Bookstamp of the Jüdisch-Theologisches Seminar (Breslau, Germany)

Bookstamp of the Jüdisch-Theologisches Seminar (Breslau, Germany)

Jüdisch-Theologisches Seminar (Breslau, Germany)

This is the bookstamp of the Jüdisch-Theologisches Seminar zu Breslau (est. 1854), the Jewish Theological Seminary in Breslau. It was the first modern rabbinical seminary in Central Europe and ideologically aligned itself in the middle between dogmatic orthodoxy and reform Judaism.

From 1854-1938 the seminary succeeded in graduating 250 rabbis. Youth leaders and teachers were also trained there when the institution expanded after World War I.

Beginning in 1933, the student population of the seminary decreased with the beginning of the Nazi occupation. In November 1938, the seminary was plundered on Kristallnacht. Most of its library, which contained over 30,000 volumes and more than 400 Hebrew manuscripts, was destroyed.

Although the seminary was ordered to shut down by the Nazis shortly thereafter, two more rabbinical students were secretly ordained on February 21st, 1939. Many of the students were sent to Buchenwald concentration camp. What remained of the library was confiscated by the Nazis, split and transferred from Breslau.

Most of the library's collection is now housed at the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw and in depositories in Russia. Part of the collection is believed to have been lost during the war.

Jüdisch-Theologisches Seminar (Breslau, Germany)

Catalogue of Manuscripts and Archival Materials of Juedisch-Theologisches Seminar in Breslau held in Russian Depositories. Moscow: Rudomino, 2003.

Jewish Encyclopedia

Jewish Virtual Library

Digital Image: Washington University in Saint Louis

Ink

German

Bookstamp

bri_stp_igrot_judischtheolseminarszubreslau_0143.jpg
bri_stp_igrot_judischtheolseminarszubreslau_0143.jpg

cat:Brisman-2013-08-16T14_13_20