Berliner, Abraham, 1833-1915

Abraham (Adolf) Berliner (2 May 1833 – 21 April 1915) (Hebrew: אברהם ברלינר) was a German theologian and historian, born in Obersitzko, in the Grand Duchy of Posen, Prussia. He was initially educated by his father, who was the teacher in Obersitzko. He continued his education under various rabbis, later studying at the University of Leipzig where he received the degree of doctor of philosophy. After serving for some time as preacher and teacher in Arnswalde, in 1865 Berliner was called to Berlin to be superintendent of the religious school run by the Society for Talmudic Studies (Ḥebrat Shas). In 1873, when Israel Hildesheimer opened the rabbinical seminary in Berlin, Berliner was selected as professor of Jewish history and literature. In this role and as an author, he was untiring. His edition of Rashi's commentary to the Pentateuch (1866) first made him known as a scholar. Berliner added to his reputation through his various historical works, the result of his research in the archives and libraries of Italy, which was financially supported by the German government. In 1874-75 Berliner edited the scientific periodical Magazin für Jüdische Geschichte und Literatur. From 1876 to 1893 he, together with his colleague, David Hoffmann, continued to edit the periodical under the revised title Magazin für die Wissenschaft des Judenthums. It was due to his zeal that the Hebrew literary society Meḳiẓe Nirdamim was revived in 1885. This society was dedicated towards the publication of older Jewish literature with Berliner now as its director. He engaged as a defender of Judaism in a pamphlet against Paul de Lagarde (Prof. Paul de Lagarde, nach Seiner Natur Gezeichnet, 1887), who denounced all Jewish scholars as dilettanti; and when the blood accusation was revived, he republished (1888) the opinion of Cardinal Ganganelli (afterwards Pope Clement XIV) to prove the falsity of this charge. While Orthodox in his religious views, Berliner was never a fanatic. Not only was his scientific work in line with liberal thinking, but he also paid a high tribute to the merits of Moritz Steinschneider, on the occasion of the latter's seventieth birthday (1886), by compiling a bibliography of that eminent scholar's works.