Adolf Neubauer
Encyclopedia
Adolf Neubauer was sublibrarian at the Bodleian Library
and reader in Rabbinic Hebrew at Oxford University.
Born in Bittse, Hungary
, he received a thorough education in rabbinical literature.
In 1850 he obtained a position at the Austrian Consulate in Jerusalem. At this time he published articles about the situation of the city's Jewish population, which aroused the anger of some leaders of that community, with whom he became involved in a prolonged controversy.
In 1857 he moved to Paris where he continued his studies of Judaism and started producing scientific publications. His earliest contributions were made to the Allgemeine Zeitung des Judenthums and the Journal Asiatique (Dec., 1861).
to examine the numerous, hitherto unpublished Karaite manuscripts preserved there. As a result of this investigation he published a report in French, and subsequently Aus der Petersburger Bibliothek (1866).
The work which established his reputation, however, was La Géographie du Talmud (1868), an account of the geographical data scattered throughout the Talmud
and early Jewish writings and relating to places in the Land of Israel
.
Starting in 1865 he lived in England and in 1868 his services were secured by the University of Oxford for the task of cataloging the Hebrew manuscripts in the Bodleian Library
. The catalog appeared in 1886 after 18 years of preparation. The volume includes more than 2,500 entries, and is accompanied by a portfolio with forty facsimiles.
While engaged in this work Neubauer published other works of considerable importance. In 1875 he edited the Arabic text of the Hebrew dictionary of Abu al-Walid (the Book of Hebrew Roots), and in 1876 published Jewish Interpretations of the Fifty-third Chapter of Isaiah
, which was edited by Neubauer and translated by Samuel Rolles Driver
jointly in 1877.
In the same year he contributed Les Rabbins Français du Commencement du XIVe Siècle to L'Histoire Littéraire de la France, though, according to the rules of the French Academy, it appeared under the name of Renan
.
In 1878 Neubauer edited the Aramaic text of the Book of Tobit
, in 1887 the volume entitled Mediæval Jewish Chronicles (vol. ii., 1895), and in 1897, with Cowley, The Original Hebrew of a Portion of Ecclesiasticus.
In 1892 together with Stern he published a German translation of a medieval chronicle of the First Crusade
, Hebräische Berichte über die Judenverfolgungen Während der Kreuzzüge.
He was the first to discover fragment of the Hebrew text of Ben Sira
.
In 1884 a readership in Rabbinic Hebrew was founded at Oxford, and Neubauer was appointed to the post which he held for 16 years until failing eyesight compelled his resignation in May, 1900. Neubauer's chief fame has been won as a librarian in which capacity he enriched the Bodleian with many priceless treasures, displaying great judgment in their acquisition. Among other things he acquired manuscripts from the Cairo Geniza as well as Yemenite
manuscripts.
He received the M.A. degree at Oxford in 1873 and was elected an honorary fellow of Exeter College
in 1890. In the latter year he received the honorary degree of PhD from the University of Heidelberg and was made an honorary member of the Real Academia de la Historia
at Madrid
.
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
and reader in Rabbinic Hebrew at Oxford University.
Born in Bittse, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, he received a thorough education in rabbinical literature.
In 1850 he obtained a position at the Austrian Consulate in Jerusalem. At this time he published articles about the situation of the city's Jewish population, which aroused the anger of some leaders of that community, with whom he became involved in a prolonged controversy.
In 1857 he moved to Paris where he continued his studies of Judaism and started producing scientific publications. His earliest contributions were made to the Allgemeine Zeitung des Judenthums and the Journal Asiatique (Dec., 1861).
Works
In 1865 he published a volume entitled Meleket ha-Shir, a collection of extracts from manuscripts relating to the principles of Hebrew versification. In 1864 Neubauer was entrusted with a mission to Saint PetersburgSaint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
to examine the numerous, hitherto unpublished Karaite manuscripts preserved there. As a result of this investigation he published a report in French, and subsequently Aus der Petersburger Bibliothek (1866).
The work which established his reputation, however, was La Géographie du Talmud (1868), an account of the geographical data scattered throughout the Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
and early Jewish writings and relating to places in the Land of Israel
Land of Israel
The Land of Israel is the Biblical name for the territory roughly corresponding to the area encompassed by the Southern Levant, also known as Canaan and Palestine, Promised Land and Holy Land. The belief that the area is a God-given homeland of the Jewish people is based on the narrative of the...
.
Starting in 1865 he lived in England and in 1868 his services were secured by the University of Oxford for the task of cataloging the Hebrew manuscripts in the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
. The catalog appeared in 1886 after 18 years of preparation. The volume includes more than 2,500 entries, and is accompanied by a portfolio with forty facsimiles.
