Aaron J. Messing
Aaron J. Messing (June 18, 1840 – September 23, 1916) was a German-American rabbi who ministered primarily in San Francisco and Chicago.
Life
[edit]Messing was born on June 18, 1840, in Gniewkowo, Prussia. His father Joseph Messing was a Talmudist, exegete, and rabbi who wrote a number of Jewish books. His brothers Mayer and Henry were also rabbis.[1]
Messing was educated in Breslau and Graetz. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Rostock in Mecklenburg. He was ordained a rabbi by Rabbi E. Gutmacher, Rabbi M. Feilchenfeld, Rabbi N. Caro. He then served as rabbi in Militsch, Silesia as well as in Mecklenburg-Schwerin.[2] He later immigrated to America, and in 1866 he was named rabbi of Beth Israel Bikur Cholim in New York City, New York.[3] In 1868, he became rabbi of the B'nai Shalom Congregation in Chicago, Illinois.[4] In 1870, he became rabbi of Congregation Sherith Israel in San Francisco, California.[5] Over the course of the next two decades, he founded at least twelve congregations and twenty three Sunday schools in Nevada, Oregon, and California. He also wrote several popular Sunday school textbooks, namely "A Hebrew Primer" and "The Jewish Catechism."[1] In 1890,[6] he went back to Chicago and again served as rabbi of B'nai Shalom. He served as rabbi there until his death.[7]
In 1870, Messing married Fannie Livingston.[8] Their children were Mrs. Minna Levy of San Francisco, Mrs. H. H. Mitchell of Chicago, Mrs. David Livingstone of Kankakee, Illinois, Mrs. Hebert Ullman of New York, Mrs. Theodore Loberman of Montgomery, Alabama, Herman J. Messing of New York, Sigmund Messing of Los Angeles, and Rabbi Abraham J. Messing.[9] Abraham was also a rabbi who ministered in Alabama and Illinois.[7]
Messing died at his daughter's home on September 23, 1916. He was buried in the Jewish Graceland Cemetery.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Adler, Cyrus; Singer, Isidore. "MESSING". The Jewish Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ Adler, Cyrus, ed. (1903). The American Jewish Year Book, 5664. Philadelphia, P.A.: The Jewish Publication Society of America. p. 81 – via Google Books.
- ^ "RELIGIOUS NOTICES". The Hebrew Leader. Vol. VIII, no. 19. New York, N.Y. 17 August 1866. p. 5 – via Historical Jewish Press.
- ^ "CHICAGO, IL". The Hebrew Leader. Vol. XII, no. 11. New York, N.Y. 19 June 1868. p. 4 – via Historical Jewish Press.
- ^ "SAN FRANCISCO". The Israelite. Vol. XVII, no. 2. Cincinnati, O.H. 8 July 1870. p. 11 – via Historical Jewish Press.
- ^ "Congregation Beth Israel". The American Hebrew. Vol. 43, no. 2. New York, N.Y. 16 May 1890. p. 38 – via Historical Jewish Press.
- ^ a b Landman, Isaac, ed. (1942). The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia. Vol. 7. New York, N.Y.: The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, Inc. p. 506 – via Google Books.
- ^ The Book of Chicagoans. Chicago, I.L.: A.N. Marquis Company. 1911. p. 474 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "RABBI AARON J. MESSING DEAD". The Sentinel. Vol. 23, no. 13. Chicago, I.L. 27 September 1916. p. 9 – via Historical Jewish Press.
- 1840 births
- 1916 deaths
- 19th-century German rabbis
- American people of German-Jewish descent
- University of Rostock alumni
- Prussian emigrants to the United States
- American Reform rabbis
- 19th-century American rabbis
- 20th-century American rabbis
- Rabbis from New York City
- Rabbis from Chicago
- Rabbis from California
- Clergy from San Francisco