J A

JEWISH AFFAIRS Chanukah 2015
What was the legacy of Rabbi Nathan Marcus
Adler? Quite apart from the road named after him
in London, his heritage is primarily spiritual. In
January 1890, in a wise editorial comment, the
London Jewish Chronicle declared: “Had a man
of smaller ability and with a less commanding
personality occupied the Rabbinical chair, it
is probable that the wholesale Reforms and
the undesirable extravagances that characterise
American Judaism would have found their way
into our community.” Perhaps R. Adler’s real
tour de force was that through his strong, united
governance, the great majority of British Jews
remain Orthodox (unlike the United States,
where Reform Judaism is overwhelmingly the
largest sector). R. Adler’s life was a source of
great Kiddush Hashem [Sanctification of G-d’s
Name] and remains of profound inspiration for
those who know his story.
NOTES
1 Derek Taylor, British Chief Rabbis 1664-2006, Edgware,
Vallentine Mitchell, 2007, p238. This was a primary source
for quotations of R. Adler.
2 Deut. 32:11. See Raymond Apple, United Synagogue –
Religious Founders & Leaders, in A Century of Anglo-Jewish
Life: Lectures to Commemorate the Centenary of the United
Synagogue, London, published by the United Synagogue,
1970.
3 Eliyahu Meir Klugman, Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch -
Autobiography, New York, Artscroll-Mesorah Publications,
1998, p80. See also Cecil Roth, ‘Britain’s Three Chief
Rabbis’, Jewish Leaders, pp 479-80.
4 Taylor, p237.
5 Raymond Apple, Professor Marks and the Oral Law
Controversy, Jerusalem, self-published, July 2008, p5.
6 Isaiah 42:6.
7 Taylor, p258.
8 Ibid, p247.
9 See Liverpool Mercury, 11 September 1857.
10 Taylor, p242.
11 From Rabbi G. Shishler , The Life of the Rev. Simeon Singer,
London, lecture given at the New West End Synagogue, 28
March 2004. Available from Rabbi G Shisler.
12 Raymond Apple, ‘Nathan Marcus Adler – Chief Rabbi’,
http://www.oztorah.com/2009/08/nathan-marcus-adlerchief-rabbi/,
2015, (Accessed 3 June 2015).
13 Ibid, p241.
14 Ibid, p249.
15 Likutei Teshuvos Chasam Sofer, Chelek HaMichtavim, Siman
38.
16 Shaalos U’teshuvos Shoel Umeshiv, Telisa’ah Ches Gimel,
End of Siman 126.
17 Igros Rav Ezriel Hildesheimer, p112.
18 He was titled the Ga’avad of Würzburg. See Sha’alos
U’Teshuvos Yad Halevi, Chelek Aleph, Yoreh Deah, Siman
37.
The only foreign affairs journal
coming to you directly from Jerusalem
34
Published by the
Israel Council on Foreign Relations
www.israeljfa.com