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With a biographical sketch in Hebrew. Portrait. 211, lviii. [2], [30] pages. 270 x 145 mm. Asher Asher (February 16, 1837 -January 7, 1889), born in Glasgow, was the first Scottish Jew to enter the medical profession. The only book he published was The Jewish Rite of Circumcision (1873). He died in London, England. Asher Asher was educated at the Royal High School. He was a prominent member of the local Jewish congregation, as its Honorary Secretary. Then, he abandoned for studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh, graduating as Doctor of Medicine in 1856, as the first Jewish doctor of Scotland. He practiced at Glasgow and the nearby Bishopbriggs, a mining town. In 1862, Asher Asher moved to London and became medical officer of the Jewish Board of Guardians, where he helped providing medical care for poor Jews, beside the founder, Dr. Canstatt. In 1866 was appointed secretary of the Great Synagogue. About this time the idea of a union of the various London synagogues had been put forward, chiefly by Lionel L. Cohen; and Asher devoted himself to the project with intense energy. In March, 1870, he became first secretary of the United Synagogue, contributing largely to the success of that institution - he wrote the introduction to the by-laws of the constituent synagogues, and practically founded its visitation committee. This office he retained until his death. Owing to Asher's intimate relations with the Rothschilds, in his capacity of medical attendant, unofficial almoner, and personal friend, his advice was generally followed by them in communal matters. He was connected with a large number of institutions in the London community, and may be regarded as one of its organizers. Looking for better conditions for Jewish immigrants, Asher undertook journeys to Palestine, the United States, and Russia, in company of Samuel Montagu. Particularly, Asher was pledged about the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe. After the visit to Palestine he also wrote a report on the condition of affairs in Jerusalem, which effected much good. His sympathetic nature attracted to him most of the young men of ability of the rising generation, and upon them he exerted great influence. Asher wrote much for the Jewish press, chiefly under the pen-name "Aliquis." At the entrance of the Garnethill Synagogue, a p The Author is: Joseph Kohen-Zedek, an "Austro-English rabbinical scholar and preacher; born in Lemberg 1827; died in London 1903. His family claimed to trace its ancestry back to the exilarchs through Solomon Luria and Moses Isserles. Zedek was instructed by Joseph Saul Nathansohn, chief rabbi of Lemberg, and attended also the yeshibah of Joseph Yekeles, rabbi of Yavorov. While at Lemberg he produced a number of Hebrew poems of a patriotic character, and edited a volume of collectanea in honor of Sir Moses Montefiore, entitled 'Neweh Tehillah' (Lemberg, 1869) . He likewise edited at Lemberg the Hebrew periodicals 'Meged Yerahim' (1855-57), 'Ozar Hokmah' (1859-65), and 'Ha-Yehudi ha-Nizhi' (1866) . Zedek was a fluent preacher in Hebrew, and occupied temporary positions at Cracow and Altona, as well as at Frankfort-on-the-Main, where he issued the first numbers of another Hebrew periodical, 'Or Torah' (1874) . He went to London in 1875, and in that city he published the following works: 'Mussar Haskel' (1878) , a collection of his sermons; 'Or Hadash' (1881) ; 'Ha-Torah weha-Mizwah' (1884) ; and a collection of responsa entitled 'Urim we-Tummim.' He moreover edited Joseph Cohen's 'Dibre ha-Yamim' (1859) , Kalonymus' 'Eben Bohan' (1865) , and a curious account of a blood accusation at Granada in 1845 under the title 'Ohole Shem' (London, 1883). During his later years this scholar collected a mass of material for a biographical and literary history of English rabbis, and published a volume of 'Biographical Sketches of Eminent Jewish Families' (ib. 1897) . " (1906 Jewish Encyclopedia). Seller Inventory # 008713
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