Vilna Rabbinical School and Teachers' Seminary

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Pylimo Street No. 22 D - The building of the former rabbinical seminary in Vilnius Pilimo,22 - panoramio.jpg
Pylimo Street No. 22 D - The building of the former rabbinical seminary in Vilnius

The Vilna Rabbinical School and Teachers' Seminary was a controversial Russian state-sponsored institution to train Jewish teachers and rabbis, located in Vilna, Russian Empire. The school opened in 1847 with two divisions: a rabbinical school and a teachers' seminary. [1] The Rabbinical School was closed in 1873 and the Teachers' Seminary closed in 1914. [1] The school taught secular studies, unlike the traditional cheders and yeshivas. This new curriculum, as well as the government control, made the school "unpopular." [1]

Contents

Curriculum

The school taught German language, Hebrew language, Hebrew Bible, Talmud, [2] algebra, geometry, trigonometry, physics, astronomy, world history, Russian history, Russian language, geography, and handwriting and drawing. [3]

History

Rabbi Yisroel Salanter, a major figure of the Mussar movement who then lived in Vilna, was pressured to lead the seminary. Rather than accept the position, Salanter fled [4] to Kovno, even though Rabbi Yitzhak of Volozhin encouraged him to take the position. [5]

In 1872, a secret Narodnik [6] study group was formed [7] by Aaron Zundelevich. Vladimir Jochelson was a member of this group. [8]

Faculty and students

Many prominent [2] maskilim studied or taught in the school. [9]

Notable faculty included:

Notable students included:

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