Stephen Samuel Wise and the Jews of America Stephen S. Wise and son (1918). Source: Wikipedia Commons. A presentation on the life and work of Stephen Samuel Wise (1874-1949), an important American communal leader. The lecture will take a broader focus, looking at the history of Jewish settlement in the United States during the 19th century and the major issues facing this immigrant community through the middle of the twentieth century. The lecture was held at Young Israel of Bal Harbour. Notes from the Presentation: Stephen Samuel Wise Henry Abramson Touro College South Young Israel of Bal harbour Stephen Silver Wise Born Budapest 1874 Reform Rabbi Major Jewish Activist American Zionist Controversial leadership during Holocaust Died 1949 Haredi to Neolog Long line of Rabbis Grandfather Joseph Hirsch Weisz ultra-Orthodox Father Aaron also ultra-Orthodox, immigrates to USA and becomes founding member of Jewish Theological Seminary Stephen Samuel Wise prominent Reform leader, founder of Jewish Institute of Religion (later merges with Hebrew Union College) The Denominational Spectrum Immigration to the USA Father Aaron Rabbi, social liberal Attempts to unionize workers in father-in-law’s porcelain factory Father-in-law buys him one-way ticket to New York German vs Eastern European immigration Earliest Jewish immigrants: Sefardic Jews German Jews mid-19th century Massive wave of Eastern European Jewry after 1881 Education Ordination 1893 (Adolph Jellinek of Vienna) Columbia PhD, 1901 Dissertation: translation of Shlomo ibn Gabriol American mid-century model of “Scholar-Rabbi” Family Married Louise Waterman, 1900, took position at Temple in Portland, Oregon Disciple of Felix Adler’s Ethical Culture movement Translator, author, social activist Son author, art specialist (wrote biography of mother) Daughter author, judge, advisor to Eleanor Roosevelt The Free pulpit 1906 turned down offer to lead Congregation Emanu-el over issue of a “free pulpit” Returns to Oregon but comes back to NYC one year later, founds The Free Synagogue Free pulpit, free seats American Liberalism Co-founder of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP, 1909) American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU, 1920) Promoted labor causes, attacked corruption forced resignation of New York mayor James Walker (1932) Founded and led American Jewish Congress (more activist than American Jewish Committee) American Zionism Classical Reform position on Zionism Founded New York Federation of Zionist Societies (1897) Worked closely with Herzl American secretary in World Zionist Congress in Basle (1898) Involved in drafting text of the Balfour declaration Ethnic Voting Patterns, 2008 Jewish Denominational Voting Patterns (2008) International Politics Close to President Wilson Represented Zionism at Versailles Peace Conference Writings Multiple volumes of memoirs, speeches, sermons Leadership During the Holocaust Controversy How much pressure to put on Roosevelt, State Department? Advocated strong anti-Nazi policy since 1930s, but criticized for tepid response during war The Riegner Telegram August 1942 Telegram addressed to Wise, but intercepted at State Department Confirmed existence of the “Final Solution” Wise received it from British parliament Reaction Met with Roosevelt in 1943 30 minutes, mainly Roosevelt talking Should Wise have invoked his fiery rhetoric and public persona? Legacy Defining American Jewish liberalism for a century Defining American Jewish Zionism Share this:TwitterTumblrFacebookLinkedInEmailRedditLike this:Like Loading...
Dear Dr. Abramson, I am not exaggerating : your Stephen Samuel Wise lesson is so full of fascinating info, thanks! (and I LOVED your Tomer Devorah #1 & 2, “The Insulted King”, for us to stop abusing HaShem’s energy He gives us while committing sins, excellent Sir.) Loading... Reply