Salomon Formstecher Rabbiner aus Offenbach am Main

Salomon Formstecher, in English also Solomon, (1808–1889) was a German reform rabbi and student of Jewish theology. Formstecher was born in

Offenbach am Main Offenbach am Main () is a List of cities and towns in Germany, city in Hesse, Germany, on the left bank of the river Main (river), Main. It borders Frankfurt and is part of the Frankfurt urban area and the larger Frankfurt Rhein-Main Regional Aut ...

on 28 July 1808. After graduating (Ph.D. 1831) from the Giessen University, he settled in his native city as preacher, succeeding Rabbi Metz in 1842; he filled this office until his death on 24 April 1889. During his long ministry he strove to harmonize the religious and social life of the Jews with the requirements of modern civilization. His aims were expressed at the

Rabbinical Conference of Brunswick The Rabbinical Conference of Brunswick was a conference held in 1844 in Braunschweig, Brunswick, convoked by Levi Herzfeld and Ludwig Philippson. Other attendees included Solomon Formstecher, Samuel Hirsch, Mendel Hess, Samuel Holdheim. Although he ...

Frankfurt Frankfurt am Main () is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Hesse. Its 773,068 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the List of cities in Germany by population, fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located in the forela ...

, Breslau, and

Kassel Kassel (; in Germany, spelled Cassel until 1926) is a city on the Fulda River in North Hesse, northern Hesse, in Central Germany (geography), central Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Regierungsbezirk Kassel (region), Kassel and the d ...

in the conferences of the German rabbis. The most important of his works is ''Religion des Geistes'' ("Religion of the Spirit," Frankfort-on-the-Main, 1841). It contains a systematic analysis of the principles of

Judaism Judaism () is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic, Monotheism, monotheistic, ethnic religion that comprises the collective spiritual, cultural, and legal traditions of the Jews, Jewish people. Religious Jews regard Judaism as their means of o ...

. The author endeavors to demonstrate that Judaism was a necessary manifestation, and that its evolution tends in the direction of a universal religion for civilized mankind. Judaism, in contrast with

paganism Paganism (, later 'civilian') is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions other than Christianity, Judaism, and Samaritanism. In the time of the ...

, considers the Divinity to be a Being separate from nature, and allows no doubt of God's existence. Consequently, any theogony, any emanation, any dualism must be rejected. Formstecher concludes his work with a history of Judaism which is a valuable contribution to Jewish religious philosophy. Formstecher's other works are: *''Zwölf Predigten,'' Würzburg, 1833 *''Israelitisches Andachtsbüchlein zur Erweiterung und Ausbildung der Ersten Religiösen Gefühle und Begriffe,'' Offenbach, 1836 *''Mosaische Religionslehre,'' Giessen, 1860 *''Buchenstein und Cohnberg,'' a novel, Frankfort-on-the-Main, 1863 *''Israel's Klage und Israel's Trost,'' Offenbach, 1835 *''Ueber das Wesen und über den Fortgang der Israelitischen Gottesverehrung'' Formstecher contributed to many periodicals, and edited in 1859, in collaboration with L. Stein, the periodical ''Der Freitagabend,'' and in 1861, with K. Klein, the ''Israelitische Wochenschrift.''

Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography

Meyer Kayserling Meyer Kayserling (also '' Meir'' or ''Moritz'', 17 June 1829 – 21 April 1905) was a German rabbi and historian. Life Kayserling was born in Gleidingen near Hanover, and was the brother of writer and educator Simon Kayserling. He was educ ...

, ''Bibliothek Jüdischer Kanzelredner'', ii. 137 * {{DEFAULTSORT:Formstecher, Salomon 19th-century German rabbis Formstecher Formstecher People from Offenbach am Main