David Simonsen
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David Simonsen | |
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Personal | |
Born | |
Died | 15 June 1932 Copenhagen, Denmark | (aged 79)
Religion | Judaism |
Spouse | Cora Salomon |
Jewish leader | |
Predecessor | Abraham Wolff (1891) Mordecai Schornstein (1919) |
Successor | (1902) Max (Moses) Friediger (1920) |
Position | Chief Rabbi of Denmark |
Synagogue | Great Synagogue of Copenhagen |
Began | 1892 (first term) 1919 (second term) |
Ended | 1902 (first term) 1920 (second term) |
David Jacob Simonsen (Hebrew: דוד יעקב סימונסן; 17 March 1853 – 15 June 1932) was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. He studied Oriental languages at the University of Copenhagen, and received his rabbinical training at the Jewish Theological Seminary in Breslau, one of the centers for "Wissenschaft des Judentums", a movement advocating the scientific study of Jewish history, literature, and culture in addition to the classical sources of Judaism.
After his graduation, Simonsen returned to Denmark, where he married Cora Caroline Salomon (1856–1938). He took a position with the Great Synagogue of Copenhagen, and after the passing of long-time Chief Rabbi Abraham Wolff in 1891, Simonsen was named chief rabbi of Denmark. He served from 1821 to 1902 and again briefly from 1919 to 1920. In 1903, Simonsen was awarded the title of professor by the University of Copenhagen.
and theSimonsen's archives (acquired by the Danish Royal Library in 1932) reflect the history of several scientific disciplines over a full half century. The list of correspondents contains the names of leading scientists within Oriental and Jewish Studies, but also from other areas, such as the classicist Ada Adler.[1][2] During World War I, Simonsen acted as "communication central", maintaining all the important contacts in Denmark and abroad, between organisations and individuals. He was also able to relay messages between relatives on different sides of the front, and after the war, he continued to be active in different relief organisations, both in Denmark and abroad.
David Simonsen’s private library of approximately 45,000 volumes, also acquired by The Royal Library in 1932, testifies to his wide-ranging scholarly interests.
References[]
- ^ "Letter from Adler, Ada to Simonsen, David (undated) - Digital collections". www5.kb.dk. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
- ^ "Letter from Adler, Ada to Simonsen, David (1916) - Digital collections". www5.kb.dk. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to David Simonsen. |
- The Royal Library's website about David Simonsen
- David Simonsen at Gravsted.dk
- 1932 deaths
- 1853 births
- 20th-century Danish people
- 20th-century rabbis
- Danish Jews
- Danish rabbis