Samson Raphael Hirsch's Religious Universalism and the German-Jewish Quest for Emancipation

In the nineteenth century, German Jews of all denominations sought acceptance within German society and full emancipation from legal strictures. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch promulgated an inclusive vision of Judaism that stressed the universalism of the Jewish ethic and humanistic concern for the welfare of all mankind. He argued that Judaism was not tribalistic but rather universal, and that its core teachings were compatible with humanistic values. Hirsch's colleagues in the German Orthodox rabbinate largely concurred with his views.

Format: Hardback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 29 February 2024
Publisher: The University of Alabama Press

 
In the context of advancing the civic equality of German Jews in the nineteenth century, Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch promulgated an inclusive vision of Judaism. Moshe Miller argues in his book, "Samson Raphael Hirsch's Religious Universalism and the German-Jewish Quest for Emancipation," that German Jews of all denominations actively sought acceptance within German society and aspired to achieve full emancipation from the many legal strictures on their status as citizens and residents. While non-Orthodox Jews sought a significant measure of cultural assimilation, Orthodox Jews were content with more delimited acculturation, but they were no less enthusiastic about achieving emancipation and acceptance in German society.

However, there was one issue that non-Jewish critics of emancipation saw as a barrier to granting civic rights to Jews: the alleged tribalism of Judaism and the supposedly chauvinistic notion of Jews as "the Chosen People." These charges could not go unanswered, and in the writings of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808–1888), the leading thinker of the Orthodox camp, they did not. Hirsch stressed the universalism of the Jewish ethic and the humanistic concern for the welfare of all mankind, which he believed was one of the core teachings of Judaism. His colleagues in the German Orthodox rabbinate largely concurred with Hirsch's assessment.

Samson Raphael Hirsch's Religious Universalism and the German-Jewish Quest for Emancipation places Hirsch's views in their historical context and provides a detailed account of his attitude toward non-Jews and the Christianity practiced by the vast majority of nineteenth-century Europeans. It sheds light on his efforts to bridge the gap between Judaism and other religions and promote mutual understanding and respect.

In conclusion, Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch's Religious Universalism and the German-Jewish Quest for Emancipation is a valuable contribution to the study of nineteenth-century Jewish history and culture. It demonstrates the complexities and challenges faced by German Jews as they sought to integrate into German society while maintaining their religious and cultural identities. Hirsch's vision of Judaism as a universal religion that values human welfare and social justice provides a valuable perspective on the history of interfaith relations and the quest for emancipation.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780817321833