Saalschütz, Joseph Lewin

German rabbi and archeologist; born March 15, 1801, at Königsberg, East Prussia; died there Aug. 23, 1863. Having received his education at the gymnasium and university of his native city (Ph.D. 1824), he held several positions as rabbi and teacher at the Israelitic communal schools of Berlin and Vienna. Returning in 1835 to Königsberg, he became rabbi there, and in 1847 privat-docent in Hebrew archeology at Königsberg University.

In Hebrew archeology Saalschütz was a pioneer among the Jews. Among his works may be mentioned: "Von der Form der Hebräischen Poesie Nebst einer Abhandlung über die Musik der Hebräer" (Königsberg, 1825), reedited (ib. 1853) under the title "Form und Geist der Biblisch-Hebräischen Poesie"; "Geschichte und Würdigung der Musik bei den Hebräern Nebst einem Anhang über die Hebräische Orgel" (Berlin, 1830); "Gotteslehre" (Vienna, 1833), a book on the Jewish religion, formerly used in many schools in Austria and Hungary; "Forschungen im Gebiete der Hebräisch-Aegyptischen Archäologie" (Königsberg, 1838); "Die Versöhnung der Confessionen, oder Judenthum und Christenthum in Ihrem Streit und Einklange" (ib. 1844); "Vocabularium zum Hebräischen Gebetbuche," with supplement; "Einleitung in die Hebräische Grammatik"(ib. 1844). He also edited a new edition of Johann David Michaelis' "Das Mosaische Recht mit Berücksichtigung des Spätern Jädischen" (Berlin, 1846-48), in two parts: part i., on public law, is subdivided into six parts; and part ii. into three. Other works by him are: "Das Königthum vom Israelitisch-Bi blischen Standpunkte" (1852); "Zur Geschichte der Unsterblichkeitslehre bei den Hebräern" (1853); "Archäologie der Hebräer" (Königsberg, 1855-56), in twelve parts: (1) dress, home, and food; (2) life and industries; (3) religion; (4) art; (5) literature; (6) science; (7) customs; (8) family; (9) city law; (10) the administration of law; (11) priests and superstitions; (12) government (this book still remains the only complete survey of the subject from a Jewish standpoint); "Repetitionsbüchlein der Israelitischen Religion und Sittenlehre"; and "Gebetbuch der Synagoge" (1859).

Saalschütz's son, Louis, is assistant professor of mathematics at Königsberg University (1905).

Bibliography:

  * S. Carpin, in Allg. Zeit. des Jud. Oct. 18, 1901.



S. F. T. H.