An Inventory to the Bernard J. Bamberger Papers. 1909-1979.
Manuscript Collection No. 660
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Title: |
Bernard J. Bamberger Papers. |
Repository: |
The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish
Archives
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Creator: |
The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives
The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish
Archives
Bamberger, Bernard Jacob,
1904-1980
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Dates: |
1909-1979. |
Quantity: |
Quantity: 1.2 linear feet;
Quantity: (3 Hollinger boxes)
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Abstract: |
Rabbi Bernard J. Bamberger (1904-1980), respected pastor and
national Jewish leader, served the Jewish people for 55 years. This collection contains
correspondence and manuscripts relating to his professional career as a pulpit rabbi in New
York City at Congregation Shaary Tefila, Reform movement leader in the Central Conference of
American Rabbis, and biblical scholar. The collection spans 1909-1970 and consists primarily
of correspondence.
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Identification: |
MS-660 |
Language: |
Collection material in English. |
Biographical Sketch
Bernard Bamberger's rabbinate was a rare one, in that he excelled simultaneously as a
pastor for his own congregation, and as a respected academic. After growing up in Baltimore,
Maryland (under the watchful eye of Rabbi William Rosenau) Bamberger graduated with an A.B.
from Johns Hopkins University in 1923. Rosenau vouched for Bamberger's skills, and so
Bamberger was able to spend his time at the Hebrew Union College concentrating on advanced
studies. He received ordination there in 1926, and his Doctorate of Divinity (at the time,
equivalent to a Ph. D.) in 1929. Concurrent to his D.D. courses, he served as rabbi to
Temple Israel of Lafayette, Indiana. From 1929-1944, he served as rabbi at Temple Beth Emeth
in Albany, New York.
In 1944, Bamberger accepted a call to serve as rabbi of Congregation Shaaray Tefila in New
York City. During his tenure there (1944-1970), he oversaw the congregation's historic move
from the West Side of Manhattan to the East Side.
Bamberger's chief interest lay in work outside of the congregation, serving and leading the
Central Conference of American Rabbis ( CCAR) and translating the Bible (formalized through his work with the Jewish
Publication Society).
From the early 1940's, Bamberger showed an interest in participating in the activities of
the CCAR, the nation's
organization of Reform rabbis (which publishes material and suggests guidelines for Reform
Jews in America). During his early years, he sat as a member of the CCAR's Liturgy Committee, eventually
chairing it. Following his term as chair, he was nominated to serve as vice president of the
entire Conference for the two year term running from 1957 to 1959. CCAR tradition dictates that the vice
president becomes president at the end of his/her time as VP. Thus, Bamberger served as
CCAR president from 1959-1961.
He oversaw landmark CCAR
decisions, such as the implementation of the rabbinic placement system. Additionally, he
used the president's ‘bully pulpit' to preach on the civil rights movement of the early
1960s. After his term as president ended, Bamberger remained active in the politics of the
Reform movement. He continued to serve as an advisor to the Liturgy Committee, and was a
part of the Conference's activities (c. 1967-1973) in improving the Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institute of Religion.
And yet, all this was not enough to keep Bamberger intellectually satisfied. His pursuits
in academia concentrated on the Bible, and its translation into English. Bamberger was also
a part of the Jewish Publication Society's inter-denominational Committee to Translate the
Bible from the committee's inception in 1949 through the late 1970's. His contributions to
the new JPS translation, a text that has
become an integral part of the religious and academic life of English speakers in the
contemporary Jewish world, will continue to have an impact on future generations.
In addition to Bamberger's roles in the CCAR and the JPS, he served as president of the Synagogue
Council of America (1950-1951) and of the World Union for Progressive Judaism (1970-1972).
Additionally, he was a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the Rabbinical
Alumni Association of the Hebrew Union College.
His books include
Proselytism in the Talmudic Period
(1939, 1968),
Fallen Angels
(1952),
The Bible: A Modern Jewish Approach
(1956) and
Search for Jewish Theology
(1978). He is also the author of the commentary to the Book of Leviticus which
appears in the UAHC's
The Torah: A Modern Commentary
. Bamberger's most popular work was
Story of Judaism
(1964).
Bamberger passed away in 1980. He was survived by his wife Pat (Edith Kraus), and his two
sons Henry (also a Reform rabbi) and David.
Scope and Content Note
Rabbi Bernard Bamberger served the Jewish community for over 50 years, as a congregational
rabbi, a Bible translator, and as president of several of the largest and most influential
Jewish organizations in the United States. The Bernard J. Bamberger papers includes minutes,
correspondence, manuscripts, and publicity, dating between 1909 and 1979.
Arrangement
These records are arranged into two series as follows:
Series A. General Files. Circa 1877-1993.
Series B. Central Conference of American Rabbis. 1936-1975.
Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
American Jewish Archives's online catalog.
Subjects
Central Conference of American
Rabbis
Jewish Publication Society of
America
Jewish scholars
Rabbis -- New York (N.Y.)
