Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Adler, Hermann
ADLER, HERMANN (1839–1911), chief rabbi of the united Hebrew congregations of the British empire, born at Hanover on 30 May 1839, was second son of two sons and three daughters of Nathan Marcus Adler [q. v.], chief rabbi, by his first wife Henrietta Worms. Through his mother Adler was cousin of Henry de Worms, first Baron Pirbright [q. v. Suppl. II]. His elder brother, Marcus Nathan (1837–1910), was vice-president of the Institute of Actuaries and a founder of the Royal Statistical and London Mathematical Societies. Brought to London in June 1845, when his father became chief rabbi of England, Adler was sent to University College School and University College, London. After a brilliant career there he graduated B.A. at London University in 1859. He preached his first sermon at the consecration of the Swansea synagogue in September 1859. Next year he went to the University of Prague and continued his theological studies under Dr. Rapoport, chief rabbi there; from him in 1862 he received the rabbinical diploma. In December 1862 he obtained at Leipzig the degree of Ph.D. for a thesis on Druidism.
On his return to England he became in temporary principal of the Jews' Theological College, then in Finsbury Square, and he held that office until 1865; he subsequently acted as theological tutor until 1879, was chairman of council in 1887, and was president at his death. He was appointed in February 1864 first minister at the Bayswater Synagogue, Chichester Place, Harrow Road, where till 1891 he attracted large congregations by his cultivated preaching. While at Bayswater he helped to found Jewish schools there, and was instrumental in establishing religious classes for Jewish children at the board schools in the east of London. His vigorous replies in the 'Nineteenth Century' for April and July 1878 to Prof. Goldwin Smith's attack (in the February number) on the Jews for lack of civic patriotism brought him praise from Gladstone and made for him a general reputation as a Jewish apologist both in Europe and in America. Next year he became delegate chief rabbi for his father, then in declining health; and on his father's death he was installed as chief rabbi on 23 June 1891. Adler, who spared himself no labour in discharging his rabbinical duties, tenaciously upheld the spiritual authority of his office over his own community. Rigidly orthodox in ceremonial observances, he at the same time gained much influence in social spheres outside Jewish ranks by virtue of his tact and wide culture.
Adler's main and invariable endeavour was to serve the best interests of his co-religionists at home or abroad, and he actively identified himself with all movements or institutions, charitable, political, social, educational, and literary, which were likely to serve that end. In 1885 he joined the Mansion House committee for the relief of persecuted Jews in Russia. The same year he visited the Holy Land and inspected many of the colonies established there by Russo-Jewish refugees. He represented the Russo-Jewish community at the conferences of the Hebrew congregations of Europe and America, held at Berlin in 1882 and at Paris in 1890. He was president of the Jewish Historical Society of England (1897), and vice-president of the Anglo-Jewish Association. His other offices included those of vice-president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and of the Mansion House Association for Improving the Dwellings of the Poor; he was a governor of University College, an administrator of the 'People's Palace,' Mile End, and an energetic member of the committees of the King Edward Hospital Fund and the Metropolitan Hospital Sunday Fund. He gave useful evidence before the select committee of the House of Lords on sweating in 1888; before the joint committee on Sunday closing in May 1907; and before the divorce commission in 1910.
Adler's seventieth birthday in 1909, which synchronised with the jubilee of his ministry, was publicly celebrated with general enthusiasm. A portrait in oils, executed by Mr. Meyer Klang, was hung in the council chamber of the United Synagogue, Aldgate. A replica was presented by the Jewish congregations to Mrs. Adler, and on her death passed to his elder daughter. He was also made hon. D.C.L. of Oxford, and he received the C.V.O. from King Edward VII. He had already been made honorary LL.D. of St. Andrews in 1899, and he was elected a member of the Athenæum Club under Rule II on the suggestion of Mandell Creighton, bishop of London, in 1900.
Adler died of heart failure on 18 July 1911 at his residence, 6 Craven Hill, London, and was buried at the Willesden Jewish cemetery. He married in September 1867 Rachel, elder daughter of Solomon Joseph, who survived him till 9 Jan. 1912. Of his two daughters, the elder, Nettie, was elected member of the London county council. His only son, Alfred, a minister, predeceased him in 1911. By his will he left the testimonials and addresses which had been presented to him to the Frederic David Mocatta [q. v. Suppl. II] library and museum at University College, as well as various sums to Jewish and other institutions (The Times, 11 Aug. 1911). Of two portraits in oils, besides that mentioned above, one painted by Mr. B. S. Marks, in 1887, belongs to Adler's younger daughter, Mrs. Ruth Eichholz; the other, executed by Mr. Solomon J. Solomon, R.A., in 1908, was presented by (Sir) Adolph Tuck to the Jews' College. A cartoon by 'Spy' appeared in 'Vanity Fair' in 1894.
His published works, besides sermons and pamphlets and reviews, include:
- 'Ibn Gabirol, the Poet Philosopher, and his Relation to Scholastic Philosophy' (in University Coll. Essays), 1864.
- 'A Jewish Reply to Bishop Colenso's Criticism on the Pentateuch,' 1865.
- 'Sermons on the Biblical Passages adduced by Christian Theologians in support of the Dogmas of their Faith,' 1869.
- 'Anglo-Jewish Memories, and other Sermons' (jubilee memorial volume), 1909.
He also contributed a chapter to 'Immortality: a Clerical Symposium' (1885); and a paper on 'The Chief Rabbis of England' (in Anglo-Jewish Historical Exhib. volume, 1887) (1888).
[The Times, 19 July 1911; Jewish Chron. and Jewish World, 21 July (with portraits); Jewish Year Book, 1911; Who's Who, 1911; Jewish Encyclopædia; Men and Women of the Time, 1899.]