Tevele Schiff
Encyclopedia
Chief Rabbi David Tevele Schiff (died December 17, 1791) was the chief rabbi
of the United Kingdom
and the rabbi of the Great Synagogue of London
from 1765 until his death.
He was the son of Solomon Schiff, member of a famous and learned family from Frankfurt am Main. His mother was Roesche, daughter of the quarrelsome Reb Aberle London. Tevele Schiff was educated in the schools of Rabbis Jacob Poper and Jacob Joshua Falk. He served as maggid
in Vienna
. He also was head of the Beth Midrash
in Worms
, and later dayan in Frankfurt.
After Hart Lyon left London in 1764 it was agreed that his successor should be appointed and maintained by the Great Synagogue
and the Hambro' Synagogue
jointly. However, they could not agree on a single name. The Great Synagogue appointed Rabbi Schiff on February 24, 1765, while the Hambro' Synagogue appointed Rabbi Israel Meshullam Zalman (who became known in England as Meshullam Solomon
).
Each Rabbi claimed authority over the whole Kingdom. The problem was resolved only after a split within the community at Portsmouth
. Although a dissident group of the Portsmouth Jewish population established a rival congregation recognising the authority of Meshullam Solomon, the main community formally accepted the authority of Rabbi Schiff. When in 1766 the Rabbi of the Great Synagogue began to be known by the title "The Chief Rabbi", and Meshullam Solomon returned to Hamburg in 1780, all communities accepted Tevele Schiff's authority.
Schiff carried on a detailed correspondence with his brother the Rabbi of Copenhagen
, which casts an interesting light on Jewish social life in Georgian London. The economic depression
following the end of the American War of Independence
led to frequent calls for the reduction of his salary. In addition to this, after Rabbi Meshullam Solomon left London, Rabbi Schiff was expected to do the work of the Hambro' Synagogue as well. Overworked and underpaid, he tried unsuccessfully to obtain appointments at Rotterdam
and Würzburg
in 1781 and 1782 respectively.
He died on December 17, 1791, after having occupied the Rabbinate for twenty-seven years. His wife, Breinle Sinzheim, had died many years before, shortly after his appointment to London, leaving him an only son, Moses. He was in the old burial-ground in Mile End
, in immediate proximity to Rabbi Aaron Hart and the founders of the congregation. His son, Moses Schiff, perpetuated his memory by arranging for the publication of his responsa, sermons, and expositions, under the title Lashon Zahav, which means the "Golden tongue".
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the rabbi of the Great Synagogue of London
Great Synagogue of London
The Great Synagogue of London was, for centuries, the centre of Ashkenazi synagogue and Jewish life in London. It was destroyed during World War II, in the Blitz.-History:...
from 1765 until his death.
He was the son of Solomon Schiff, member of a famous and learned family from Frankfurt am Main. His mother was Roesche, daughter of the quarrelsome Reb Aberle London. Tevele Schiff was educated in the schools of Rabbis Jacob Poper and Jacob Joshua Falk. He served as maggid
Maggid
Maggid , sometimes spelled as magid, is a traditional Eastern European Jewish religious itinerant preacher, skilled as a narrator of Torah and religious stories. A preacher of the more scholarly sort was called a "darshan", and usually occupied the official position of rabbi...
in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. He also was head of the Beth Midrash
Beth midrash
Beth Midrash refers to a study hall, whether in a synagogue, yeshiva, kollel, or other building. It is distinct from a synagogue, although many synagogues are also used as batei midrash and vice versa....
in Worms
Worms, Germany
Worms is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Rhine River. At the end of 2004, it had 85,829 inhabitants.Established by the Celts, who called it Borbetomagus, Worms today remains embattled with the cities Trier and Cologne over the title of "Oldest City in Germany." Worms is the only...
, and later dayan in Frankfurt.
After Hart Lyon left London in 1764 it was agreed that his successor should be appointed and maintained by the Great Synagogue
Great Synagogue of London
The Great Synagogue of London was, for centuries, the centre of Ashkenazi synagogue and Jewish life in London. It was destroyed during World War II, in the Blitz.-History:...
and the Hambro' Synagogue
United Synagogue
United Synagogue is an organisation of London Jews that was founded with the sanction of an Act of Parliament, in 1870. , it remains the largest religious grouping within the British Jewish community and indeed in Europe, covering 62 Orthodox Jewish communities...
jointly. However, they could not agree on a single name. The Great Synagogue appointed Rabbi Schiff on February 24, 1765, while the Hambro' Synagogue appointed Rabbi Israel Meshullam Zalman (who became known in England as Meshullam Solomon
Meshullam Solomon
Israel Meshullam Solomon was one of two rival Chief Rabbis of the United Kingdom and the rabbi of the Hambro' Synagogue. Solomon claimed authority as Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom from 1765 to 1780, while Rabbi Tevele Schiff claimed the same authority from 1765 to 1791...
).
Each Rabbi claimed authority over the whole Kingdom. The problem was resolved only after a split within the community at Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
. Although a dissident group of the Portsmouth Jewish population established a rival congregation recognising the authority of Meshullam Solomon, the main community formally accepted the authority of Rabbi Schiff. When in 1766 the Rabbi of the Great Synagogue began to be known by the title "The Chief Rabbi", and Meshullam Solomon returned to Hamburg in 1780, all communities accepted Tevele Schiff's authority.
Schiff carried on a detailed correspondence with his brother the Rabbi of Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, which casts an interesting light on Jewish social life in Georgian London. The economic depression
Depression (economics)
In economics, a depression is a sustained, long-term downturn in economic activity in one or more economies. It is a more severe downturn than a recession, which is seen by some economists as part of the modern business cycle....
following the end of the American War of Independence
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
led to frequent calls for the reduction of his salary. In addition to this, after Rabbi Meshullam Solomon left London, Rabbi Schiff was expected to do the work of the Hambro' Synagogue as well. Overworked and underpaid, he tried unsuccessfully to obtain appointments at Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
and Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
in 1781 and 1782 respectively.
He died on December 17, 1791, after having occupied the Rabbinate for twenty-seven years. His wife, Breinle Sinzheim, had died many years before, shortly after his appointment to London, leaving him an only son, Moses. He was in the old burial-ground in Mile End
Mile End
Mile End is an area within the East End of London, England, and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is located east-northeast of Charing Cross...
, in immediate proximity to Rabbi Aaron Hart and the founders of the congregation. His son, Moses Schiff, perpetuated his memory by arranging for the publication of his responsa, sermons, and expositions, under the title Lashon Zahav, which means the "Golden tongue".