Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch: The Visionary Who Saved German Jewry

The 27th of Tevet marks the passing of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, the man whose moral courage and vision helped save German Jewry.

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808–1888) was the Chief Rabbi and spiritual leader of German Jewry. He was the founder and leading figure of Neo-Orthodoxy, which stood firmly against the Reform movement in Germany.

A Life Devoted to Saving Judaism

Rabbi Hirsch was born in Hamburg and passed away in Frankfurt, where he served for 38 years. It is difficult to overstate the scope of his life’s work, which spanned many fields and was all directed toward rescuing German Jewry. Among his achievements, he authored works of Jewish philosophy suited to his era, wrote a comprehensive commentary on the Bible, founded the Adath Yeshurun community that severed all ties with the Reform movement, and established and led a Jewish school according to his educational vision.

Torah with Derech Eretz

Rabbi Hirsch’s vision was shaped by the painful reality of the Jewish Enlightenment in Germany. It was grounded in the principle of Torah with Derech Eretz (ethical conduct), the integration of Torah study with general education. He promoted a synthesis of sacred and secular: a strictly observant religious life together with broad education and responsible participation in general society.

The Spiritual Crisis of the Era

To understand Rabbi Hirsch’s lasting impact, one must appreciate the depth of the crisis of his time. European culture penetrated deeply into traditional Jewish life, and the pursuit of external “happiness and perfection” captivated Jewish youth. Nearly an entire generation abandoned Torah and mitzvot and stood on the brink of assimilation, largely due to the influence of the Reform movement, which encouraged closeness to German culture.

Rabbi Hirsch witnessed yeshivot, large and small, nearly closing for lack of students. Even children’s Torah schools and private teachers almost disappeared. Most Jewish communities were overtaken by Reform leadership. In many Ashkenazic synagogues, non-Jewish melodies were introduced, prayer texts were altered, and references to Zion and Jerusalem were removed from the liturgy.

An Anchor of Salvation

It was in this reality that Rabbi Hirsch emerged as an anchor of salvation. He was among the very few who deeply understood how to speak to the youth of his generation, how to guide them along the proper path, and how to expose the errors and misconceptions born of the pursuit of superficial ideals of happiness and perfection.

“Nineteen Letters”

Recognizing the needs of his time, Rabbi Hirsch authored a masterpiece known as Igrot Tzafon (Nineteen Letters). In these nineteen letters, he presents his entire worldview. The book takes the form of a correspondence between Binyamin, a young man who has distanced himself from Torah and mitzvot, and Naphtali.

Binyamin voices his complaints and challenges to Judaism, while Naphtali helps him realize that his understanding of Judaism is shallow and external, and that he has never truly examined Judaism’s views on life’s fundamental questions, the purpose of human existence, and the mission of the Jewish people.

Restoring the Spirit of Judaism

Throughout the letters, Naphtali explains the meaning of Judaism and the role of the commandments, responding directly to Binyamin’s objections. He teaches that while the practical observance of mitzvot was preserved with devotion over the generations, their inner spirit was often forgotten. As a result, many encountered a Judaism they could not understand and chose to abandon it.

Rabbi Hirsch therefore called upon his generation to draw the spirit of Judaism from Judaism itself — from Tanach and the teachings of the Sages, rather than from external philosophies, and he outlined a plan to explain the commandments and their underlying meaning.

Literary and Educational Legacy

Rabbi Hirsch translated the Five Books of the Torah and the Book of Tehillim into German, adding an extensive German commentary. In addition to Igrot Tzafon, he authored:

• Chorev, explaining the reasons for the commandments observed in exile

• Shemesh Merapeh, a collection of halachic responsa

• The Commandments as Symbols, on the meaning and role of mitzvot, written in opposition to Reform ideology

• Prayers of Israel, a prayer book with commentary

• The Jewish Year, a series on the festivals

• The Shabbat, a work of thought devoted to Shabbat

He also founded the journal Yeshurun in Frankfurt, which served as a platform for defending traditional Judaism.

The Central Role of Home and Family

In Rabbi Hirsch’s philosophy, the home and family occupy a central place. In his Torah commentary, he repeatedly emphasizes that the Jewish home is the foundational building block of the Jewish people.

In several educational essays, he speaks passionately about the decisive role of parents in their children’s education. With eloquence and emotion, he describes the immense responsibility placed upon parents, portraying parenthood as a sacred calling and the greatest source of true joy.

Education Begins at Home

Rabbi Hirsch strongly opposed the notion that parents complete their educational duty simply by sending their children to school. He warned parents not to deceive themselves into thinking that a school absolves them of responsibility. A school, he explained, mainly supplements the father’s role in imparting knowledge.

The ultimate purpose of education, according to Rabbi Hirsch, is to prepare a student for life. This includes intellectual development and broad knowledge, but above all, it must inspire the student toward his greatest mission: to live as a faithful Jew in God’s world, in accordance with the will of God.