Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808–1888)

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch was one of the leading representatives of Orthodox Judaism in Germany. After studying in Bonn and serving as a rabbi in Oldenburg, Emden and Moravia, in 1851 he became rabbi of the Orthodox "Israelite Religious Society" in Frankfurt-on-Main, where he worked for the rest of this life. In contrast to reform movements within Judaism, he was against changing Judaism to make it more contemporary. Hirsch wanted to adhere to the existing content and form of religious practice and was not prepared to allow an academic critique of the religious documents. However, he was an advocate for the integration of the Jews into the majority society, under the condition that the emancipation of the Jews did not come at the cost of traditional Jewish life. He viewed the Jews as an organic part of the German population. Consequently, he believed that patriotic instruction, i.e., educating the young to fulfil their national duties, should be a compulsory part of a good Jewish upbringing.

Portrait of Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808–1888), unknown artist; source: Jüdisches Lexikon, Berlin 1928, vol. 2, column 1621.