The Hochschule für die Wissenschaft des Judentums, or Higher Institute for Jewish Studies, was a rabbinical seminary, established in Berlin in 1872 destroyed by the Nazi government of Germany in 1942. Upon the order of the government, the name was officially changed in 1883 to LEHRANSTALT FÜR DIE WISSENSCHAFT DES JUDENTHUMS.

History and Method

Abraham Geiger, who had been active in establishing Reform Judaism wanted a University for Jewish Studies in Berlin, unable to become part of the University of Berlin, he was involved in 1870 in creating a separate institution. Also involved were David Cassel, Israel Lewy and Heyman Steinthal, the Jewish “intellectuals” and professors at the University of Berlin.

Geiger's "General Introduction to the Science of Judaism," "Introduction to the Biblical Writings," and "Lectures on Pirḳe Abot" were originally delivered as lectures at the seminary.

They taught in the spirit of the Wissenschaft des Judentums movement. Teachers included some of the best German-Jewish teachers: Hanokh Albeck, Ismar Elbogen, Julius Guttmann, Franz Rosenthal, and Leo Baeck.

Moritz Steinschneider referred to the Hochschule as a "new ghetto of Jewish learning," which he felt could ultimately not produce the standards of scholarship achieved in the university setting .

Officially the institution was not affiliated with a movement or denomination. It sought free inquiry and research without any restrictions. The "Lehranstalt" stood for a conservative Judaism; but its main object is the scientific study of things Jewish, freed as far as possible from denominational disputes. There was no religious test for professors but it was assumed that all of the faculty lived according to the Jewish tradition and were fluent in Hebrew. The school was never dependent on any religious or public organization. Therefore, the board was constantly engaged in raising money from wealthy contributors, sponsors of scholarly “chairs” and scholarships.

In 1872, the first year, there were only 12 students, including four women. In 1921, there were 63 full time and 45 part-time students enrolled in the “Hochschule”. Many of the students came from the Eastern European countries, notably Poland, as graduates of Orthodox Yeshivot. By 1930-1933 the school had achieved so great a reputation that many non-Jews, especially Christian clergy enrolled.

Alumni

• Solomon Schecter
• Abraham Joshua Heschel
• Felix Adler
• Samuel Poznanski
• Regina Jonas

Bibliography

• Lehranstalt für die Wissenschaft des Judenthums: Rückblick auf die Ersten Fünfundzwanzig Jahre (1872-97), Berlin, 1897.
• Women Pioneers of Jewish Learning: Ruth Liebrecht and Her Companions at the 'Hochschule fur die Wissenschaft des Judentums' in Berlin 1930-1934 European Judaism, March, 2003

External links

• Popular article on the history of the institution