THE JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA
Amsterdam
The Pornrjrniiiz('<l (1870). fornu'<l an iiKicpinitU'iit " Ivcrkfoniicr " Hoofiicommissic was
Kerkgonootsclmp was tu>iiu-se si'piirati'd
gonootschnp."
nnd
The
replaced liv the "Cenlrale ('iniimissie tiil de AlgeiiieeiK Zakeii van licl Nedeihmdsch Isiiielietisch Kerkgenootsehap." which held its first session in During this period there were several men in 1870.
Amsterdam
ilislinguished for their learning, their
philanlhropv. and their (hanil>ionsliip of Jewisli interests; of lliese inav lie nieiitinncd the tliree brothers
Akiha Lehren and Solomon Hubens (died 18.")7). The internal development of the congregation progressed quietly, and a threatened division in 1860 was fortunalelv "averli-d. Xcw life rnmc to the IIirseliel(1784-lS,-)3J, Meir(17ii;^-18r)l),
(1795-187(1),
644
and J. D. Wynkoop. During his term of office Dr. DDnner has reorganized the system of instruction in thescliools, banished the JudieoGennan, and made the vernacuhircompnlsory. The social elevation of the I'oorer Anistenhuu .lews has also received On Ids initiative in 1875a loauhis close attention. bank ( W'lhhiilitjhiidKfoitdn) was established, which annually grants 1.200 loans of sums varying from 10 to ;iOO Horins, williout interest. Jewisli workingman's association, "Be/.alel," was founded, to which, however, imtil now. unfortunately, only diamond-workers belong. Since there are very few Jewish mechanics besi<U's those employed in the diamond industry and in the manufacture of cigars, another association was founded ("Shemirat Shab1899).
A
Cemeteuv of Sf.phardic comminitv at Amsterdam. (From an engravint; by
Riiyft'la^l.)
Judaism of Amsterdam as well as to that of the whole land, when, in 1862, Dr. Joseph Ilirsch Diln-
") to foster the study of handicrafts without sacrificing the religious feeling of apprentices, and,
ner (born in Cracow. 1832) was elected rector of the rabbinical seminary. Under his guidance the institution was reorganized in such fashion that both secular and Jewish subjects were included in the curriculum from the lowest classes tip. The result was the graduation of a number of rabbis and chief rabbis, who were not only learned in the Law, but whose general academic cull ure earned
at the same time, to abolish street-peddling, which was carried on extensively by the poorer .Jews. The field of literature also was not neglected. After the appearance, from May, 1807, of the "JondschLetterkundige Bydragen," edited by the Jewish bibliographer Meyer Koest (died 1889), the same editor published (from 1875 to his death) thirteen volumes of the journal " Israelictische Lettcrlxide," contributors to which were, besides Jewish scholars abroad, the following in Amsterdam: M. Roest, Dr. J. H. Dlinner. Jacob Hootien, L. Wagenaar, D. Ti. Montezinos, and otlicrs. Of .Jewi.sh weeldies, there appeared the "Centraal Blad " and the " Nieuw Israelietisch Week Blad," both still in existence. The monthly magazine of the Society of Jewish Teachers, entitled "Aha wall," is also published in Amsterdam. Though this city no longer holds that position of eminence in Hebrew typographic art that it formerly
them universal esteem. The continued absence of a strong hand in congregational matters was, however, frequently felt accordingly endeavors were made for the appointment of a chief rabbi again. In October, 1874, Dr. Dl'inner was elected to that office, and associated with liim was a bet din of three, consisting of T. Tal (until 1881), J. D. Wynkoop (smce .January. 1871), J. Content (died 1898), A. S. Onderwyzer (since 1888). E. Hamburg (since Internal Development.
for
bat
