MS 390 Papers of Chief Rabbi Hermann Adler

Hermann Adler

Hermann Adler (1839–1911) was born in Hanover in May 1839, the second son of Nathan Marcus Adler (1803-90) who was then chief rabbi of Hanover, and his first wife, Henrietta Worms. The family moved to London in 1845, when Nathan Adler became chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations. Hermann Adler attended University College School and University College, London. He graduated in 1854. Adler studied in Prague, 1860-2, receiving both rabbinical ordination from S.J.Rapoport, Chief Rabbi of Prague, and a PhD from the University of Leipzig in 1862.

Henceforth Adler acted as secretary and assistant to his father. In 1863 he was appointed temporary principal of Jews' College, London. He taught there until 1879 and became chairman in 1887. In February 1864 he became first minister at Bayswater synagogue. Adler established schools in Bayswater and arranged for Jewish religious instruction at schools of the London school board in the East End. In 1891 Adler succeeded his father to the office of chief rabbi.

On 3 September 1867 he married Rachel (d. 1912), elder daughter of Solomon Joseph. They had two daughters and a son.

Adler died in July 1911 and was buried in the Willesden cemetery.

 About the collection

The collection contains three series of correspondence, 1862-1912. There is a series containing letters of congratulations on Adler’s seventieth birthday and condolence letters to his widow, Rachel Adler (d.1912). The other correspondence series include letters from Archbishops of Canterbury and of Westminster, members of the Cohen, Goldsmid, Lucas, Mocatta, Montefiore, Rothschild, Samuel and Sassoon families, with the royal family and household, with the Count of Albany, the Foreign Office, William Gladstone, Hermann Gollancz, Baron Hirsch, Robert C.Jenkins, The Jewish Chronicle, Jews Free School, London, M.Kalisch, David Kaufmann, James Knowles, editor of The nineteenth century, The Archdeacon and Lord Mayor of London, Madame Olga Novikoff, Reginald Stuart Poole, Dr Benjamin Ward Richardson, Lady Rosebery, Revd Samuel Singer, Lieutenant Colonel W.H.Snell, Lord Swaythling, Revd Charles Voysey and Baron Henry de Worms. There is a small quantity of photographs and illustrations, c.late nineteenth century-1910; volumes of notes and sermon notes, 1863-1911.

Date range: 

1862-1912

Former references:

A4049

Size:

14 boxes