Isaac Mayer Wise, the Founder of American Judaism; A Biography (Paperback)

Isaac Mayer Wise, the Founder of American Judaism; A Biography Book Description

PREFACE IN 1846, when Isaac Mayer Wise arrived in America, he found the Jews in this country with but little secular cul ture, many of them drifting away from Judaism, and m-hat religious institutions they had, entirely unorganized. Their religious life was an intolerable imitation of that which existed in the old Ghettos of Europe-a condition so inconsistent with the spirit of American in stitutions as to make positively impossible its survival. Dr. mTise realized that i Judaism in America was to be preserved, it would be necessary not only to Americanize the Jew, but also his Judaism. This was his life work. But for this work the Jews in America would either have been lost to Judaism or their mode of life and worship an empty continuation of that brought with them from their narrow European environ ment. His death found American Judaism mod ernized and adaptcd to its new environment, and the Amcrican Jew preserving thc essentials of his religion, living in every community as an influen v vi Preface tial, respected, public spirited, and philanthropic citizen. How Dr. Wise founded an American Judaism, and a brief history of the institutions by means of which he accomplished this purpose, necessarily form an important part of this volume. No complete history of Dr. Wise and his work has yet appeared. In 1900 the Alurnnal Association of the Hebrew Union College published Se-Lecfed Writings of Isaac 11f. Wise, with a Biography by dhe editors, Duuid PdaiJipson and Lozkis Grossmann. The biographical sketch consists of 112 pages. In I gm-I gm, The Rerninlscences of Isaac h. Wise, published in his German Weekly, Die Deborah, July 3, 1874, to August 11, 1875, were translated by Rev. DavidPhilipson, and pub lished by Leo Wise Co. Part of Dr. Philip sons biographical sketch treating of Dr. T iscs European life was based on conversations he had with Dr. Wise, and in the preparation of this biography I have relied upon this sketch, verifying it as far as possible. I have likewise quoted freely from Dr. Philipsons translation of The m-niscmces. Rabbi Wise should have had his Boswell. Unfortunately, those closest to him never realized the importance of recording his many thoughtful Preface sayings. At his death, to the great disappointment of the historian and the biographer, no diary and other memoranda were found, and few of his letters had been preserved. As his grandson, who was very close to him, I felt it but proper and fitting at this time that a biography should be written from original sources, which m ould conclusively prove that Isaac Mayer Wise was not onIy the most prominent figure in American Judaism during the last half of the nineteenth century, but also that he was the founder of American Judaism and all thc many institutions which preserved that Judaisrn in this country. My aim has been to let Dr. Wise tell in his own words the story of his life and activities, and, therefore, I have printed many extracts from his writings in The Occident, The Asmonean, The Israelite, and Die Deborah. 1 have not attempted to give an estimate of Rabbi Wise as an author and theologian, because I am not competent to do so. In r g 19, the several organizations which Rabbi Wise founded will ceIebrate the centennial of his birth, and undoubt edly those qualified to speak will treat that phase of his carecr. I wish to acknow cdgc my indebtedness to Mr. . . v111 Preface Adofph S.Oko, Librarian of the Hebrcw Union ColIege, and Dr. N. D. C...

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