Rabbi Nelson Glueck speaking at President Kennedy's Inauguration

Rabbi, Archaeologist, Communal Leader

Nelson Glueck (1900-1971) was an archaeologist, rabbi, and president of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. After earning a B.A. degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1920 and rabbinical ordination from Hebrew Union College in 1923, he studied in Europe, earning a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies in 1927. He returned to Ohio to join the faculty of Hebrew Union College as a professor of Bible and Biblical Archaeology. During his tenure as professor, and later as President of HUC, Glueck also pursued archaeological work in Palestine and Trans-Jordan. Through his work, Glueck became personal friends with many of Israel's early leaders, including David Ben-Gurion, Abba Eban, and Golda Meir. He delivered the benediction at President Kennedy's inauguration in 1961.