The Biographical Dictionary of America/Adler, Samuel

ADLER, Samuel, clergyman, was born in Worms, Germany, Dec. 3, 1809, son of a Hebrew rabbi, and was trained by his father to follow in his footsteps. From his early childhood he was taught rabbinic literature, and when old enough he was sent to the rabbinic high school at Frankfort. After finishing his studies there he went to Bonn and Giessen, where he studied Oriental languages and philosophy for five years, leaving in 1836 to become a minister in Worms. In 1842 he removed to Alzey, as town and circuit rabbi. In the years 1844-'46 he attended the rabbi conventions held in Brunswick, Frankfort, and Breslau, and in 1856 removed to New York city, where, in 1857, his installation as rabbi of the Temple Emanu-El occurred. He was a highly-respected citizen of New York, keeping in touch with modern thought and progress, and accomplishing a vast amount of good. His son, Prof. Felix Adler, founded the society of ethical culture. Dr. Adler died in New York city, June 9, 1891.