Aaron Steinberg—Historian, Spiritual Leader
By JOSEF FRAENKEL
Jewish News Special
London Correspondent
Air director of the cultural de-
pirriment of the World Jewish
Congress, Dr. Aaron Steinberg
was instrumental in laying the
foundation of its cultural activities
while his philosophy on Jewish
culture was accepted by its affil-
iated religious and educational
parties and organizations. Even
today, after his retirement, he re-
mains its spiritual leader.
Aaron Steinberg comes of an
old and distinguished family of
talmudic scholars, men of Hebrew
learning, Vilno maskilim and Yid-
dish writers, tracing a family from
Machshoves.
His mother was a sister of Baal
Machshoves, and his father, Ze-
rach Steinberg, came from Vilno.
In 1910, a Moscow delegation peti-
tioned him to become the rabbi of
Moscow, but he refused this high
position because he did not wish
to earn his living "by the Torah."
Aaron Steinberg was born in
Dvinsk June 12, 1891. He
and his late older brother, Isaac
Nachman, attended the Gymnas-
ium of Pernau, for there they were
able to observe Jewish religious
customs during their studies.
Their father gave Aaron a uni-
versal education, paying particu-
lar heed to his son's "Yiddishkeit,"
while seeing he also had early
training in some handicraft, so that
he should not later be dependent
for a living "on the Torah."
The great talmudic scholar, Zal-
man Baruch Rabinkov, accom-
panied the two brothers to Pernau,
so that they should not interrupt
their Hebrew studies.
In 1907, Aaron Steinberg left
for Germany, and shortly after-
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wards began to study philosophy,
history and law at Heidelberg Uni-
versity—the Oxford of Germany.
Rabbi Rabinkov continued as tutor
with Isaac Nachman and Aaron
and thus the "Heidelberg School
of Talmudic Study" came into be-
ing. Many disciples gathered round
Rabinkov, among them Nahum
Goldmann and others who later
played an important role in Zion-
ism and in the Jewish community
of Germany.
It is interesting to note why
Aaron Steinberg chose to study
abroad. His father had been grant-
ed the "right of residence" in Mos-
cow, but according to the old Rus-
sian regulations, sons could only
remain there until they came of
age, and daughters until they mar-
ried. "Right of residence" could
also be obtained by graduating
from a Russian high school or be-
cause of special studies at univers-
ities abroad. In this way, young
Aaron came to spend his time be-
tween Russia and Germany.
Soon articles by Dr. Aaron
Steinberg on the trends in philoso-
phy of art began to appear in
Russkaya Mysi. His essays on
international law were published
in the journal of the Russian min-
istry of justice, where they at-
tracted considerable attention. His
first Yiddish article on the great
writer Hirsh David Nomberg was
accepted by Dr. Chaim Zhitlowsky
for his monthly magazine Dos
Naye Leben in New York in 1910.
Last year, a number of articles re-
called Steinberg's essay on Nom-
berg, written 60 years ago and
often quoted by journalists on lit-
erature.
During the First World War,
Aaron Steinberg, with others, was
interned in a German village,
where they were permitted a cer-
tain amount of freedom. Here a
center for research and for ad-
vance of knowledge came into ex-
istence, and Steinberg gave regu-
lar talks on Jewish history and on
the treasurers of Jewish spiritual
acquisitions.
After the war, Steinberg helped
to found an Institute of Jewish
Learning in Petersburg (Lenin-
grad), where the intellectual rep-
resentatives of Russian Jewry,
among them Dubnow, Brutzkus,
Markon, Kulisher and others came
together to sponsor and to create
new cultural values. Here and at
Petersburg University, Steinberg
lectured on the history of Jewish
philosophy.
At that time, a close friendship
sprang up between Simon Dubnow
and Aaron Steinberg. But Russia
was no longer a country where
Jewish scholars could pursue their
studies. Dubnow left Petersburg
and his priceless books were saved
by Steinberg and sent on to Berlin.
Others also left and in December
1922, Aaron Steinberg arrived in
Berlin.
After the October Revolution.
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Isaac Nahman Steinberg became
minister of justice. But following
conflicts with the Bolsheviks, the
religious Steinberg resigned from
the government, in March 1918,
and later moved to Berlin.
