Rabbi Azriel Hildesheimer
Torah and the Academic World

Rabbi Hildesheimer was a pioneer in Jewish education, but pioneers subject themselves to attack. His institutions, which included Talmud as well as Latin, Greek, and German on the curriculum, were criticized on both sides – by the Reform and the Orthodox, though for opposite reasons. But as an individual, Rabbi Hildesheimer was above reproach, as Rabbi Wein proves in this detailed portrait of his integrity, erudition, and simplicity.