Rabbi Schindler's Silver Torah Pointer
Made of solid silver with original gilding. The hand is holding a scribes pen that is decorated with three old European cut diamonds. 10.7" long. Marked. Rabbi Alexander Schindler, a tireless and passionate leader, was the President of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now called the Union for Reform Judaism) for 23 years, representing 850 congregations and 1.5 million Reform Jews.
Known as an Ohev Yisrael - a lover of all Jews - Rabbi Schindler was the visionary behind Outreach programs to intermarried families that are now practiced by almost every Jewish denomination. Rabbi Schindler was an outspoken advocate for welcoming women into the rabbinate and was proud when his daughter Judy was ordained in 1995. He was a confidant and friend of Jewish and secular leaders across the globe. Upon his death in 2000 at the age of 75, the New York Times acclaimed him as "one of the most influential American Jewish leaders of the latter half of the 20th century." This Torah pointer were presented to Rabbi Schindler in 1996 as gifts from the Reform Movement upon his retirement.
- Circa: The Netherlands, 1800
- Size: 10.7"
- Auction Date: June 2009
- Pre-Auction Estimate: $12,500 - $18,000
- Auction Price: $23,000.
Made of solid silver with original gilding. The hand is holding a scribes pen that is decorated with three old European cut diamonds. 10.7" long. Marked. Rabbi Alexander Schindler, a tireless and passionate leader, was the President of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now called the Union for Reform Judaism) for 23 years, representing 850 congregations and 1.5 million Reform Jews.
Known as an Ohev Yisrael - a lover of all Jews - Rabbi Schindler was the visionary behind Outreach programs to intermarried families that are now practiced by almost every Jewish denomination. Rabbi Schindler was an outspoken advocate for welcoming women into the rabbinate and was proud when his daughter Judy was ordained in 1995. He was a confidant and friend of Jewish and secular leaders across the globe. Upon his death in 2000 at the age of 75, the New York Times acclaimed him as "one of the most influential American Jewish leaders of the latter half of the 20th century." This Torah pointer were presented to Rabbi Schindler in 1996 as gifts from the Reform Movement upon his retirement.