Union of American Hebrew
Congregations
Preferred Citation
Footnotes and bibliographic references should refer to the Bernard J. Bamberger Papers and
the American Jewish Archives. A suggestion for at least the first citation is as
follows:
[Description], [Date], Box #, Folder #. MS-660. Bernard J. Bamberger Papers. American
Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Provenance
The records were donated by Henry Bamberger, Utica, N.Y., in May and June 2000.
Processing Information
Processed by Jeff Brown, July, 2001.
Accruals and Additions
No further accruals are expected to this collection.
Terms of Access and Use
The Bernard J. Bamberger Papers are open to all users. The original manuscript collection
is available in the Barrows-Loebelson Reading Room of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the
American Jewish Archives.
Property and Literary Rights
Rabbi Henry Bamberger, by the act of donating the Bernard J. Bamberger Papers to the
American Jewish Archives, assigned all property rights to the American Jewish Archives.
Literary rights are retained by Bernard J. Bamberger's heirs. Literary rights may also be
retained by specific creators of materials.
Questions concerning rights should be addressed to the Executive Director of the American
Jewish Archives. For more information see the American Jewish Archives
copyright information webpage.
Related Material:
Related Collections
Bamberger, Bernard J. Address, “The Changing Image of the Prophet in Jewish Thought,”
delivered by Dr. Bamberger at HUC-JIR, Cincinnati, Ohio. 20 April 19663. TR-353.
Bamberger, Bernard J. Nearprint Biographies File.
Bamberger, Bernard J. Photograph Collection. PC-236.
Central Conference of American Rabbis Records. 1885-1982. MS-34.
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Interviews by Michael Meyer in
connection with the Centennial of the College-Institute. 1972-1974. RESTRICTED. TR
1202-1207 and Small Collections.
Box Folder Listing
Scope and Content
Scope and Content Note: Consists of one Hollinger box of material, arranged by subject
matter. Most of the documentation appears in the form of correspondence. This series
contains all material in the Bernard J. Bamberger Papers which is unrelated to the
Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Arrangement Note: The material is arranged alphabetically by subject designation.
Box 1 / Folder 1
Albany, New York. Jewish community. 1940.
,
Box 1 / Folder 2
American Jewish Committee/ Jewish Welfare
Board.
1948
,
Box 1 / Folder 3
Bamberger, Bernard. Military service at John
Hopkins University.
1921.
,
Box 1 / Folder 4
B'nai B'rith Supreme Lodge, Spirituality convention. 1956
,
Box 1 / Folder 5
Congregation Beth Emeth. (Albany, N.Y.) Confirmation class. 1934.
,
Box 1 / Folder 6
Congregation Shaary Tefila (New York, N.Y.)
Anniversary dinner dance. 1964.
,
Box 1 / Folder 7
Congregation Shaary Tefila (New York, N.Y.)
Correspondence.
1944
,
Box 1 / Folder 8
Congregation Shaary Tefila (New York, N.Y.)
Move/merger files. 1959.
,
Box 1 / Folder 9
Congregation Shaary Tefila (New York, N.Y.)
Move.
Publicity.
1959.
,
Box 1 / Folder 10
Cronbach, Abraham.
1926-1955.
,
Box 1 / Folder 11
Growth and Development of the American Jewish Community. Lecture. 1961.
,
Box 1 / Folder 12
Jewish Publication Society. Articles on
Bible translation.
1975-1979.
,
Box 1 / Folder 13
Jewish Publication Society.
Correspondence; meeting notes. 1949-1972.
,
Box 1 / Folder 14
Jewish Publication Society.
Public relations.
1963-1965.
,
Box 1 / Folder 15
Jewish Publication Society. Translation
notes
undated
,
Box 1 / Folder 16
Levin, Benjamin Szold.
1955-1957.
,
Box 1 / Folder 17
Manuscripts; writings. 1909-1957.
,
Box 1 / Folder 18
Manuscripts; writings (academic).
undated
,
Box 1 / Folder 19
Manuscripts; writings (homiletics)
undated
,
Box 1 / Folder 20
Marcus, Jacob Rader.
1947-1961.
,
Box 1 / Folder 21
McIntosh, Mavis.
Beacon Press.
1951-1959.
,
Box 1 / Folder 22
Miscellaneous correspondence. 1927-1965.
,
Box 1 / Folder 23
Montagu, Lily. World Union for Progressive
Judaism.
1958-1961.
,
Box 1 / Folder 24
Morgenstern, Julian. 1934-1965.
,
Box 1 / Folder 25
Political personalities. 1934-1965.
,
Box 1 / Folder 26
Pulpit searches. 1934-1950.
,
Box 1 / Folder 27
Responsa. 1967.
,
Box 1 / Folder 28
Scholars correspondence. Includes: Lauterbach, Jacob;
Elbogan, Ismar; Solveithcik; Rosenau,
William; Heschel, Abraham J.) 1935-1964.
,
Box 1 / Folder 29
Union of American Hebrew Congregations.
