Jewish Theological Seminary – University of Jewish Studies

The Jewish Theological Seminary – University of Jewish Studies ( _hu. Országos Rabbiképző – Zsidó Egyetem, or Országos Rabbiképző Intézet / _de. Landesrabbinerschule in Budapest) is a university in Budapest, Hungary.

The efforts to found a rabbinical seminary in Hungary date back to the beginning of the 19th century. The various projects, however, did not receive tangible form until a Jewish school fund had been created by King Francis Joseph in 1850 (see Jew. Encyc. vi. 502, s.v. Hungary). The government made an attempt to open a rabbinical school in 1864, but because of internal party quarrels the matter dragged on until 1873. After a building had been erected especially for its requirements the institute was opened October 4, 1877. Iת צהאסהד תע הץיסת ינ תחה 1930ס.

Organization

The institute was under the supervision of the ministry of religion, which appointed the teachers upon nomination by the council (consisting of twelve clerical and twelve lay members), of which M. Schweiger was president and Dr. J. Simon secretary ever since the institute's foundation. The course of study extended over ten years and was divided into two equal periods; one being devoted to the lower department, the other to the upper. The former corresponded to an "Obergymnasium"; and the requirement for admission was the possession of a diploma from an "Untergymnasium", or the passing of an entrance examination covering the equivalent of the course of study pursued there as well as a certain amount of Hebrew and Talmudics. The diplomas from this department were recognized by the state, and commanded admittance into any department of the universities or schools of technology. After the completion of the courses offered by the upper department, including attendance under the faculty of philosophy at the university, a year of probation followed. This was concluded in February by an oral examination after the candidate had presented three written theses on Biblical, rabbinic-Talmudic, and historical or religious-philosophical subjects respectively. At graduation he received a rabbinical diploma, which was recognized by the state. To supplement the regular course of training there were students' societies in both departments.

The library of the institute contained about 25,000 volumes of manuscripts and printed works, which were accessible to all in the reading-room.

1906 Faculty

Since its foundation the institute had had 18 teachers. In 1906 professors in the department of theology were:

* Dr. Wilhelm Bacher (Bible and Midrash);
* M. Bloch (Talmud and Shulchan Aruch);
* Dr. L. Blau (history, Bible, and Talmud; also librarian);
* Dr. Ignác Goldziher (philosophy of religion);
* and Dr. S. Kohn (homiletics).

Among former teachers had been:

* "Rabbinatspräses" S. L. Brill (until 1887; d. 1893);
* D. Kaufmann (d. 1899; also librarian);
* H. Deutsch (until 1888; d. 1889).

The professors of the gymnasium courses were:
* A. Balogh (since 1892);
* K. Bein (since 1878);
* Dr. H. Bloch (since 1881);
* S. Schill (since 1878);
* director, Dr. I. Bánóczi (1877-1892).

The singing-master was Chief Cantor A. Lazarus.

External links

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Bibliography (Jewish Encyclopedia)

* I. Bánóczi, "Gesch. des Ersten Jahrzehnts der Landes-Rabbinerschule" (Supplement to the Annual Report for 1887-88);
* Ludwig Blau, "Brill, Sámuel Löw", pp. 27-32, Budapest, 1902;
* S. Schill, "A Budapesti Országos Rabbiképzöintézet Története", Budapest, 1896;
* "Annual Reports" (with literary supplements)

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