HOUDINI'S RADICAL RABBIS

As reported in earlier posts, we recently unearthed the rabbinical ordination certificate of Houdini’s father, Rabbi Dr. Mayer Samuel Weiss, Ph.D., LLD.

We submitted this document to several of the world’s foremost specialists in the unique Jewish history of 19^th century Hungary.

Here are some of the facts we’ve gleaned, each of which throws new light on the nature of Houdini’s upbringing:

"HaLevi" appears on the Hebrew inscription on Rabbi Weiss' tombstone.

-- Mayer Samuel Weiss was referred to as “HaLevi,” meaning “the Levite” – the only one of the original twelve Hebrew tribes which has survived to this day. The Jewish Kohanim (Priests) are elite members of this group with special duties and privileges. So Rabbi Weiss was a member of the ancient priestly class of Judaism, descended directly from Moses’ brother Aaron.

                                -- YIVO Institute for Jewish Research

-- Rabbi Weiss came of age in the midst of a revolution in Jewish history: the Haskalah, the Jewish Enlightenment.

                                 -- Archivist, Hebrew Union College

-- Weiss’s rabbi in Nagykanizsa was Leopold Loew, the most important rabbi in the annals of Hungarian Jewry. Loew was a radical, even revolutionary figure -- the prime mover in the Neologue movement, the Hungarian version of Reform Judaism. Among other things, he advocated organ music in synagogues, elimination of circumcision, study of and worship in the local language, comparative religious studies, etc.

                                  -- Zala County Archivist, Hungary (courtesy                  House of Houdini)

-- Weiss was first a rabbi and soapmaker before becoming a lawyer. Soapmaking was a traditional Jewish occupation, often carried on by rabbinical families. Jews could not practice law in Hungary until 1862.

                                   -- YIVO


We're still working on deconstructing this unique historical find. More to come.