David Max Eichhorn
Encyclopedia
David Max Eichhorn was rabbi of Reform Judaism
, a director for Hillel
, a chaplain
in the Army
with a long record of service to Jews in the military, an author, and an authority within Reform Judaism on the subjects of interfaith marriage and religious conversion
.
on January 6, 1906, the son of Joseph and Anna Eichhorn. He attended the Temple Shaarai Shomayim religious school in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
, was confirmed there in 1921, and graduated from Columbia High School in 1923. He enrolled at Hebrew Union College
in 1924, graduated, and was ordained as a rabbi
in 1931.
Eichhorn served as the first rabbi of Sinai Temple in Springfield, Massachusetts
from 1932-1934, and was the rabbi at Sinai Temple in Texarkana, Arkansas
from 1935-1938. In 1935, Eichhorn married Zelda Socol of Texarkana, Arkansas; the couple went on to have four children: Jonathan, Michael, Jeremiah, and Judith Ann. In 1938, he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Hebrew Union College. Eichhorn was the first rabbi of Temple Israel in Tallahassee, Florida from 1939-1942. He was also the first director for Hillel in the state of Florida at the University of Florida in Gainesville and Florida State College for Women in Tallahassee.
In 1941, Rabbi Eichhorn enlisted in the Army
as a chaplain
. Throughout World War II
, Eichhorn was assigned to serve in combat units in France and Germany, and was among the troops that liberated Dachau.
After returning from the war in 1945, Rabbi Eichhorn retained his active military status in the United States Army Reserve
. He worked for the Committee on Army and Navy Religious Activities (known later as the Commission on Jewish Chaplaincy) of the National Jewish Welfare Board
as Director of Field Operations of the federal chaplaincy program. The Board is authorized by the Government to serve the religious needs of Jewish military personnel. He was also the president of the Association of Jewish Chaplains of the Armed Forces from 1953-1955. He retired from the military with the rank of lieutenant colonel
in 1968.
In 1970, Eichhorn left the Board and founded Temple Israel in Merritt Island, Florida
.
Eichhorn wrote many books, and was known primarily for research in the areas of interfaith marriage and religious conversion.
Eichhorn died on July 16, 1986 of a heart attack at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Florida
.
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
, a director for Hillel
Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life
Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, working with thousands of college students globally...
, a chaplain
Military chaplain
A military chaplain is a chaplain who ministers to soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and other members of the military. In many countries, chaplains also minister to the family members of military personnel, to civilian noncombatants working for military organizations and to civilians within the...
in the Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
with a long record of service to Jews in the military, an author, and an authority within Reform Judaism on the subjects of interfaith marriage and religious conversion
Religious conversion
Religious conversion is the adoption of a new religion that differs from the convert's previous religion. Changing from one denomination to another within the same religion is usually described as reaffiliation rather than conversion.People convert to a different religion for various reasons,...
.
Biographic Summary
David Max Eichhorn was born in Columbia, PennsylvaniaColumbia, Pennsylvania
Columbia, once colonial Wright's Ferry, is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 28 miles southeast of Harrisburg on the left bank Susquehanna River across from Wrightsville and York County. Originally, the area may have been called Conejohela Flats, for the many islands and islets in the...
on January 6, 1906, the son of Joseph and Anna Eichhorn. He attended the Temple Shaarai Shomayim religious school in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
, was confirmed there in 1921, and graduated from Columbia High School in 1923. He enrolled at Hebrew Union College
Hebrew Union College
The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is the oldest extant Jewish seminary in the Americas and the main seminary for training rabbis, cantors, educators and communal workers in Reform Judaism.HUC-JIR has campuses in Cincinnati, New York, Los Angeles and Jerusalem.The Jerusalem...
in 1924, graduated, and was ordained as a rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
in 1931.
Eichhorn served as the first rabbi of Sinai Temple in Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
from 1932-1934, and was the rabbi at Sinai Temple in Texarkana, Arkansas
Texarkana, Arkansas
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,448 people, 10,384 households, and 7,040 families residing in the city. The population density was 830.5 people per square mile . There were 11,721 housing units at an average density of 368.1 per square mile...
from 1935-1938. In 1935, Eichhorn married Zelda Socol of Texarkana, Arkansas; the couple went on to have four children: Jonathan, Michael, Jeremiah, and Judith Ann. In 1938, he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Hebrew Union College. Eichhorn was the first rabbi of Temple Israel in Tallahassee, Florida from 1939-1942. He was also the first director for Hillel in the state of Florida at the University of Florida in Gainesville and Florida State College for Women in Tallahassee.
In 1941, Rabbi Eichhorn enlisted in the Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
as a chaplain
Military chaplain
A military chaplain is a chaplain who ministers to soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and other members of the military. In many countries, chaplains also minister to the family members of military personnel, to civilian noncombatants working for military organizations and to civilians within the...
. Throughout World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Eichhorn was assigned to serve in combat units in France and Germany, and was among the troops that liberated Dachau.
After returning from the war in 1945, Rabbi Eichhorn retained his active military status in the United States Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
. He worked for the Committee on Army and Navy Religious Activities (known later as the Commission on Jewish Chaplaincy) of the National Jewish Welfare Board
National Jewish Welfare Board
The National Jewish Welfare Board was formed on April 9, 1917, three days after the United States declared war on Germany. The organization was charged with recruiting and training rabbis for military service, as well as providing support materials to these newly commissioned chaplains...
as Director of Field Operations of the federal chaplaincy program. The Board is authorized by the Government to serve the religious needs of Jewish military personnel. He was also the president of the Association of Jewish Chaplains of the Armed Forces from 1953-1955. He retired from the military with the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
in 1968.
In 1970, Eichhorn left the Board and founded Temple Israel in Merritt Island, Florida
Merritt Island, Florida
Merritt Island is a census-designated place in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It is located on the east coast of the state on the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2000 census, the population was 36,090. It is part of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Eichhorn wrote many books, and was known primarily for research in the areas of interfaith marriage and religious conversion.
Eichhorn died on July 16, 1986 of a heart attack at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of 2009, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 78,323. The municipal area is the second largest by size and by population in the county. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida...
.
Selected Bibliography
- Cain: son of the serpent: A midrash or homiletical narration of the fourth chapter of the book of Genesis (1957) ASIN B0007DPULO
- Musings of the Old Professor: The meaning of Koheles (1963) ISBN 978-0824604790
- Conversion to Judaism: A History and Analysis (1965) David Max Eichhorn, ed. ASIN B000H0SM1W
- Jewish intermarriages: Fact and fiction (1974) ASIN B0006W2D9I
- Evangelizing the American Jew: An account of Christian attempts to convert the Jews of the United States and Canada (1976) ASIN B0007ASIIE
- Joys of Jewish Folklore (1981) ISBN 978-0824602338
- Hagar and Ishmael: A study in Arab-Jewish relations (1985) ASIN B0006YTTWK
- The GI's rabbi: World War II letters of David Max Eichhorn (2004) David Max Eichhorn; Greg Palmer, Mark S. Zaid eds. ISBN 978-0-7006-1356-4
External Links
- The David Max Eichhorn Papers collection at the American Jewish Archives -- Contains correspondence relating to the question of Reform rabbis officiating at intermarriages
- Rabbi David Max Eichhorn Dachau Liberation 1945 -- In this video, Rabbi Eichhorn conducts services at the first Sabbath after his company liberated Dachau