Hapodeh Umazil – Löwen’s prizewinning life of Yeshua

Löwen, Moses Gotthold (also known as Hananiah Berliner), was born August 8, 1859, just at the time when his father, dressed in mourning, was sitting on the floor in the synagogue, bewailing the destruction of Jerusalem. When the father returned home, a near relative presented him with his firstborn son. His parents educated him after the manner of orthodox Jews, and he studied diligently the Talmud and the “Shulchan Aruch,” but very little the Old Testament. [Bernstein: Some Jewish Witnesses]

When the boy was fifteen years of age, he was employed by the rabbi of Sombar, in Galicia, as a copyist, and for this he received from him instruction in rabbinical writings, in the Bible, and in religious philological literature. This distinguished savant, Joshua Hullas by name, was liberal-minded and exercised a salutary influence upon the boy. Later on he perceived the untenableness of the rabbinic views of the world, and gave up the idea of becoming a rabbi as his parents wished. He then devoted himself to commerce, but found no pleasure in it.

Then he met the Rev. J. Lotka, missionary of the L.J.S. at Lemberg, and for the first time learned to know the New Testament and other Christian literature; and after an inward struggle, lasting ten years, in which the late Professor Franz Delitzsch encouraged him to persevere, he threw himself at the feet of Jesus, and became His faithful disciple. He was admitted into the Church of Christ by baptism, by the Rev. P. E. Gottheil,[345] in Stuttgart, in 1886.

Two years later he entered the service of the Berlin Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews, under whom for years he laboured with great blessing upon his efforts. Löwen’s work was mostly of a literary character. In 1888, he wrote a useful booklet in Yiddish, entitled “Siach l’Elohim,” through which he introduced the jargon of the Eastern Jews into Christian literature. A year later he joined Chr. Theophilus Lucky, in editing the Hebrew monthly periodical, “Eduth l’Israel.” This was and remained the first Jewish Christian periodical in the sacred language.

He worked at this difficult post for only two years, but continued in co-operation with Professor Dalman for fifteen years in the publication of his monthly Yiddish periodical, “Berith Am.” He also contributed numerous articles, poems, narratives, etc., to “Nathanael” and to “Messiasbote,” publications of the Berlin Society. On Löwen’s suggestion, the International Jewish Missionary Conference at Leipzig in 1897, resolved to offer a prize for a life of Christ in Yiddish. Amongst the competitors was the well-known Joseph Rabinowitz, but the umpires, Professor Strack and the Rev. A. Bernstein, adjudged the prize to Löwen’s work, which is entitled “Podeh Umazil,” which has found great acceptance among the Jews.

In 1901 a collection of essays appeared from his pen, under the title, “Brod und Salz” (bread and salt), which was gladly read. He also brought out a series of booklets entitled “Orchim,” which was of the greatest missionary value. Löwen was stationed in Berlin, Lemberg, [346] Posen, and Vienna, where he continued to testify to the Jews of the unsearchable riches of Christ, and the Lord crowned his work with success, in that he was permitted to witness a spirit of enquiry among the Jews, not a few of whom acknowledged Him as their Lord and Saviour through his labours.

Prayer and Reflection: Löwen’s life, learning and literary legacy are an example to all of dedicated service, scholarship and spiritual life. May there be many today who are able to communicate effectively with our people in the language, culture, religious and theological matrix that we experience as Jewish believers in Yeshua. In his name we pray. Amen.

http://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-no2009008187/

Most widely held works by Hananja Berliner

Die Juden und das Evangelium : Äusserungen hervorragender evangelischer Christen der Gegenwart by G. Moses LOEWEN( Book )

4 editions published in 1913 in German and held by 21 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Der Erlöser und Erretter Leben, Thaten und Lehren d. Messias Jeschua by Hananias Berliner( )

7 editions published in 1898 in 4 languages and held by 20 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Das Ostjudentum : Ein Abriss seines Werdens von G.M. Loewen = Wien by Hananias Berliner( Book )

5 editions published in 1918 in German and held by 9 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Frische Zweige vom heiligen Ölbaum by Hananias Berliner( Book )

6 editions published between 1909 and 1913 in German and Undetermined and held by 7 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

ha-Podeh u-matsil : a beshreybung fun dem leben di maasim un di toros fun yeyshua hamashiaḥ … by Hananias Berliner( Book )

2 editions published in 1898 in Yiddish and held by 4 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

… der Erlöser und Erretter : Leben, Thaten und Lehren des Messias Jeschua by Hananias Berliner( )

1 edition published in 1898 in Hebrew and held by 3 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Mayn baḳosheh by I Lichtenstein( Book )

1 edition published in 1915 in Yiddish and held by 3 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Main bakoše by Yeḥiʼel Tsevi ben Maharam( Book )

1 edition published in 1915 in Yiddish and held by 2 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Frische Zweige vom Heiligen Oelbaum : aus dem Leben der Juden in Osteuropa by Hananias Berliner( Book )

1 edition published in 1909 in German and held by 2 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Broiṭ un zalts : (Leḥem ṿa- melaḥ) : eṭlikhe gemishṭe oyfzets, etsayhlungen un lider by Hananias Berliner( Book )

1 edition published in 1901 in Yiddish and held by 1 WorldCat member library worldwide

http://sammlungen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/judaica/urn/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30-180012223441

http://sammlungen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/judaica/urn/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30-180012223255