Gedaliah Silverstone facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gedaliah Silverstone
Religion	Judaism
Personal
Born	1871 Jasionowka, Russian Empire
Died	1944 (aged 72–73) Jerusalem, Mandatory Palestine

Rabbi George (Gedaliah) Silverstone (born 1871 in Jasionowka, Russian Empire – died 1944 in Jerusalem, Mandatory Palestine) was an important Orthodox Jewish leader. He was a rabbi and author in the United States during the early 1900s.

Early Life and Education

Gedaliah ben Isiah Meir Zylbersztejn was born in 1871. His birthplace was a small Jewish town called a shtetl in what is now Poland. His grandfather on his mother's side was the local rabbi there.

When he was two years old, his family moved to Sakot, Kovno Governorate. His father also served as a rabbi in this new town. Young Gedaliah studied in special Jewish schools called yeshivot. He attended schools in Ruzhany and Telz.

In 1891, his father moved the family again, this time to Liverpool, England. There, his name was changed to an English version: Silverstone.

Becoming a Rabbi and Moving to America

In 1901, Silverstone became the rabbi of the Belfast Hebrew Congregation in Northern Ireland. He visited America in 1905 to sell his books. The next year, he decided to live in America permanently. He had a large family and found it hard to support them in the United Kingdom.

He was then appointed rabbi of Ohev Sholom Congregation in Washington, D.C.. He also served Kesher Israel Congregation in Georgetown after it was formed in 1911. Rabbi Silverstone was well-liked by the people in his congregations.

Writing and Publishing Books

Unlike many other rabbis in America at that time, Rabbi Silverstone's writing projects were well-supported. He published small books of sermons almost every year. A sermon is a religious speech. He easily found people who would help pay for his publishing costs.

Rabbi Dov Ber Manischewitz and Noah Musher were some of his supporters. He often said that other preachers eagerly wanted his works. He mostly published sermons because he knew that most American Jews would not read his more academic writings. He believed his way of explaining Jewish stories (called Aggadah) could best reach and inspire people.

Rabbi Silverstone strongly disagreed with non-Orthodox synagogues and rabbis. His sermons often contained strong arguments against them.

Attempts to Settle in Israel

Rabbi Silverstone sent two of his sons to study in Jerusalem. Around 1921, he visited the Land of Israel himself. After this visit, he announced that he would soon move there.

He was not able to move right away. However, he visited Israel again within a year, this time with another rabbi, Zvi Hirsch Masliansky.

He finally settled in Jaffa by the end of summer 1923. He was invited to preach several times at the Neveh Tzedek synagogue. But a few months later, he had to return to Washington because his wife became ill.

He tried to settle in Safed in 1936, and in Jerusalem between 1938 and 1939. Both attempts failed, and he returned to America each time. He came back to Israel once more a few years later. This time, he stayed until his death in 1944. He was buried on the Mount of Olives.

Involvement in Jewish Community

Rabbi Silverstone was a vice president of the Agudath Harabbonim. This was an important group of Orthodox rabbis. He was also a director for the Hebrew Sanitarium of Denver. He helped lead the Hebrew Home for the Aged in Washington, D.C. He was also a member of B'nai B'rith, a Jewish service organization.

He started the first Talmud Torah in Washington, D.C. A Talmud Torah is a traditional Jewish elementary school. Many of his sermons talked about the need for better Jewish education. He was also an active Zionist. Zionism is the movement to support a Jewish homeland in Israel. Silverstone attended the Sixth Zionist Congress in 1903 as a representative from Belfast.

Family Life

Rabbi Silverstone came from a family of respected rabbis. He was the grandson of Rabbi Elijah Abramsky. He was also the nephew of Rabbi Chaim Zev Hirsh Braude. His son was Rabbi Dr. Harry Silverstone. He was a cousin to Rabbi Zelig Reuben Bengis. He was also related by marriage to Rabbi Gershom Ravinson of Cleveland, Ohio.