Rabbi Lesser Obituary 10.24.1924

1924

caption:
Kol Nidre night (October 7) witnessed the passing away in Cincinnati of Rabbi Abraham Gershon Lesser at the age of ninety-four. The deceased was no only the oldest but also the most revered orthodox rabbi in America. He was the first president of the Society of Orthodox Rabbis of America and Canada, and when on account of advanced aged he was forced to resign this office he was made honorary president of the organization. Rabbi Lesser was well known in Chicago, having been Rabbi of the local Beth Hamidrash Hagodol B’nai Jacob from 1882 to 1898, wen he was made chief Rabbi of all the orthodox congregations of Cincinnati.
 
Rabbi Lesser distinguished himself among his colleagues not only because of his profound learning and saintly piety but also because of is rigid and absolutely uncompromising orthodoxy. He believed that his mission in life was to impress upon American Jewry that none should ever dare change or modify a jot or tittle of the Law, and in this conviction he was adamantine. It is therefore truly interesting and significant to point out that his grandson is an active director of a prominent reform congregation in the West. We do not know whether the late Rabbi Lesser was aware of this fact or not, but we are certain that if he had known that he surely would have felt terribly hurt to see the ground which he so powerfully and tenaciously defended slip under him. We should like all opponents of reform to pause for a moment and meditate upon this important bit of information. It may teach them a valuable and much-needed lesson.

 

  • Rabbi Lesser Obituary 10.24.1924
  • Rabbi Lesser Obituary 10.24.1924
  • Rabbi Lesser Obituary 10.24.1924
  • Rabbi Lesser Obituary 10.24.1924

Identifer: CJF-2014110

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Related Objects
Memorial Plaque for Rabbi Lesser from Covedale Cemetery Chapel in Cincinnati, OH

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