The Washington herald., 1911-08-20
DEATH OF DIR. HERMlANADLER
REMOVES A WORLD FIGURE
Chief Rabbi of the Jews
of the United Kingdom
Was Honored by All
Men in All Lands.


gave a shock to the Anglo-Jewish COM
munity comparable to that which the
death of Queen Victoria gave to the
British empire. His rule, like hers,
marked an epoch. He raised the Official
position which he held to the height of
great power, and at the same time he
was endeared to the hearts Of the peo-
pie over whom he exercised his eccle-
siastical sway. Though he had attained
the span of life allotted by the Psalm
ist, his community could not contem-
plate his passing away.
Officially the chief rabbi of the Jews
not only of the United Kingdom, but
of the British empire for twenty years,
actually fulfilling the duties of his Of
flee for twelve years, before that as a
delegate to his father, who was chief
rabbi before him, he had come to repre-
sent so completely British Jewry bef ,re
the general public and so largely 20
mold the policy of his own community
and to direct that religious organiza-
tion, that his loss is literally irreparaS.e.
Chief rabbinism never again can ce In
England what he had made it.
The pre-eminent qualities of the late
DIR. Adler were his sympathies and his
extraordinary energy. He played many
parts in his long life, but all with dis
b
life he was principal of Jews College,
the theological seminary which trains
the ministers for the congregations in
his widespread diocese. That ne pos
seSsed the knowledge and instincts of a
scholar is shown by his many publica-
lions on Jewish scholastic philosophy
and kindred subjects. His power as a
converse tionalist and as a defender Of
his people from calumny was manifested
in articles which he wrote from tire
to time for the English reviews: by his
eminence as a preacher; by the selec-
tion of sermons which he published, and
notably by the volume 'Anglo-JewiSh
Memoirs which he issued in 1893 in
commemoration of his SEVENTEEN birth
day.
His Greatest Work.
But without a doubt his greatest work
was shown in holding together for
generation in one united community the
diverse elements which go to form Eng
lish Jewry, East End and West End. The
Talmud-loving immigrants from the Rus
sian Ghetto and assimilated congrega-
tions Of British-born Jews alike acknowl-
edged his authority aud his ruling, look
ing upon him a. their head.
1t may be said that he excelled rather
as an ecclesiastical chief than as a spir-
tion too far, and that the outward unity
of British Jewry veiled a growing di-
vergence of belief and of outlook But
vet the service which he rendered by
upholding a standard of Judaism by
preventing dfsintegration and disruption,
and by maintaining, il not a complete,
yet very large sympathy between the
English and the foreign Jews will be ap-
prectated the more, perhaps, now that
his controlling hand has gone, and will
insure him the lasting admiration OF his
community.
In his latter years he had to bear
many trials, private and public; but his
irresistible energy, his unselfish devo-
tfon to his work never faltered In
his last sickness he was sacrificing the
little strength which remained TO him
in seeking to smooth some divergencies
of view which had arisen between the |
different elements of the community.
And If some did not see eye to eye with |
him in the position which he took upon
these questions in his failing age, all
Of them admire the heroism with which
he did his duty to the end.
1t is often the tragedy of a ruler that
he leaves no successor. That is the 4,
tragedy of DIR. Adlers life; but he does |
leave to his people the splendid example |
of long career lived in whole-hearted
devotion to the honor of the whole Jew !
lsh people and the Strengthening of the |
community.
King Edward and the Chief Rabbi. |
l remember one incident in the career |
Of DR.. Adler that deserves to be chron- |
lcled, as 1t demonstrates the fearless in |
dependence of the man. There was a |
meeting at which the late King Edward |
was present, and so was the chief rabbi |
In the course OF conversation his majesty
said:
How is it, DR.. Adler, that 1 nevert
see you at any OF my courts?'' /
Sir," replied the doctor, your courts
Always are held on Friday night. That
IS the eve of our Sabbath. Our laws for
bid us to ride on the Sabbath. 1t is TOO
lar for me to walk from my house TO
Palace to attend YOUR court
and then back again. Therefore, I am
Unable TO be present to pay my duty to
tour majesty
Then" replied the King, Il will have
nave one court on another night than
Friday in order that I may have the
pleasure Of seeing you in nv house -
And King Edward did, for he had a great
ieal of respect and admiration for the
abb. and none of the prejudice against
he Jews which still is found in certain
.ircles.
Descended from a long line of rabbis.
All celebrated for their learning, their pi-
.ty, their enthusiasm for the cause of Ju-
lea Dr. Herman Adler, who was d. D.,
IL D., Phi. D., and NJ. A. was by birth
. German. He was born at Hanover in
sS9, but had all the characteristics of
IN Enghshman and all the advantages
II an English education. He received
his training at University College school
md at University College. and among his
were Sir George Jessel. the
ate master of the rolls;i Lord Herschel.
Prof. Jevons, Viscount Morley, and
he late Sir Julian Goldsmith He had
! particularly brilliant career at the uni
.ersity, gaining prizes for philosophy and
english and classical literature. In the
Intermediate examination for the b. A.
legree OF London University he attain
lrst; he was second in honors for Eng
ish language and literature, third In
ATTN, and first in German.
Honored by Leipzig Univerxity.
In 1860 he went to Prague, there tol
complete and enlarge his theological andl
ralmudical studies. Under Rabbls Rama
lort and Freund and Profs. wessely andI
Sempf he studied indefatigably and
With conspicuous success, and soon gain
ID tbe rabbinical diploma. In Decem-
Der. 1852. the University of Leipzig con-
erred on him the degree of Doctor of!
Philosophy after a searching examina-
ion and submitting clever essay onl
oruidism and the Druids. In 1853 he
Preached his first sermon at Swansea,
when he was presented with a siiverI
yohlet-the first OF many such testi-
noniais.
, In 1854. and up to the time of his
election as chief rabbi he sheId the t,oat-