Simon Greenberg
Encyclopedia
Dr. Simon Greenberg, was a Russian born American Conservative
rabbi
and scholar. Greenberg was part of the senior management of many Jewish organizations in America. He helped to found a number of institutions, including the American Jewish University, of which he was the first President. At the time of his death he was vice chancellor emeritus of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
. Greenberg has been called "one of the most important leaders of the Conservative movement".
having previously attended the University of Minnesota
. He then began studying at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
where he was ordained rabbi in 1925. Throughout his career, Greenberg was committed to both the academic and sacred spheres, often undertaking overlapping tasks. Thus 1925 marked Greenberg's ordination, his enrollment at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
as part of its first class of students and his appointment as rabbi of the Har Zion Temple in Philadelphia, a position he would hold until 1946. His responsibilities in Philadephia included acting as an advisor to Jewish students at the nearby University of Pennsylvania
and Temple University
. In his final year in Philadelphia he help co-found the Akiba Hebrew Academy.
In 1932, Greenberg was awarded his PhD from Dropsie College. He went on to join the faculty of the Jewish Theological Seminary the same year. In 1950 he became executive director of the United Synagogue of America. The same year at the organization's biennial conference he was instrumental in persuading fellow attendees to call for the repeal of the McCarran Internal Security Act
. Greenberg spoke against the Act, calling it a threat to civil liberties. Greenberg stepped down from his role as executive director in 1953.
In 1957 Greenberg became vice chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary, a post he held until 1986. Thereafter he was vice chancellor emeritus. Shortly after becoming vice chancellor, in 1958, Greenberg co-founded the University of Judaism
(now the American Jewish University) in Los Angeles
. He was the institute's first President, stepping down from the role in 1963, the year he became chairman of the executive committee of the Jewish Agency and the World Zionist Organization
of America. He stepped down from that role in 1968.
. At the age of 4 he moved to the United States with his family. He and his wife Betty were married for 67 years. They had two sons, Moshe Greenberg
, a biblical scholar, and Daniel Greenberg
. The couple had moved to Jerusalem from Manhatten approximately a year before Simon's death. His wife pre-deceased him by 4 months.
"Foundations of a Faith" (Burning Bush Press, 1967),
"The Ethical in the Jewish and American Heritage" (Jewish Theological Seminary, 1977)
"A Jewish Philosophy and Pattern of Life" (Jewish Theological Seminary, 1981).
He edited "The Ordination of Women as Rabbis," a collection of articles, in 1988.
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
and scholar. Greenberg was part of the senior management of many Jewish organizations in America. He helped to found a number of institutions, including the American Jewish University, of which he was the first President. At the time of his death he was vice chancellor emeritus of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
The Jewish Theological Seminary of America is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism, and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies.JTS operates five schools: Albert A...
. Greenberg has been called "one of the most important leaders of the Conservative movement".
Life
In 1922 Greenberg graduated from City College of New YorkCity College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
having previously attended the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. He then began studying at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
The Jewish Theological Seminary of America is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism, and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies.JTS operates five schools: Albert A...
where he was ordained rabbi in 1925. Throughout his career, Greenberg was committed to both the academic and sacred spheres, often undertaking overlapping tasks. Thus 1925 marked Greenberg's ordination, his enrollment at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
as part of its first class of students and his appointment as rabbi of the Har Zion Temple in Philadelphia, a position he would hold until 1946. His responsibilities in Philadephia included acting as an advisor to Jewish students at the nearby University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
and Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
. In his final year in Philadelphia he help co-found the Akiba Hebrew Academy.
In 1932, Greenberg was awarded his PhD from Dropsie College. He went on to join the faculty of the Jewish Theological Seminary the same year. In 1950 he became executive director of the United Synagogue of America. The same year at the organization's biennial conference he was instrumental in persuading fellow attendees to call for the repeal of the McCarran Internal Security Act
McCarran Internal Security Act
The Internal Security Act of 1950, , also known as the Subversive Activities Control Act or the McCarran Act, after Senator Pat McCarran , is a United States federal law of the McCarthy era. It was passed over President Harry Truman's veto...
. Greenberg spoke against the Act, calling it a threat to civil liberties. Greenberg stepped down from his role as executive director in 1953.
In 1957 Greenberg became vice chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary, a post he held until 1986. Thereafter he was vice chancellor emeritus. Shortly after becoming vice chancellor, in 1958, Greenberg co-founded the University of Judaism
University of Judaism
The American Jewish University, formerly the separate institutions University of Judaism and Brandeis-Bardin Institute, is a Jewish, non-denominational educational institution in Los Angeles, California....
(now the American Jewish University) in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. He was the institute's first President, stepping down from the role in 1963, the year he became chairman of the executive committee of the Jewish Agency and the World Zionist Organization
World Zionist Organization
The World Zionist Organization , or WZO, was founded as the Zionist Organization , or ZO, in 1897 at the First Zionist Congress, held from August 29 to August 31 in Basel, Switzerland...
of America. He stepped down from that role in 1968.
Personal life
Greenberg was born in Horoshen, RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. At the age of 4 he moved to the United States with his family. He and his wife Betty were married for 67 years. They had two sons, Moshe Greenberg
Moshe Greenberg
Moshe Greenberg was an American Jewish rabbi, Bible scholar, and professor emeritus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.-Biography:...
, a biblical scholar, and Daniel Greenberg
Daniel Greenberg (educator)
Daniel A. Greenberg , one of the founders of the Sudbury Valley School, has published several books on the Sudbury model of school organization, and has been described by Sudbury Valley School trustee Peter Grey as the "principal philosopher" among its founders...
. The couple had moved to Jerusalem from Manhatten approximately a year before Simon's death. His wife pre-deceased him by 4 months.
Legacy
Greenberg has been called "one of the most important leaders of the Conservative movement". Every year the Jewish Theological Seminary present the Rabbi Simon Greenberg Award "for outstanding devotion to klal Yisrael (the entire Jewish community) and to all humanity and for unswerving loyalty to JTS."Selected publications
"Living as a Jew Today" (Behrman, 1940),"Foundations of a Faith" (Burning Bush Press, 1967),
"The Ethical in the Jewish and American Heritage" (Jewish Theological Seminary, 1977)
"A Jewish Philosophy and Pattern of Life" (Jewish Theological Seminary, 1981).
He edited "The Ordination of Women as Rabbis," a collection of articles, in 1988.
External references
- Archives of his life
- History of the American Jewish University Founder: Simon Greenberg