Max Lilienthal

Another Cincinnati Reformer

Rabbi Max Lilienthal (1815-1882) spent much of his early adult life working for the Russian government, convincing Jews to support the new government schools. However, because of the suspicion of the Jews over the purpose of these schools - to assimilate Jews while continuing to deny them citizenship - his efforts were largely in vain. In 1844, Lilienthal suddenly moved to the U.S. and settled in New York, where his liberal views led to problems in his first two congregations. In 1850, he began an Educational Institute in New York, and in 1854 began working as a correspondent for The American Israelite, a Cincinnati-based Jewish newspaper. In 1855 he moved to Cincinnati where he became the associate editor of that periodical and the rabbi of Congregation Bene Israel. At Bene Israel, where he stayed for the remainder of his career, Lilienthal showed himself to be a reformer, preacher of tolerance, and liberal interpreter of Jewish law. Lilienthal also organized the Rabbinical Literary Association, taught Jewish history and literature at Hebrew Union College, and served on the Cincinnati Board of Education.