Alexander Altmann moved from his role as a communal rabbi in Manchester to an academic tenure in the United States, fundamentally shifting the study of Jewish mysticism and philosophy. During his years at Brandeis University, he established himself as the premier authority on Moses Mendelssohn while training a new generation of scholars in the history of medieval Jewish thought.
Early Education and Berlin Years
Born in 1906 in Košice, Altmann pursued rigorous academic and religious training in Germany. He earned a Ph.D. from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin in 1931, focusing his dissertation on the philosophy of Max Scheler. Simultaneously, he received rabbinical ordination from the Hildesheimer Rabbinical Seminary, where he later taught Jewish philosophy from 1931 until 1938.
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Following his departure from Nazi Germany in 1938, Altmann settled in Manchester, England, serving as a communal rabbi for over two decades. During this period, he maintained an active intellectual life, publishing a translation of Saadia's Beliefs and Opinions in 1946. He founded the Institute of Jewish Studies in 1953, editing its journals and advancing studies on figures like Isaac Israeli.
Brandeis University and Academic Legacy
In 1959, Altmann joined the faculty at Brandeis University as the Philip W. Lown Professor of Jewish Philosophy and History of Ideas. Over his tenure, which lasted until his 1976 retirement, he supervised prominent scholars such as Elliot Wolfson and Arthur Green. His work included acquiring the Vatican Library Hebraica collection on microfilm for the university.
Final Years in the United States
After retiring from Brandeis, Altmann held visiting professorships at Harvard and the Hebrew University. He remained deeply involved in intellectual life, joining Congregation Shaarei Tefillah in Newton, Massachusetts, where he served on the Rabbinical Committee. He continued his academic engagement as an associate at the Harvard University Center for Jewish Studies until his death in Boston in 1987.
Fast facts
- Born: 1906, Košice
- Died: 1987, Boston
- Education: Hildesheimer Rabbinical Seminary; Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
- Chief Rabbi position: 1938-1959
- Primary Fields: Judaism, History of Philosophy
- Academic appointments: Brandeis University, Harvard University, Hochschule für die Wissenschaft des Judentums
- Fellowships: Medieval Academy of America (1979), American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Questions readers ask
What was Altmann's primary area of philosophical expertise?
He focused on the history of Jewish philosophy, specifically the work of Moses Mendelssohn and medieval Jewish mysticism.
Where did Altmann teach in the United States?
He was the Philip W. Lown Professor of Jewish Philosophy and History of Ideas at Brandeis University and later served as an associate at the Harvard University Center for Jewish Studies.
Achievements
- Held posts at Harvard University, Brandeis University and Hochschule für die Wissenschaft des Judentums
- Fields: history of philosophy and Judaism
