Aaron Hart (rabbi)

Chief Rabbi Aaron Uri Phoebus Hart (they; 1670 , Breslau - 1756 , London ) was the first chief rabbi of the United Kingdom and the rabbi of the Great Synagogue of London from 1704 until his death. He was son of Naphtali Hertz of Hamburg , a prosperous Jewish resident of that city. After studying at a yeshiva in Poland , he married the daughter of R. Samuel ben Phoebus of Fürth , author of a commentary on Eben ha'Ezer . It was probably through the influence of his wealthy brother, Moses Hart , founder of the Great Synagogue, in Dukes Place in London , that he was appointed rabbi of the first Ashkenazic synagogue in that city. This was opened in Broad street , Miter square, in 1692. Hart published in 1707 a small work entitled Urim ve-Tummim , which is of interest as being the first Hebrew book printed in London. His tenure saw a great expansion in Jewish life in Britain , and the growth of a number of small provincial communities. These communities were often served by a single hard-worked official, who referred questions that he felt were outside his knowledge (or perhaps which required greater authority than he was able to wield) to the Rabbi of the Great Synagogue in London. His advice was also sought when appointing shochetim and other officials, and they looked to him to authorise marriages; both functions are still exercised by the Chief Rabbinate today. A portrait of Rabbi Hart hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Chief Rabbi Aaron Uri Phoebus Hart ( ;‎ 1670, Breslau – 1756, London) was the first chief rabbi of the United Kingdom and the rabbi of the Great Synagogue of London from 1704 until his death. He was son of Naphtali Hertz of Hamburg (Hartwig Moses Hart), a prosperous Jewish resident of that city. After studying at a yeshiva in Poland, he married the daughter of R. Samuel ben Phoebus of Fürth , author of a commentary on Eben ha'Ezer . He was appointed rabbi of the first Ashkenazic synagogue in London in 1692. In 1707 he published Urim ve-Tummim , the first book in Hebrew printed in London. A portrait of Rabbi Hart hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Chief Rabbi Aaron Uri Phoebus Hart ( ;‎ 1670 – 1756) was the first chief rabbi of Great Britain and the rabbi of the Great Synagogue of London from 1704 until his death. He was son of Naphtali Hertz of Hamburg (Hartwig Moses Hart), a prosperous Jewish resident of that city. After studying at a yeshiva in Poland, he married the daughter of R. Samuel ben Phoebus of Fürth , author of the Beit Shmuel , a commentary on Eben ha'Ezer . He was appointed rabbi of the first Ashkenazic synagogue in London in 1692. In 1707 he published Urim ve-Tummim , the first book in Hebrew printed in London.

(First chief) rabbi of Great Britain For the businessman, see Aaron Hart (businessman) . Rabbi Aaron Uri Phoebus Hart ( ;‎ 1670 – 1756) was a British rabbi , who served as spiritual leader of the Ashkenazi Great Synagogue of London from 1704 until his death. He is widely regarded as the first chief rabbi of Great Britain. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). In Berenbaum, Michael ; Skolnik, Fred (eds.). The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History . Jewish Historical Society of England . In Singer, Isidore ; et al. The Jews of Britain, 1656 to 2000 . The earliest names were of rabbis whose writ was limited to the Great Synagogue in Duke's Place but who were not yet acknowledged as chief rabbis of the whole Ashkenazi community of either London or England, much less of the whole British Empire. Office of the Chief Rabbi .