Nathan Marcus Adler

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Nathan Marcus Adler, towards the end of his life

Dr. Nathan Marcus Adler, a.k.a. Hillel Nissim Adler, (c. 1803 in Hanover, Germany — 1891), was the Orthodox Chief Rabbi of Britain 1845–1891, probably the most prominent 19th century rabbi in the English-speaking world. He was apparently named after the kabbalist Nathan Adler (according to the biography of the latter in the Jewish Encyclopedia). His distant relative Jacob Adler, who made his acquaintance in the winter of 1883–1884, described him as the "highest religious authority not only of London Jews but of all Orthodox Jews throughout Great Britain and the Empire." He subscribed to what was known as the Frankfurter Orthodoxy.

The first university-educated Chief Rabbi of Britain, and the first to undertake regular pastoral tours within the United Kingdom, he was also a founder of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty and Better Protection of Children. His period as Chief Rabbi saw the completion of the emancipation of Jews within the United Kingdom; the election (1847) and seating (1858) of Lionel de Rothschild as the first Jewish member of parliament; Nathan Mayer Rothschild's ascent as the first Jewish member of the House of Lords (1885); and Sir David Salomons's term as the first Jewish Lord Mayor of London (1855).

Adler was instrumental in bringing together the United Synagogue, established by Act of Parliament in 1870. As of 2006, this remains the largest religious grouping within the British Jewish community, and takes its religious authority from the Chief Rabbi.

Adler was also involved in scholarly activities such as writing, editing, and translating. For instance, in 1907 his critical text, translation, and commentary of Benjamin of Tudela's important medieval manuscript, The Itinerary of Benjamin of Tudela, was published.

London's Jewish Institute today stands on Adler Street, named after him. His son Hermann Adler was also a distinguished rabbi: head of a congregation in Bayswater during his father's lifetime, Adler's assistant from the time Adler's health began to deteriorate in 1879, and his successor as Chief Rabbi.

[edit] References

Adler, Jacob, A Life on the Stage: A Memoir, translated and with commentary by Lulla Rosenfeld, Knopf, New York, 1999, ISBN 0-679-41351-0. [Adler, 1999, 233-234]
Deutsch, Gotthard, Adler, Nathan, Jewish Encyclopedia (1901-1906); on the kabbalist Adler, says that Nathan Marcus Adler was named after him.
Kirk, John Foster (1891) "Adler, Nathan Marcus (1803-1890)" Allibone's Critical Dictionary of English Literature: A Supplement. British and American authors J.B. Lippincott, Philadelphia;
Goodman Lipkind, Adler, Nathan Marcus, Jewish Encyclopedia (1901-1906)
Sanders, Lloyd C. (1887) "Adler, Nathan Marcus (1803-)" Celebrities of the Century: Being a dictionary of men and women of the nineteenth century Cassell & Co., London;
Schmidt, Helmut Dan (1962) Chief Rabbi Nathan Marcus Adler (1803-1890) : Jewish educator from Germany Leo Baeck Institute, London;
"Nathan Marcus Adler" on the official site of the Chief Rabbi of Britain.