Object Details
Artist
Morris Goldstein, 1840 - 1906
Sitter
Isaac Mayer Wise, 29 Mar 1819 - 26 Mar 1900
Exhibition Label
Born Steingrub, Bohemia (now Czech Republic)
Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise helped define over thirty years of Judaism in the United States. When he emigrated from Eastern Europe in 1846, Wise joined approximately 50,000 Jews then living in the country. Wise set out to institutionalize a revised version of Reform Judaism that was intertwined with his new country’s notions of freedom and independence.
For example, he and his followers founded the first congregation to eliminate sex-segregated seating. Though often seen as a progressive reformer, Wise actually occupied a middle ground, bringing American ideals and Jewish practices closer together without challenging the religious tenets of Judaism.
In 1854, Wise founded what would become the second longest-running Jewish newspaper in the world, the Israelite (now the American Israelite), seen here beneath the pile of books. Twenty years later, Wise catalyzed the establishment of the first seminary to educate rabbis in the United States, Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Nacido en Steingrub, Bohemia (hoy República Checa)
El rabino Isaac Mayer Wise fue una de las figuras que definieron el judaísmo durante más de 30 años en Estados Unidos. En 1846 emigró de Europa del Este y se unió a los casi 50,000 judíos que vivían en el país. Wise se propuso institucionalizar una versión revisada del judaísmo reformista que entroncaba con las nociones de libertad e independencia de su nuevo país. Por ejemplo, junto a sus seguidores fundó la primera congregación que eliminó la separación de los asientos por sexo. Aunque se le consideraba progresista, estaba más bien en un punto medio, tratando de acercar los ideales americanos a las prácticas judías sin desafiar la doctrina del judaísmo.
En 1854, Wise fundó el que sería el segundo periódico judío más longevo del mundo, el Israelite (hoy American Israelite), el cual vemos aquí bajo la pila de libros. Veinte años después, propulsó la creación del primer seminario para educar rabinos en EE.UU., el Hebrew Union College en Cincinnati, Ohio.
Provenance
Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati; gift 1977 to NPG
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of the Hebrew Union College. Frame conservation generously supported by Rabbi Amy and Gary Perlin
Date
1881
Object number
NPG.77.243
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
Painting
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
107.5cm x 92cm (42 5/16" x 36 1/4"), Accurate
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Exhibition
Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900
On View
NPG, East Gallery 141
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair
Printed Material\Book
Costume\Dress Accessory\Eyeglasses
Printed Material\Newspaper
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Mustache
Costume\Jewelry\Chain
Costume\Dress Accessory\Neckwear\Tie\Bowtie
Isaac Mayer Wise: Male
Isaac Mayer Wise: Arts and Culture\Literature\Writer
Isaac Mayer Wise: Social Welfare and Reform\Reformer
Isaac Mayer Wise: Arts and Culture\Journalism and Media\Newspaper publisher
Isaac Mayer Wise: Religion and Spirituality\Founder\Founder of religious order
Isaac Mayer Wise: Religion and Spirituality\Clergy\Rabbi
Isaac Mayer Wise: Religion and Spirituality\Religious leader
Portrait
Link to Original Record
Record ID
npg_NPG.77.243