Joseph Silverman

Joseph Silverman (August 25, 1860 in Ohio – July 26, 1930 in New York City), was a leading American Reform rabbi and author. He was the first American born rabbi to serve in New York City.

Born in Cincinnati, he attended the University of Cincinnati and received a Doctor of Divinity from the Hebrew Union College in 1887, from which he received his rabbinic ordination three years earlier. 1918- and was founder and president of the Emanu-El Brotherhood.

Silverman published many articles and books, including A Catechism on Judaism (1886) and The Renaissance of Judaism (1918). An article from The New York Times on April 21, 1912, quoted Silverman at a memorial service for victims of the RMS Titanic disaster as saying "Not God was responsible for this great disaster but the imperfection of human knowledge and judgment."

Silverman died on July 26, 1930, having spent 34 years as the leader of Temple Emanu-El followed by eight years as Rabbi Emeritus. The New York Times described him in its obituary as "one of the most prominent clergymen of his faith in America".