Isaac Cohen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Isaac Cohen |
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Dr Isaac Cohen
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| Religion | Judaism |
| Denomination | Orthodox |
| Personal | |
| Born | Isaac Cohen 26 July 1914 Llanelli, Wales |
| Died | 30 November 2007 (aged 93) Jerusalem, Israel |
| Spouse | Fanny Weisfogel |
| Senior posting | |
| Title | Chief Rabbi of Ireland |
| Predecessor | Immanuel Jakobovits, Baron Jakobovits |
| Successor | David Rosen |
| Position | Chief Rabbi |
| Began | 1959 |
| Ended | 1979 |
| Other | Chief Rabbi of Ireland |
Isaac Cohen (born July 26, 1914 – died November 30, 2007) was a very smart Jewish scholar. He was the Chief Rabbi of Ireland for 20 years. A Chief Rabbi is like the main religious leader for Jewish people in a country.
Early Life and Education
Isaac Cohen was born in Llanelli, Wales. His parents had moved there from Lithuania. In 1928, when he was 14, he won a special scholarship. This allowed him to attend Aria College in Portsmouth. This school taught both Jewish studies and regular subjects.
In 1931, he went to Jews College and University College London. He studied Semitics, which is the study of languages like Hebrew and Arabic. He earned his first degree in 1935. In 1939, he married Fanny Weisfogel and they moved to Leeds.
After World War II, he went back to London. He finished his studies to become a rabbi, which is a Jewish religious teacher. He received his rabbinical diploma in 1948. Later, in 1956, he earned his PhD from the University of Edinburgh. His research was about Jewish religious thought.
Important Roles and Appointments
Isaac Cohen's first job as a rabbi was in Middlesex in 1935. In 1939, he moved to Leeds to work for the United Hebrew Congregation. He helped Jewish people who had to leave London during the war. He also worked as a chaplain for Jewish soldiers. A chaplain is a religious leader who serves in the military.
In 1947, he became the rabbi of the Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation. Then, in 1956, he became the Chief Rabbi of Ireland. He was based in Dublin. He also served as the Av Beth Din in Dublin. This means he was the head of the Jewish religious court.
He stayed in Dublin until he retired in 1979. After retiring, he moved to Jerusalem, Israel.
His Legacy
While he was the Chief Rabbi in Dublin, Isaac Cohen worked hard to promote Jewish education. He also helped solve problems related to getting kosher food. Kosher food follows special Jewish dietary laws.
He was also very active in the Soviet Jewry Campaign. This campaign helped Jewish people in the Soviet Union who were not allowed to leave their country. He encouraged his community to support Israel.
His most important work was a book he spent 25 years writing. It was called Acts of the Mind in Jewish Ritual Law – An Insight into Rabbinic Psychology. The book was published just two weeks before he passed away. The University of Edinburgh wanted to give him an honorary doctorate because of this book.
Sources
- (25 January 2008). Obituaries: Rabbi Dr Isaac Cohen. Jewish Chronicle, p. 32.
- Chief Rabbi Isaac Cohen – tribute on his first Yahrzeit
| Jewish titles | ||
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| Preceded by Immanuel Jakobovits |
Chief Rabbi of Ireland 1959–1979 |
Succeeded by David Rosen |