While engaged in this work Neubauer published other works of considerable importance. In 1875 he edited the Arabic text of the Hebrew dictionary of Abu al-Walid (the Book of Hebrew Roots), and in 1876 published Jewish Interpretations of the Fifty-third Chapter of Isaiah
Isaiah
Isaiah ; Greek: ', Ēsaïās ; "Yahu is salvation") was a prophet in the 8th-century BC Kingdom of Judah.Jews and Christians consider the Book of Isaiah a part of their Biblical canon; he is the first listed of the neviim akharonim, the later prophets. Many of the New Testament teachings of Jesus...
, which was edited by Neubauer and translated by Samuel Rolles Driver
Samuel Rolles Driver
Samuel Rolles Driver was an English divine and Hebrew scholar. He devoted his life to the study, both textual and critical, of the Old Testament. He was the father of Sir Godfrey Rolles Driver, also a distinguished Bible scholar.-Biography:Samuel Rolles Driver was born at Southampton...
jointly in 1877.
In the same year he contributed Les Rabbins Français du Commencement du XIVe Siècle to L'Histoire Littéraire de la France, though, according to the rules of the French Academy, it appeared under the name of Renan
Ernest Renan
Ernest Renan was a French expert of Middle East ancient languages and civilizations, philosopher and writer, devoted to his native province of Brittany...
.
In 1878 Neubauer edited the Aramaic text of the Book of Tobit
Book of Tobit
The Book of Tobit is a book of scripture that is part of the Catholic and Orthodox biblical canon, pronounced canonical by the Council of Carthage of 397 and confirmed for Roman Catholics by the Council of Trent...
, in 1887 the volume entitled Mediæval Jewish Chronicles (vol. ii., 1895), and in 1897, with Cowley, The Original Hebrew of a Portion of Ecclesiasticus.
In 1892 together with Stern he published a German translation of a medieval chronicle of the First Crusade
First Crusade
The First Crusade was a military expedition by Western Christianity to regain the Holy Lands taken in the Muslim conquest of the Levant, ultimately resulting in the recapture of Jerusalem...
, Hebräische Berichte über die Judenverfolgungen Während der Kreuzzüge.
He was the first to discover fragment of the Hebrew text of Ben Sira
Ben Sira
Jesus ben Sirach , commonly known simply as ben Sirach or Sirach and also rendered "Jesus son of Sirach" or "Jesus Siracides", was the author of the deuterocanonical Wisdom of Sirach and possibly the rabbinical Alphabet of Sirach...
.
In 1884 a readership in Rabbinic Hebrew was founded at Oxford, and Neubauer was appointed to the post which he held for 16 years until failing eyesight compelled his resignation in May, 1900. Neubauer's chief fame has been won as a librarian in which capacity he enriched the Bodleian with many priceless treasures, displaying great judgment in their acquisition. Among other things he acquired manuscripts from the Cairo Geniza as well as Yemenite
Yemenite
Yemenite may refer to:*Yemenite, a person from Yemen*Yemeni Arabic, dialect of the Arabic language*Yemenite step, an Israeli folk dance step originating from Yemen*Yemenite Jews...
manuscripts.
He received the M.A. degree at Oxford in 1873 and was elected an honorary fellow of Exeter College
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
in 1890. In the latter year he received the honorary degree of PhD from the University of Heidelberg and was made an honorary member of the Real Academia de la Historia
Real Academia de la Historia
Real Academia de la Historia is a Spanish institution based in Madrid that studies history "ancient and modern, political, civil, ecclesiastical, military, scientific, of letters and arts, that is to say, the different branches of life, of civilisation, and of the culture of the Spanish...
at Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
.
Further reading
Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography- Canon DriverSamuel Rolles DriverSamuel Rolles Driver was an English divine and Hebrew scholar. He devoted his life to the study, both textual and critical, of the Old Testament. He was the father of Sir Godfrey Rolles Driver, also a distinguished Bible scholar.-Biography:Samuel Rolles Driver was born at Southampton...
, in Jew. Chron. Dec., 1899;- ib. 8 March 1901;
- Jewish Year BookJewish Year BookThe Jewish Year Book is an almanac targeted at the Jewish community in the United Kingdom. It has been published every year since 1896 and is currently published by Vallentine Mitchell in association with The Jewish Chronicle and is edited by Stephen W...
, 1899.
External links
- Jewish Encyclopedia article on Adolf Neubauer, by Joseph JacobsJoseph JacobsJoseph Jacobs was a folklorist, literary critic and historian. His works included contributions to the Jewish Encyclopaedia, translations of European works, and critical editions of early English literature...
and Goodman LipkindGoodman LipkindRabbi Goodman Lipkind was a London rabbi who later emigrated to New York. He wrote several articles for the Jewish Encyclopedia in 1906. He is today mainly remembered for having been the factual base for the picture of Joseph Strelitski, the Rabbi who emigrated to America in Israel Zangwill's...
.