Abraham Benedict Rhine

Abraham Benedict Rhine (September 6, 1877 – August 8, 1941) was a Lithuanian-American rabbi who ministered in Hot Springs, Arkansas for nearly 40 years.

Life Rhine was born on September 6, 1877, in Shavli, Kovno Governorate, Russia, the son of Mayer Rhine and Bella Appel. He immigrated to America in 1889.

Rhine attended New York City public schools, Hughes High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, the University of Cincinnati (graduating from there with a B.A. in 1901), the Emanu-El Theological Seminary Association in New York City, and Hebrew Union College. In 1902, he graduated from Hebrew Union College with a B.H.L. and was ordained a rabbi. In that same year, he became rabbi of Congregation House of Israel in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He served as rabbi there for the rest of his life. Over the years he became one of the best known communal leaders in the state, especially in education; he was president of the local Board of Education from 1931 to 1933 and from 1938 to 1939, a founder of the Arkansas State Association of School Boards and its president from 1934 to 1939, and a member of the Governor's Advisory on Education in 1940.

Rhine was a director of the National Jewish Hospital in Denver, Colorado, a founder and executive secretary of the Leo N. Levi Memorial Hospital, a member of the Hebrew Union College board of governors, and a founder and honorary president of the Arkansas Jewish Assembly. He received an honorary D.D. from Hebrew Union College in 1910. A contributor to The Jewish Encyclopedia, his published works include Leon Gordon in 1910, Tales from the Midrash in 1911, a five-volume translation of Heinrich Graetz's Popular History of the Jews in 1919, and The Essence of the Bible in 1930.