Spitzer, Samuel

Hungarian rabbi; born in 1839 at Keszthely, where his father was rabbi; died in 1896; a descendant of Yom-Ṭob Lipmann Heller. He studied at Prague, and became rabbi at Esseg in 1856. He was generally recognized as an authority on religious questions, and several humanitarian societies were founded within his congregation as a result of his activity.

Besides several sermons, Spitzer published numerous works on the history of civilization, of which the following may be mentioned: "Das Heer- und Wehrgesetz der Alten Israeliten, Griechen, und Römer," 1869; "Die Jüdische Ehe," Esseg, 1869; "Die Jüdische Gemeindeordnung," ib. 1873; "Das Mahl bei den Alten Völkern," Presburg, 1877; "Urheimisch in Slavischen Ländern," 1880; "Das Jubiläum in Wörtlicher und Historischer Bedeutung," Esseg, 1882; "Das Blutgespenst auf Seine Wahre Quelle Zurückgeführt," 1883; "Das Religiöse Bedenken, oder Kann Man den Eid vor einem Andersgläubigen Ablegen?" 1883; "Ueber Baden und Bäder bei den Alten," 1883; "Die Uhr bei den Alten," 1885; "Ueber Sitte und Sitten der Alten Völker," 1886; and "Der Brief bei den Alten Völkern," 1893.

S. G. S.