| AdminHistory | Born in Hanover, second son of Nathan Marcus Adler, then Chief Rabbi of Hanover, and his first wife, Henrietta Worms, 1839; moved to London 1845, where his father became Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations; educated at University College School; BA, University College London, 1854; studied in Prague 1860-1862; received rabbinical ordination, 1862; PhD, University of Lepizig, 1862; returned to London where he acted as secretary and assistant to his father; taught at Jews' College, London, 1863-1879, appointed temporary Principal, 1863; minister of Bayswater Synagogue, 1864; married Rachel, daughter of Solomon Joseph, 1867; deputized as delegate Chief Rabbi, 1879; Chairman of Jews' College, 1887; elected Chief Rabbi, 1891; DD, LLD, St Andrews, 1899; CVO, 1909; Hon. DCL, Oxford, 1909; instrumental in securing general recognition of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations as the main representative of English Jewry, but he came into conflict with Eastern European Jewish immigrants; he took a particular interest in Jewish education, establishing schools in Bayswater and making arrangements for Jewish religious instruction at schools of the London school board in the East End; although previously active in the Hovevei Zion movement he opposed the Zionist ideas of Theodor Herzl; died 1911. Publications include: a contribution to a collection of anti-Zionist essays (1900); 'Anglo-Jewish Memories' (1909); historical and other studies and numerous sermons, as well as preliminary studies for an edition of the Ez Hayyim by Jacob ben Judah Hazzan of London. |