism is characteristic of the Baha'i Faith, Christianity, Druzism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Samaritanism, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism.While they profess the existence of only one deity, monotheistic religions may still...
religion is permissible in Judaism, as long as the civil law in the place of marriage permits the children of such a union to be raised in the Jewish religion.
They also decided that the oath of a Jew would be binding if it invoked the name of God, regardless of any other consideration.
Some Jews opposed the decisions of the conference; Israel Moses Hazan
Israel Moses Hazan
Israel Moses Hazan, Sephardic rabbi, Smyrna 1808-Beirut Oct 1862.-Life:He was taken by his father Eliezer Hazan to Jerusalem , where he was educated under his grandfather, Joseph ben Hayyim Hazan. In 1840 he became a member of a rabbinical college; in 1848 he was appointed "meshullach" . While at...
wrote a letter condemning the reforms advocated by it. Hirsch Lehren
Hirsch Lehren
Hirsch Lehren was a Dutch Jewish merchant and community worker.Lehren was prominent in the history of the Ḥaluḳḳah in the first half of the nineteenth century...
, circulated a letter among several rabbis, which in the autumn following the conference resulted in a protest, signed by seventy-eight Orthodox rabbis of Germany, Bohemia, Moravia, and Hungary, against the results of the conference.