The author, Isaac Rosenberg, received his semichah at the Rabbiner-Seminar (Hildesheimer) in Berlin in 1888, and graced the synagogue pulpit in the eastern German city of Thorn for twenty-fififive years. He belonged to a new class of rabbis known as "Rabbiner Doktor" – with Ph.D.s as well as rabbinic ordination. A leader in his community, Dr. Rosenberg delivered passionate sermons in impeccable High German – sermons that uplifted and inspired rather than rebuked. Yet they contain messages that are as fresh today as they were a century ago. This English volume includes an intriguing introduction by Dr. Fred Gottlieb on the history of German- Jewish homiletics and associated controversies.(Language: English, Original Language; German) In the year 1897, Isaac Rosenberg accepted the pulpit of a synagogue in the East German town of Thorn. He was one of a new class of rabbis at the turn of the century known as “Rabbiner Doktor” – with Ph.D. degrees as well as rabbinical ordination. Well ensconced as a leader in his community, Rabbi Rosenberg delivered passionate sermons to his congregants on the occasion of Jewish festivals – sermons that uplifted rather than scolded, that inspired a community of Jews whose religious observance was waning with love for their families and pride in Judaism's contributions to the world. Rabbi Rosenberg’s sermons, called Predigten, were delivered in impeccable High German. This collection was originally published in Frankfurt am Main in 1903 with the title Festpredigten, meaning “Festival Sermons.” Many German rabbis from that era published their sermons, but very few have been translated into English. In addition to being of interest to students of homiletics and history, this volume contains messages that are relevant for us today – messages that the English reader can enjoy and take to heart.
