Cyrus Adler
Encyclopedia
Cyrus Adler was a U.S. educator, Jewish religious leader and scholar.
, Arkansas
, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania
in 1883 and gained a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University
in 1887, where he taught Semitic languages
from 1884 to 1893. He was employed by the Smithsonian Institution
for a number of years, with a focus on archaeology and Semitics, serving as the Librarian from 1892-1905. He was a founder of the Jewish Welfare Board
, and an editor of the Jewish Encyclopedia
, and part of the committee that translated the Jewish Publication Society version of the Hebrew Bible
published in 1917. At the end of World War I, he participarted in the Paris Peace Conference
in 1919.
His many scholarly writings include articles on comparative religion, Assyriology
, and Semitic philology
.
He was president of the Dropsie College for Hebrew and Cognate Learning
1908 to 1940 and Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
. He was also a contributor to the New International Encyclopedia
. In addition, he was a founding member of the Oriental Club of Philadelphia
.
Adler was a bachelor much of his life, marrying Racie Friedenwald of Baltimore in 1905, when he was 42. They had one child, a daughter Sarah.
He died in Philadelphia, and his papers are held by the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies
at the University of Pennsylvania.
Biography
Adler was born in Van BurenVan Buren, Arkansas
Van Buren is the second largest city in the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area and the county seat of Crawford County, Arkansas, United States. The city is located directly northeast of Fort Smith at the Interstate 40 - Interstate 540 junction...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1883 and gained a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in 1887, where he taught Semitic languages
Semitic languages
The Semitic languages are a group of related languages whose living representatives are spoken by more than 270 million people across much of the Middle East, North Africa and the Horn of Africa...
from 1884 to 1893. He was employed by the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
for a number of years, with a focus on archaeology and Semitics, serving as the Librarian from 1892-1905. He was a founder of the Jewish Welfare Board
Jewish Welfare Board
Jewish Welfare Board may refer to:* National Jewish Welfare Board * the UK Jewish Welfare Board, since 1990 part of the charity Jewish Care...
, and an editor of the Jewish Encyclopedia
Jewish Encyclopedia
The Jewish Encyclopedia is an encyclopedia originally published in New York between 1901 and 1906 by Funk and Wagnalls. It contained over 15,000 articles in 12 volumes on the history and then-current state of Judaism and the Jews as of 1901...
, and part of the committee that translated the Jewish Publication Society version of the Hebrew Bible
Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible is a term used by biblical scholars outside of Judaism to refer to the Tanakh , a canonical collection of Jewish texts, and the common textual antecedent of the several canonical editions of the Christian Old Testament...
published in 1917. At the end of World War I, he participarted in the Paris Peace Conference
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities...
in 1919.
His many scholarly writings include articles on comparative religion, Assyriology
Assyriology
Assyriology is the archaeological, historical, and linguistic study of ancient Mesopotamia and the related cultures that used cuneiform writing. The field covers the Akkadian sister-cultures of Assyria and Babylonia, together with their cultural predecessor; Sumer...
, and Semitic philology
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
.
He was president of the Dropsie College for Hebrew and Cognate Learning
Center for Advanced Judaic Studies
The Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania is the world's only institution exclusively dedicated to post-doctoral research on Jewish Civilization. It is located at 420 Walnut Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The center is directed by Professor David B...
1908 to 1940 and Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
The Jewish Theological Seminary of America is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism, and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies.JTS operates five schools: Albert A...
. He was also a contributor to the New International Encyclopedia
New International Encyclopedia
The New International Encyclopedia was an American encyclopedia first published in 1902 by Dodd, Mead and Company. It descended from the International Cyclopaedia and was updated in 1906, 1914 and 1926.-History:...
. In addition, he was a founding member of the Oriental Club of Philadelphia
Oriental Club of Philadelphia
The Oriental Club of Philadelphia is one of the oldest continuously-active academic clubs in the United States. It was founded on April 30th, 1888, with the aim of "bring[ing] together those interested in the several fields of Oriental study, for the interchange of ideas, and the encouragement of...
.
Adler was a bachelor much of his life, marrying Racie Friedenwald of Baltimore in 1905, when he was 42. They had one child, a daughter Sarah.
He died in Philadelphia, and his papers are held by the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies
Center for Advanced Judaic Studies
The Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania is the world's only institution exclusively dedicated to post-doctoral research on Jewish Civilization. It is located at 420 Walnut Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The center is directed by Professor David B...
at the University of Pennsylvania.
Further reading
- Adler, Cyrus. I Have Considered the Days. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society of America, 1941.
- Neuman, Abraham A. Cyrus Adler: A Biographical Sketch. New York: The American Jewish Committee, 1942.
External links
- Articles written by Cyrus Adler on the Berman Jewish Policy Archive @ NYU Wagner
- The Jewish Theological Seminary, New York archival entry on Adler's papers.
- Center for Jewish History Guide to the papers of Cyrus Adler (and biography).
- Fact Monster Entry for Cyrus Adler.