Samuel Abram Isaacs

Background

Abram Samuel was born on August 30, 1851 in New York City, New York, United States. The son of Samuel Myer Isaacs and Jane (Symmons) Isaacs.

Education

After receiving the degree of A. B. in 1871 and that of A. M. in 1874 from the University of the City of New York, Abram continued his studies in the University of Breslau and the Jewish Theological Seminary of that city, specializing in German literature and Semitics. On his return to America he was given in 1878 the degree of Ph. D. honoris causa by the University of the City of New York.

Career

In 1857 his father had founded a weekly paper in New York, the Jewish Messenger, as an exponent of traditional Judaism. On his father's death in 1878, Isaacs took over the editorship, which he maintained until the paper was absorbed by the American Hebrew in 1903.

From 1886 to 1894 he was professor of Hebrew, and from 1887 to 1895 professor of German also in the University of the City of New York. He was professor of German literature in the postgraduate department from 1895 to 1906, when he became professor of Semitics. Besides these journalistic and professorial duties, he found time to be minister in the East Eighty-Sixth Street Synagogue, New York, in 1886 and 1887, and to serve as preacher in the Barnert Temple of Paterson, New Jersey, from 1896 to 1905. He also lectured extensively through the country.

In addition, he produced a steady stream of books. Among these should be mentioned: A Modern Hebrew Poet: The Life and Writings of Moses Chaim Luzzatto (1878), What is Judaism? A Survey of Jewish Life, Thought and Achievement (1912) and others. He left a valuable manuscript work on Schiller, which is as yet unpublished. In 1907 he edited the Jewish department, and in 1919 the Semitic department of The Encyclopedia Americana.

Isaacs died at Paterson, New Jersey.

Achievements

• Abram Samuel Isaacs was the aurhor of hundreds of journalistic articles, book reviews in the New York Times and Bookman, and many charming poems. His simple literary style reflects the modest simplicity of the man. His famous works: Stories from Rabbis (1893, 1911), Step by Step: a Story of the Early Days of Moses Mendelssohn (1910), The Young Champion: One Year in Grace Aguilar's Girlhood (1913).

Works

More photos

• book

  • modern Hebrew poet - the life and writings of Moses Chaim Luzzatto - Abram Samuel Isaacs, 1852-1920 IN ENGLISH (FACSIMILE REPRINT OF 1878 EDITION)

    (modern Hebrew poet - the life and writings of Moses Chaim...)

  • The Young Champion

    ( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)

  • Stories from the rabbis

    (Stories from the rabbis (1893). This book, "Stories from ...)

Personality

His simple literary style reflects the modest simplicity of the man. He had the gift of terse and interesting presentation both as teacher and as writer. Perhaps the principle determinant of his character was a Jewish religious loyalty and deep spiritual feeling. These came to expression in well wrought hymns, some of which have been adopted by the Synagogue.

Interests

• Abram Samuel Isaacs had ardent interest in Jewish literature and Jewish life.

Connections

Isaacs was married, April 23, 1890, to Lily Lee Harby, who bore him two sons.

Father:

Samuel Myer Isaacs

Mother:

Jane (Symmons) Isaacs

Spouse:

Lily Lee Harby

Brother:

Myer S. Isaacs