Abraham Joshua Heschel
- Born:
- January 11, 1907, Warsaw, Poland, Russian Empire
- Died:
- December 23, 1972, New York City, New York, USA
- Nationality:
- Polish-American
- Profession(s):
- Rabbi, Theologian, Philosopher, Professor
Early Life and Education
- Born into a Hasidic rabbinical family.
- Received traditional Jewish education.
- Studied at the University of Berlin and earned his doctorate in 1933.
- Attended the Hochschule für die Wissenschaft des Judentums (Higher Institute for Jewish Studies) in Berlin.
Career and Major Achievements
- Appointed as successor to Martin Buber at the Lehrhaus in Frankfurt, but was deported by the Gestapo in 1938.
- Emigrated to the United States in 1940 after spending time in London.
- Taught at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati.
- Joined the faculty of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York City in 1945, where he remained until his death.
- Actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement, marching with Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma.
- Opposed the Vietnam War.
Notable Works
- Man Is Not Alone: A Philosophy of Religion (1951)
- God in Search of Man: A Philosophy of Judaism (1955)
- The Sabbath (1951)
- The Prophets (1962)
- Who Is Man? (1965)
Legacy and Impact
Abraham Joshua Heschel's work profoundly influenced 20th-century Jewish thought and interfaith dialogue. His writings explored themes of religious experience, ethics, and social justice, emphasizing the importance of awe, wonder, and human responsibility before God. The impact of the themes and concepts explored in ros packer biography of abraham's subject, especially his passionate commitment to civil rights and social action, continues to inspire religious leaders and activists today.