30 Facts About Abraham Cronbach

Abraham Cronbach was an American rabbi and teacher, known as a pacifist.

Abraham Cronbach served as a rabbi for congregations in Indiana and Ohio.

Abraham Cronbach was born to German immigrants Marcus and Hannah Cronbach.

Abraham Cronbach played violin as a boy as well as read a lot on religion and science.

In high school Abraham Cronbach decided he would become a rabbi despite his parents' opposition.

Abraham Cronbach entered the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1898 where, in conjunction with the University of Cincinnati he studied for his bachelor's degree and trained for the rabbinate.

Abraham Cronbach graduated in 1902 from the University of Cincinnati and, in 1906 was valedictorian of his HUC class and was ordained as a rabbi.

On October 7,1917 Abraham Cronbach married Rose Hentel, a teacher at the Free Synagogue in New York City whom he met during his time there.

Later Abraham Cronbach would become the teacher of rabbinic student, Maurice Davis who would become a leader in the anti-cult movement and Abraham Cronbach's son-in-law.

Abraham Cronbach first served as rabbi at the reform congregation of Temple Beth El in South Bend, Indiana.

Abraham Cronbach developed strong convictions about the futility of the prison system.

Abraham Cronbach spent the next seven years serving in three different rabbinical capacities: from 1915 and 1917 he worked with the Free Synagogue in New York City; from 1917 through 1919 he served as Rabbi at Temple Israel in Akron, Ohio; and from 1919 through 1922 he served as the institutional chaplain for the Chicago Federation of Synagogues.

In 1922, Abraham Cronbach was appointed a professor of social studies at Hebrew Union College, where he remained for the rest of his life.

Abraham Cronbach was an active member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.

In 1939 Abraham Cronbach became secretary to the Board of Editors of the Hebrew Union College Annual.

Abraham Cronbach helped found the Peace Heroes Memorial Society in 1923.

Abraham Cronbach served as national secretary and was instrumental in establishing Memorial Day services around the country in honor of the heroes of industry, maternity, pacifism, etc.

Abraham Cronbach attempted to establish a specifically Jewish pacifist organization in 1924.

Abraham Cronbach was familiar with controversy due to his pacifist beliefs.

In 1942 along with Rabbi Isidor Hoffman and Jane Evans, Abraham Cronbach established the Jewish Peace Fellowship, which caused a brief collision between Abraham Cronbach and the College Board of Hebrew Union College.

Abraham Cronbach was not dogmatic on the issue of Zionism but generally hewed to the views instilled by his Classical Reform training, and remained consistent in opposing Israeli militarism.

Abraham Cronbach became active with the American Council for Judaism and was a revered member of its leadership until his death.

In 1952 Abraham Cronbach became a sponsor of the Committee to Secure Justice in the Rosenberg Case and worked for the committee for the next two years.

Abraham Cronbach carried on an active letter writing campaign that urged others to help secure clemency for the Rosenbergs.

On June 16,1953 Abraham Cronbach met with President Eisenhower to urge him to pardon the Rosenbergs.

Abraham Cronbach compiled a book about his experience with the Rosenberg case.

Abraham Cronbach appeared with Julius Rosenberg's mother and the Rosenbergs two small sons at a protest meeting in front of the White House after the Rosenbergs had been found guilty.

Abraham Cronbach gave a eulogy at the Rosenberg's funeral on June 21,1953.

In 1950 Abraham Cronbach retired from active teaching and became Emeritus Professor of Social Studies at Hebrew Union College.

Abraham Cronbach is interred near his home in the Clifton neighborhood of Cincinnati.