Testimonial from Congregation K’hal Adath Jeshurun of Frankfurt, on the occasion of the 70th birthday of <<Emanuel Schwarzschild.>>

A successful banker, Emanuel Schwarzschild (1825-96) was one of the leading supporters of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch. This elaborate testimonial was issued on the occasion of Schwarzschild’s 70th birthday in 1895 and signed by Rabbi Salomon Breuer (1850-1926), son-in-law of, and successor to R. Samson Raphael Hirsch; as well as other members of the Board of the Israelite Religious Society in Frankfurt (IRG). The text acknowledges that Emanuel Schwarzschild’s father was among the founders of the Orthodox community in Frankfurt, and praises Emanuel Schwarzschild’s commitment to continue his father’s legacy, developing and supporting the community and its present need for a new building. K’hal Adath Jeshurun was established by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-88) who accepted a call to lead a small Orthodox separatist group in Frankfurt, the “Austritts-Gemeinde.” His son-in-law Rabbi Solomon Breuer (1850-1926) succeeded him in 1890, and was succeeded in turn by his son, Rabbi Joseph Breuer (1882-1980), who later founded a new K’hal Adath Jeshurun in New York City’s Washington Heights, following his flight from Nazi Germany in 1938. The congregation was reestablished there according to the protocol originally drawn up in 1850, and to which the American congregation continues to fervently adhere to. Rabbi Breuer’s great-grandson is the founding chairman of Kestenbaum & Company. <<Provenance:>> From the library of a prominent, pre-war Frankfurt Jewish family (details of which will be provided to the successful bidder).