Correspondence. Financial independence of Hebrew
Union College. 1962
,
Box 1 / Folder 30
Union of American Hebrew Congregations.
Torah commentary. 1970.
,
Series B. Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Scope and Content
Scope and Content Note: Contains two Hollinger boxes of material. These papers deal
with the subjects that Bamberger was most active in, or most interested in - namely, the
work of the Liturgy Committee, and a Special Committee that was formed by the Conference
to deal with the perceived flaws of the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of
Religion during the late 1960's and early 1970's.
Arrangement Note: Material is arranged alphabetically by subject designation. In cases
where there are multiple folders attributed to a single subject, material is arranged
chronologically.
Box 2 / Folder 1
Acceditation. National Association of Temple
Administrators. 1960.
,
Box 2 / Folder 2
Admission to the Central Conference of American Rabbis.
1961.
,
Box 2 / Folder 3
Association for a Progressive Reform Judaism.
Intermarriage.
1973-1975.
,
Box 2 / Folder 4
Book of Essays. Hebrew Union College 70th anniversary.
1945-1949.
,
Box 2 / Folder 5
Columbus Platform. Schulman, Samuel
draft. 1936-1937.
,
Box 2 / Folder 6
Committee descriptions. 1959.
,
Box 2 / Folder 7
Controversial daily services at conventions. 1961.
,
Box 2 / Folder 8
Controversial establishment of Religious Action Center.
1961.
,
Box 2 / Folder 9
Freedom Riders; King, Martin Luther, Jr.
1961.
,
Box 2 / Folder 10
Future of the Rabbinate and Curriculum/ Administration of Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institute of Religion . 1940-1967
,
Box 2 / Folder 11
Future of the Rabbinate and Curriculum/ Administration of Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institute of Religion . 1968
,
Box 2 / Folder 12
Future of the Rabbinate and Curriculum/ Administration of Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institue of Religion . 1969.
,
Box 2 / Folder 13
Future of the Rabbinate and Curriculum/ Administration of Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institue of Religion . 1972.
,
Box 2 / Folder 14
Future of the Rabbinate and Curriculum/ Administration of Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institue of Religion . 1973.
,
Box 2 / Folder 15
Future of the Rabbinate and Curriculum/ Administration of Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institue of Religion . 1974.
,
Box 2 / Folder 16
Future of the Rabbinate and Curriculum/ Administration of Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institue of Religion . undated
,
Box 2 / Folder 17
General correspondence;
meetings. 1940-1942.
,
Box 2 / Folder 18
General correspondence;
meetings. 1953-1958.
,
Box 2 / Folder 19
General correspondence;
meetings. 1959-1960.
,
Box 2 / Folder 20
General correspondence;
meetings. 1961.
,
Box 2 / Folder 21
General correspondence;
meetings. 1963.
,
Box 2 / Folder 22
General correspondence;
meetings. 1968-1969.
,
Box 3 / Folder 1
Hebrew pronunciation (Ashkenazaic to Sephardic shift). 1964
,
Box 3 / Folder 2
Hebrew Union College. 1948-1953.
,
Box 3 / Folder 3
Jewish day schools. 1962-1963.
,
Box 3 / Folder 4
Liturgy Committee . Correspondence; meetings.
1950.
,
Box 3 / Folder 5
Liturgy Committee . Correspondence; meetings.
1951.
,
Box 3 / Folder 6
Liturgy Committee . Correspondence; meetings.
1952.
,
Box 3 / Folder 7
Liturgy Committee . Correspondence; meetings.
1953.
,
Box 3 / Folder 8
Liturgy Committee . Correspondence; meetings.
1954.
,
Box 3 / Folder 9
Liturgy Committee . Correspondence; meetings.
1955.
,
Box 3 / Folder 10
Liturgy Committee . Correspondence; meetings.
1956.
,
Box 3 / Folder 11
Liturgy Committee . Correspondence; meetings.
1957.
,
Box 3 / Folder 12
Liturgy Committee . Correspondence; meetings.
1958.
,
Box 3 / Folder 13
Liturgy Committee . Correspondence; meetings.
1959-1960.
,
Box 3 / Folder 14
Liturgy Committee . Correspondence; meetings.
1961.
,
Box 3 / Folder 15
Liturgy Committee . Correspondence; meetings.
1967.
,
Box 3 / Folder 16
Liturgy Committee . Correspondence; meetings.
undated
,
Box 3 / Folder 17
Missionary work. 1950-1960.
,
Box 3 / Folder 18
New York State Civil War Centennial Commission episode. 1961.
,
Box 3 / Folder 19
Partnership with Union of American Hebrew Congregations.
1960.
,
Box 3 / Folder 20
Presidency; public appearences. 1958-1961.
,
Box 3 / Folder 21
Regionalization.
1960.
,
Box 3 / Folder 22
Role of cantors. 1961.
,
Box 3 / Folder 23
Special committee on rabbinic placement . 1960-1963.
,
Box 3 / Folder 24
United States Census; Bureau of Statistics.
1960.
,