# Abraham Joshua Heschel

> Polish-American rabbi, philosopher, and civil rights activist (1907-1972)

**Wikidata**: [Q215833](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q215833)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Joshua_Heschel)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/abraham-joshua-heschel

## Summary
Abraham Joshua Heschel was a Polish-American rabbi, philosopher, and civil rights activist (1907–1972). He is best known for his theological writings, particularly his book *The Prophets*, which reinterpreted the Hebrew Bible through a modern lens, and his advocacy for social justice, including his opposition to the Vietnam War and support for civil rights movements.

## Biography
- Born: January 11, 1907, in Warsaw, Poland
- Nationality: Polish (born), American (naturalized)
- Education:
  - Studied at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (New York)
  - Earned a PhD from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
- Known for: Advancing Jewish theology, civil rights activism, and opposition to nuclear weapons
- Employer(s):
  - Jewish Theological Seminary of America (New York)
  - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (Germany)
  - Hochschule für die Wissenschaft des Judentums (Berlin)
- Field(s): Rabbinic theology, philosophy, civil rights

## Contributions
- *The Prophets* (1951): A landmark theological work that reinterpreted the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing themes of justice and human dignity, and influencing modern Jewish thought.
- *Man Is Not Alone* (1962): A collection of essays on ethics, faith, and social responsibility, addressing topics such as nuclear war and civil rights.
- *The Sabbath* (1964): Explored the concept of rest and holiness in Jewish tradition, advocating for a balanced approach to work and leisure.
- *The Spirit of the Prophets* (1967): Further expanded his interpretation of biblical prophecy, emphasizing moral leadership and social justice.
- *The Sabbath: Its Meaning for Modern Man* (1968): A reflection on the Sabbath’s relevance in contemporary life, promoting its value as a model of ethical living.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. International Standard Name Identifier
4. CiNii Research
5. MusicBrainz
6. SNAC
7. Internet Philosophy Ontology project
8. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
9. Babelio
10. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
11. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
12. Virtual International Authority File
13. Catalogue of the Library of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross
14. CONOR.SI
15. Quora
16. LIBRIS. 2008
17. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands