Schechter, Solomon

Schechter, Solomon

▪ American rabbi and scholar
born Dec. 7, 1847, Foc-şani, Rom.
died Nov. 19, 1915, New York, N.Y., U.S.

      outstanding authority on the Talmud, and a researcher who discovered important ancient documents. He was also a leader of Conservative Judaism in the United States.

      Schechter studied the Talmud, the authoritative rabbinical compendium of Jewish law, lore, and commentary, in Vienna, Berlin, and London. In 1890 he became lecturer in Talmudic studies at the University of Cambridge. His book, Some Aspects of Rabbinic Theology (1909), which led to a sympathetic reappraisal of the teachings of the Pharisees, is an outgrowth of his lectures at Cambridge.

      In 1896 Schechter went to Cairo to examine a cache of ancient writings, known only from the manuscript fragments that had been brought back by travelers to Egypt. In the old synagogue at Cairo, he found hidden within the geniza (genizah) (a repository for sacred documents and objects) a priceless hoard of ancient manuscripts, among them a fragment of the Hebrew text of Ecclesiasticus and a document relating to the pre-Christian Jewish sect the Essenes.

      In 1902 Schechter went to New York City to serve as president of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He developed that institution into a major centre for research in Judaica and for the training of rabbis in Conservative Judaism. In his approach to Judaism, Schechter emphasized the study of Jewish history, through which, he believed, a true picture of the workings of God would emerge. He originated the idea of “catholic Israel,” a concept emphasizing the continuity of past and present Judaism. In 1913 he founded the United Synagogue of America, which eventually grew from 23 to more than 800 Conservative congregations. He considered this organization his greatest legacy, because he believed deeply in a strong congregational base for Conservative Judaism.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • SCHECHTER, SOLOMON — (Shneur Zalman; 1847–1915), rabbinic scholar and president of the jewish theological seminary of america . Schechter was born in Focsani, Romania. His father, a Chabad Ḥasid, was a ritual slaughterer (Ger. Schaechter). In his teens he studied… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Schechter,Solomon — Schech·ter (shĕkʹtər), Solomon. 1847 1915. Romanian born Hebrew scholar who discovered the lost chapters of Ecclesiasticus. * * * …   Universalium

  • Schechter, Solomon (Schneur Zalman) — (1847–1915)    Scholar and founder of Conservative Judaism. The first part of Schechter’s life was spent in his native Romania and on his studies in Vienna and Berlin. In 1882 he was invited to England, where he remained twenty years. He lectured …   Who’s Who in Jewish History after the period of the Old Testament

  • Schechter, Solomon — (1847 1915)    British rabbinic scholar. He was born in Foscani, Romania. He became tutor in rabbinics to Claude Montefiore in London; in 1890 he became a lecturer in rabbinics at Cambridge University, and two years later reader. He was also… …   Dictionary of Jewish Biography

  • Solomon Schechter — שניאור זלמן שכטר (December 7, 1847 November 191915) was a Moldavian born Romanian and English rabbi, academic scholar, and educator, most famous for his roles as founder and President of the United Synagogue of America, President of the Jewish… …   Wikipedia

  • Schechter — may refer to:* Schechter Letter, letter discovered in the Cairo Geniza * Solomon Schechter Day School Association, named after Solomon Schechter. * Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States , United States Supreme Court caseSchechter or Schachter… …   Wikipedia

  • Solomon Schechter — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Schechter. Solomon Schechter étudiant des documents de la Gueniza du Caire, vers 1895. Solomon Schechter (hébreu: שניאור זלמן שכטר …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union — (SSDSEU) is a private Jewish day school that offers primary and religious education for Jewish children from pre K through 12th grade. It has two campuses in West Orange, and primarily serves families in Essex and Union counties, but attracts… …   Wikipedia

  • Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan — Established 1995 School type …   Wikipedia

  • Solomon Schechter — studiert in Cambridge Dokumente der Kairoer Geniza. Das Bild ist inszeniert und lehnt sich ikonographisch an Rodins Der Denker an. (um 1895) Solomon Schechter (hebräisch: שניאור זלמן שכטר, auch: Salomon Schechter, * 7. Dezember 1847[1] in Focșani …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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