Steinberg helped to found the
"Gesellschaft fuer Juedische Wis-
senschaft," as well as the Yiddish
Scientific Institute YIVO. He pub-
lished a book on "Dostoyevsky's
Philosophy of Freedom" and was
co-editor of the Yiddish • "Allgem-
eine Encyclopedia," which, after
many years, was continued in Eng-
lish, under the title of "Jewish
People, Past and Present."
Bialik's poems became popular
in Russia because of Jabotinsky,
who translated them into Russian.
And Dubnow became well-known
in German-speaking countries, be-
cause of Steinberg's translation of
the 10 volumes of his "World His-
tory of the Jewish People" from
Russian into German. Jabotinsky's
translation was considered a mas-
terpiece and Steinberg's transla-
tion can be described in similar
terms. This work was widely read
and studied, by Jew and non-Jew.
He also is the author, in collabor-
ation with Dubnow, of a three-vol-
ume "History of the Jewish Peo-
ple," published a few years be-
fore the Second World War. This
work is a rich source of Jewish
knowledge with an abundance of
information on Jewish achieve-
ments.
On the occasion of the centenary
of Simon Dubnow's birth (1860),
Steinberg edited a memorial vol-
ume "Simon Dubnow: the Man and
his Work" which appeared in
Paris (1963). He has written the
forward to one or two dozen books,
and a number of his essays ap-
peared in "Festschriften" and oth-
er publications. He writes fluently
in Hebrew, Yiddish, English, Ger-
man and French, and his scholarly
articles have been published in
various journals,
In enumerating the few intellec-
tual aristocrats of London, the
name of Dr. Aaron Steinberg is
among the first to be mentioned.
6—Friday, July 16, 1971
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Postal Service Must Meet Sabbatarians' Needs
Postal Service employment as wel
as employment throughout the fe
and Public Affairs (COLPA) an- eral system."
nounced that it has received con-
firmation from the U.S. Civil
Service Commission that regula-
tions concerning Sabbath observers
apply to the new U.S. Postal Serv-
ice which took over the functions
of the U.S. Post Office on July 1.
uNiTED BRANDS • DETROIT. U. S A • 42 PROOF
The confirmation was contained
in a letter from Irving Kator,
assistant executive director of the
Civil Service Commission, to
COLPA President Julius Berman.
Berman had filed a formal applica-
tion with the commission asking
that the regulations be applied to
the new quasi-governmental agen-
cy.
They require the postal service
to make reasonable accommoda-
tions to the religious needs of Sab-
`h.
bath-observing job applicants and
employes when such accommoda-
tions can be made without undue
interference with the business of
the agency or the rights of other
employes.
Berman announced that "COLPA
is embarking on a comprehensive
program that will include negotia-
Merrillwood Mall
tions with individual agencies, as
Birmingham
well as Civil Service Commission
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and court proceedings, to protect
the right of Sabbath observers in
NEW YORK (JTA) — The Na-
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glandatinum,
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Longtime Reform Temples
in Chicago Plan Merger
CHICAGO (JTA) — Chicago's
two eldest Jewish congregations,
both Reform, have agreed to
merge. Members of K.A.M. Tem-
ple, founded in 1847, and Temple
Isaiah Israel, founded in 1852,
voted unanimously for the union.
The merged congregation will
be known as K.A.M. 'Isaiah Israel
Congregation. It will be led by
its present rabbinical incumbents,
Rabbi H. Goren Perelmutter of
Isaiah Israel, and Rabbi Simeon
J. Maslin of K.A.M. They will
serve as the area's first twin rab-
binate.
A congregation of some 800
families, many of them connect-
ed with Chicago University and
other nearby academic institu-
tions, will result.
Under the merger plans, the
united congregation will use the
building of Temple Isaiah Israel,
which the rabbis described as one
of the most beautiful synagogue
structures in existence. They said
it was chosen as the home for the
merged congregation because its
location is better adapted to ex-
pansion of facilities, and for park-
ing facilities making it easily ac-
cessible from all parts of Chicago
and nearby suburbs.
Fur
detailed information. please emninunieate
confidentially ,= ,,
direct or through ■ our attorney with Mr. Kaplan, at The'''. '`
ish National Fund. 22100 Greenfield' Rd., Oak Park, Mich:
18237 — Phone 968-0820.
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