David Neumark (rabbi)
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David Neumark (1866–1924)[1] was a German-American rabbi and professor of Jewish philosophy. He authored several notable works on Jewish philosophy and Jewish law, and served as a professor at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio.[2][3][4]
Biography
Neumark was born in Shchyrets (Szczerzec), Galicia (present day Ukraine) and was married to Mrs Dora Turnheim Neumark (1878-1959). Their children were Salomea (Sally) Brainin, Martha Neumark Montor, and Immanuel K. Neumark.[5][6]
Neumark's daughter Martha (1904–1981)[7] was a notable early figure in the history of women's ordination as rabbis. Neumark was widely reported to be the first Jewish woman to be accepted into a rabbinical school.[8][9]
Prior to his move to the United States, Neumark served as the rabbi in Rakovník and received his doctorate from the University of Berlin.[3] In 1907, Hebrew Union College President Kaufmann Kohler appointed Neumark to the college faculty where he became chair of philosophy and served until his death in 1924.[6]
In 1919, Neumark served as the founding editor of a scholarly quarterly Journal of Jewish Lore and Philosophy.[10] The journal was later renamed The Hebrew Union College Annual.[6]
Views
Neumark viewed that elements mythology and irrationalism were always present within Judaism, and considered that Kabbalah emerged in the twelfth and thirteenth century in response to the cultural and religious atmosphere created by Jewish rationalism. Kabbalah then transformed philosophical terminology into mystical symbols.[11]
Neumark supported the ordination of women as rabbis, and supported his daughter Martha Neumark to study for the rabbinate.[12][13]
Selected works
- Neumark, D. (1907-1910). Geschichte der Judischen Philosophie des Mittelalters, Berlin: G. Reimer. 2 Vols. (later translated to Hebrew as Toledot ha-Filosofyah be-Yisrael).
- Neumark, D. (1908). Jehuda Hallevi's Philosophy in Its Principles. Cincinnati: Hebrew Union College Press.
- Neumark, D. (1918). The Philosophy of the Bible. Ark Publishing Company.
- Neumark, D. (1929). Essays in Jewish Philosophy. New York: Central Conference of American Rabbis.
See also
References
- ^ "Neumark, David". Jewish Virtual Library.
- ^ The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), 19 Dec 1924, Fri, Page 1.
- ^ a b The American Israelite (Cincinnati, Ohio), 23 Jan 1913, Thu. Page 11.
- ^ The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts), 16 Dec 1924, Tue. Page 3.
- ^ The Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, Ohio), 16 Jul 1959, Thursday. Page 21.
- ^ a b c "A Finding Aid to the David Neumark Papers". American Jewish Archives.
- ^ McDannell, Colleen (2001-10-29). Religions of the United States in Practice - Colleen McDannell - Google Books. ISBN 0691010013. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
- ^ "This Week in History - Reform rabbis debate women's ordination | Jewish Women's Archive". Jwa.org. 1922-06-30. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
- ^ Marcus, Jacob Rader. The American Jewish Woman: A Documentary History, pp. 739-744.
- ^ The Jewish Voice (St. Louis, Missouri), 07 Feb 1919, Fri. Page 8.
- ^ Dan, J. (1985). Gershom Scholem's Reconstruction of Early Kabbalah. Modern Judaism, 39-66.
- ^ Neumark, David (16 Feb 1922). "Ordination of women according to Jewish law". The American Israelite. Cincinnati, Ohio: The American Israelite.
- ^ Nadell, P. S. (2005). " Opening the Blue of Heaven to Us": Reading Anew the Pioneers of Women's Ordination. Nashim: A Journal of Jewish Women's Studies & Gender Issues, (9), 88-100.