biography
| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1843–1926)
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| biography:
| Rabbi and scholar, born in Fürth, Germany. During his studies in Munich and Berlin, he moved away from orthodox Judaism. In 1869 he went to the USA as rabbi of the Beth-El Congregation in Detroit. In 1871 he went to Sinai Temple in Chicago and, despite fierce criticism, brought about a number of radical reforms, and became rabbi of Temple Beth-El in New York City (1879), where he made similar changes. A series of lectures brought him into conflict with traditionalist scholar Alexander Kohut. On behalf of tradition, Kohut and his followers founded the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (1887), while Kohler called the Pittsburgh Conference. The Pittsburgh Platform, issued in 1885, eventually became the central document of American Reform Judaism. Kohler became president of Hebrew Union College at Cincinnati (1903–21), where he also taught a number of courses. A prolific scholar, his single best-known work is Jewish Theology Systematically and Historically Considered (1910). |
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