The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-16
RABBI GOfTHBIL IS DEAD.
LEADER or Reform JUDAISM
PASSES AWAY.
He'd Served Temple Emanu-Ei for no
Year, and Was Its Rsbb, Emeritus
when He Died-Born In Germany In
lS3S-A Noted Scholar in Many Lines.

hou BefVeO Tempic hmanusE tOF 40
Years and Was Its Rabbi Emeritus
when He Died-Born In Germany In
ls3s-A Noted Scholar in Many LINES.
The Rev. DR.. Gustav Gottheil, rabbi
emeritus Of the Temple Emanuel, died
at Sis o'clock yesterday afternoon at his
home. osi Madison avenue. DR.. Gottheil
was stricken with apoplexy some weeks
ago and pneumonia set In several days
ago. His death had been expected at any
minute for twenty-four hours before 1t
came.
At the time Of his death Dr. Gotthei's
two sons and two daughters, DR.. William s.,
DR.. Richard j. H.. Mrs. E. NJ. Levy and
Mrs. j. Rich. were at his home. With them
were DR.. Gottheil's two nephews. Paul and
Leon Gottheil. The Rev. DR.. Silverman,
rabbi Of the Temple Emanuel. arrived at
the Gottheil home coon after the death OF
his predecessor.
The trustees Of the Temple Emanu-E
will meet this morning at the Temple and
take action on the death Of their former
rabbi. and by that time, it 10 thought,
arrangements for the funeral will be we'll
under way. 1t was said last night that
the funeral would probably be held from
be at the Salem Fields Cemetery.
DIR. Gottheil always had an antipathy to
the use Of Grape as a sign OF mourning.
In accordance with his wish. none was used
at the funeral Of his wife, and none Of the
members of the family will wear any at his
funeral None has been or will be put on
the door Of the Gottheil house.
Gustav Gottheil was born on May 2s,
1897. at Pinne. in German Posen. While
little more than a boy he went to Berlin
to be educated according to the rabbinical
code and to prepare himself for the rab-
binical Office. His studies were completed
at the Institute for Hebrew Literature and
the University OF Berlin.
Among his teachers was DR.. Samuel
Holdhein, who at that time was recog-
nized a. the leader of Reform Judaism
in Germany and as one Of the chief expo
nents Of the principles and teachings that
received their first impulse from Moses
Mendelssohn. the great grandfather Of Felix
Mendessohn- Bartholdy.
After acting for some time as assistant
rabbi Of the Berlin Reform Temple of which
DR.. Holdheim was the head, DR.. Gottheil
accepted a call from Manchester Eng
In the latter year he came to this city to
succeed the Rev. j. X. Gutheim as the
junior rabbi Of the Temple Emanuel
Dr. Samuel Adler was then the senior rabbi
On his retirement, about fifteen years ago.
his place was taken by DR.. Gottheil the
Rev DR.. Joseph Silverman succeeding as
assistant. Three years ago DR.. Gottheil
was retired as rabbi emeritus and Was in
turn succeeded by Dr. Slverman.
DR.. Gottheils liberal religious ideas did
not interfere with his interest in every move
ment that tended to elevate his race and
faith. He was always deeply interested
in educational questions and especially
in the training Of young Jews for the rab-
binical Office. He maintained personally
a Hebrew preparatory theological school
in this city. and was for many years a d.
rector Of the Hebrew Union College at
Hewas the originator OF the .sisterhoods
for Personal Service benevolent organiya-
lions which require OF their members that
they. give not only money but also personal
the first Of theee. ....
DR.. Gottheh was from its very inception
closely ident fled with the Association Of
Eastern Rabbis. which about thirteen
ganizatfon called the Central Conference
OF American Rabbis. AS member Of
the latter body. DIR. Gottheil was largely
in the compilation OF the
Union Prayer Book. published by the con-
ference. He himself complied hymn
book which for many years was in Use in
the reform synaRogues In this country.
DR. Gottheil was a profound scholar.
he published but one book. a
work called sun and Shield"
DIR. Gottheil's linguistic achievements were
well known, He was a master of Hebrew.
German. French and English. and was
Latin and Greek. His son, Prof Richard |
Gottbeil. now holds the chair Of Semitic |
languages in Columbia University
While still a young minister at Berlin |
DR., Gottheil married Resale Wollman. |
She died about nine years ago They had |
four children; all OF whom are alive and |
pr Slovenian, who for twelve years |
was the colleague Of DIR. Gottheil, said |
|
DIR Gottheil had for the last thirty years |
been q prominent figure in American Re- |
form Judaism. With DIR. Gottheil religion |
ment, Of traditions and ceremonies but a !
real moral force. DR.. Gotthei did not con- /
fine his activities to Jewish affairs, but |
stood in close relation to many prominent !
preachers and laymen OF other faiths,
DIR. Gottheil was par excellence the jew
ample for the modern rabbits, az the rabbi I
in former times was almost exclusively a |
teacher and hardly came into contact with ,
the individual members Of the congrega-
ton. DR.. Gottheil's power and influence |
were almost unsurpassed
DIR. Gottheil had long and useful
career and was active almost to the very |
end II had always been his ambition 10 |,
die at his post, and have frequently heard /