Stein, Leopold, 1810-1882

Rabbi Leopold Stein was born on Novermber 5, 1810 in Burgpreppach in Lower Franconia. He decided early in life to become a Talmud teacher and rabbi like his father. At fourteen years of age he began attending the Talmud-Torah school in Fürth. There he became interested in German literature and language, and when the Bavarian government ruled in 1826 that future rabbis must also acquire secondary and university educations, Stein attended the universities of Erlangen and Würzburg. In 1834 his work Stufengesänge was published as part of Stein's candidacy for a theological degree. This volume of poetry contained a reworking of lyrics used in religious services.

Stein had already begun to preach in the synagogues on holidays by the time he was eighteen years old. In 1835, at the age of twenty-four, he became rabbi of Burgkundstadt, where he would remain for the next nine years. It was in Burgkundstadt that Stein became acquainted with Friedrich Rückert, who published some poems of Stein's in his almanac. On May 2, 1839 Stein married Eleonore Wertheimer from Mitwitz, the daughter of Sandel Wertheimer and Getta Wertheimer née Künstler. Together they had seven children.

In 1844 Leopold Stein was called to be a rabbi in Frankfurt am Main, a move which brought about the resignation of the orthodox chief rabbi, Salomon Trier. As a moderate reform rabbi, Stein stood between the orthodox and reform members of the community. In 1845 Stein presided over the Second Reform Rabbinical Conference ( Rabbinerversammlung ) in Frankfurt. He also published two newspapers for the Jewish community, including Der israelitische Volkslehrer and Der Freitagabend, and edited the annual Achawa . In addition, Stein continued in his writing, producing not only poetry but also dramatic works and many translations. His translations of Hebrew religious services into German culminated in the creation of a two-volume prayerbook used in services not only in Frankfurt, but also in Dresden and Augsburg. In 1860 the Orthodox members split from the main Frankfurt community, establishing the Israelitische Religionsgesellschaft . Two years later Stein left his position.

Leopold Stein began preaching at the Reform Westend Synagogue in 1866. With the help of his eldest daughter he founded a school for girls, where he taught until leaving in 1873. It was during this time that the first parts of his most well-known work appeared, Die Schrift des Lebens: Inbegriff des gesamten Judentums in Lehre, Gottesverehrung, und Sittengesetz ; the final part of this work did not appear until after Stein's death. Some of his sermons were also published. After retiring from the school, Stein spent his final years concentrating on his writing.

Leopold Stein died on December 2, 1882 in Frankfurt am Main.

• 1834: Stufengesänge, Gedichte
• 1840: Ḥizuḳ ha-bayit
• 1846: Koheleth: ein Auswahl gettesdienstlicher Vorträge gehalten in der Haupt-Synagoge zu Frankfurt am Main in den Jahren 1844-1846
• 1847: Der Eid "more judaico," wie solcher bei den Gerichten der freien Stadt Frankfurt noch in Übung ist
• 1858: Lehre und Gebot, israelitisches Religionsbuch
• 1861: Mein Dienst-Verhältnis zum isralitischen Gemeinde-Vorstände zu Frankfurt am Main
• 1863: Haus Ehrlich, oder Die Feste: ein jüdisches Familiengemälde aus dem Ende des vorigen Jahrhunderts: Drama in fünf Abzüge
• 1872 - 1910 : Die Schrift des Lebens (Teil 1-3)
• 1873: Torath Chaim, das jüdische Religionsgesetz
• 1875: Aus dem Westen: neue Predigtsammlung
• 1913: Rabbi Akiba und seiner Zeit

From the guide to the Leopold Stein Collection, 1802-1910, 1968, bulk 1811-1870, (Leo Baeck Institute)