Hirschel, Solomon

Hirschel, Solomon a Jewish rabbi, was born in England in 1762. He was educated in Germany and Poland, and was for some time preacher at Prenzlau, in Prussia. In 1802 he was called to London as rabbi of the synagogue in Duke's Place, but gradually his jurisdiction was extended over all the Jews of the Ashkenazi Minhag (i.e., German rite) in London, and indeed in England. It was during his time that the scattered elements formed by the English Jews were gathered into one compact mass, and the Spanish and Portuguese Jews, and the German Jews, who were formerly spoken of as two distinct "nations," became closely connected together as members of the same creed. He died October 31, 1842. (B.P.)