Description
This is the bookstamp of Mosheh Mordekhai Yiśraʼel (also Moses Mordecai Yisroel or Israel) Rivkind (1861–1940), a rabbi and maggid (preacher) in the United States.
Rabbi Rivkind grew up in Dvinsk and other Russian towns, where he received his education. He served in several synagogues in different cities, including St. Paul, MN, Indianapolis, IN, Des Moines, IA (Congregation Beth El Jacob), Philadelphia, PA (Congregation Kesher Israel), New York, NY (Kehal Adath Jeshurun), and possibly Dorchester, Massachusetts where he is buried.
It is believed that he frequently changed positions due to disagreements concerning his authority and conduct as rabbi. During his career, his smicha (rabbinical ordination) was challenged, and in 1896 he requested and later received a letter from the Chief Rabbi of Israel attesting to his rabbinical ordination and recommending him for a position as rabbi in the United States.
He is known for his work “Gedulat Mordecai” (Chicago, 1904), which includes a commentary on the weekly Torah portions of Bereshit (Genesis), a responsum on the direction Jews should face when praying in America, and guidance on how to raise Jewish children in America.
The outermost Hebrew writing on his bookstamp says: “This is the rabbinical court stamp of Rabbi Mosheh Mordekhai Yiśraʼel Rivḳind, son of Rabbi Gedalyahu of blessed memory, head of the rabbinical court here.” Below his name in English is the Hebrew phrase “an Efrati man,” denoting his descent from the tribe of Ephraim. In the center of the stamp is a Jewish star and within the star is the Hebrew acronym יר"ה , meaning “Almighty” or “His Majesty.”
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cat:Brisman-2014-07-23T12_16_47