Maimonides College

Defunct Jewish institute of higher education in Philadelphia (1867–1873)

Maimonides CollegeType| Jewish seminary

|

Active| October 28, 1867 (1867-10-28)–December 1873 (1873-12)
Founder| Isaac Leeser
Affiliation| Hebrew Education Society of Philadelphia
Board of Delegates of American Israelites

Religious affiliation

| Judaism
Location|

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

United States

Maimonides College was a Jewish institute of higher education which existed in Philadelphia from 1867 to 1873.[1][2] It was named for the great mediaeval Jewish philosopher and Torah sage, Maimonides.[1] Although short-lived, it was the first Jewish theological seminary in the United States.[3]

On Dec. 4, 1864, a meeting was held which resulted in the establishment of the first Jewish theological seminary in America. The need of such an institution was strongly felt, as there were numerous synagogues in the country, but few persons capable of filling the rabbinical office. The seminary was established under the joint auspices of the Hebrew Education Society of Philadelphia and the Board of Delegates of American Israelites; it was opened Oct. 28, 1867, with Isaac Leeser as its provost. Sabato Morais, Marcus Jastrow, Aaron S. Bettelheim, L. Buttenwieser, William H. Williams; and the provost comprised the faculty. At a later date Hyman Polano and George Jacobs were added to this number.[4]

Abraham Hart was president, and Mayer Sulzberger secretary, of the board of trustees. Lawyer and philanthropist Moses A. Dropsie was the first president of the college,[5] followed by Isidore Binswanger.

After an activity extending through six years Maimonides College was closed in December 1873 due to financial difficulties; its closure was a major motivator for the founding of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.[6]

## References

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1. ^ a b Grinstein, Hyman B. (1937). "American Jewry and Maimonides". Publications of the American Jewish Historical Society (34): 268–270\. ISSN 0146-5511.
2. ^ Korn, Betram W. (1954). "The First American Jewish Theological Seminary: Maimonides College, 1867–1873". Eventful Years and Experiences, Studies in Nineteenth Century American Jewish History. Cincinnati: American Jewish Archives. pp. 151–213.
3. ^ "Philadelphia". www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
4. ^  Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "Philadelphia". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.
5. ^ Sulzberger, David (1907). "Moses Aaron Dropsie". Publications of the American Jewish Historical Society (16): 193–195\. ISSN 0146-5511.
6. ^ Meyer, Michael A. (March 12, 2015). "A "Reform" School for Jewish Boys". Reform Judaism. Retrieved 2023-10-04.

*  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "Philadelphia". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.