AUSTRIA. Wien (Vienna). Medal 1893 (Silver, 55 mm, 53.65 g, 12 h), on the chief rabbi Adolph Jellinek (1820-1893). By D. Kallai. DR ADOLPH JELLINEK OBERRABBINER U.PREDIGER DER ISRAEL.CULTUSGEMEINDE WIEN // GEB: / DRSLAVITZ / 29.OCT. / 1820 // GEST: / WIEN / 28.DEC. / 1893 Facing bust of Adolph Jellinek in the robes of a chief rabbi. Rev. לא בחיל ולא בכח כי אם ברוחי אמר יהוה צבאות ('Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts' in Hebrew) / Secharjah Cap.4.VI. in five lines within wreath. Forrer III, 116. Hauser -. Horsky 7376. Unger 4220. Wurzbach 3958. Very rare in silver. Beautiful old cabinet toning. Tiny hairlines on the obverse, otherwise, good extremely fine.



Adolph Jellinek was a leading liberal rabbi and one of the most influential Jewish preachers of the nineteenth century, serving congregations in both Leipzig and Vienna. After studying in Leipzig, he published numerous works on religious philosophy, Jewish mysticism, Kabbalah, and Midrashic literature. His scholarly interests also extended to Oriental studies; he mastered Arabic and several other Eastern languages and undertook a serious study of the Qur'an.

A committed advocate of religious equality and Jewish emancipation, he linked the ideals of the Revolutions of 1848 with the principles of Judaism. During his years in Vienna, he warned forcefully of the rise of antisemitism and foresaw the danger of renewed Jewish ghettoization.