This is a topic I’ve been thinking about for over 30 years, but I’ve never given a class on it before. How did the Jews and Rabbinic leadership of Britain, Europe and USA respond to the 19th century abolition movement, which was inspired by the rationalism of the Enlightenment? We begin with the Torah, Mishna and Talmud, spend some time with Rambam, but mainly focus on Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch, Moses Montefiore, Morris Raphall and the responses to his sermon.
