Hertz, Joseph Herman (1872–1946)

Hungarian-born chief rabbi. He was rabbi of the Congregation Adath Jeshurun at Syracuse, New York (1894–98). He then became rabbi of the Witwatersrand Old Hebrew Congregation in Johannesburg, South Africa. In 1913, Hertz became Chief Rabbi for the British Empire. His many writings have proved of great benefit to British Jewry, notably his commentaries on the Pentateuch (with portions from the Prophets) and on the Prayer Book, and his anthology for Jewish servicemen, Book of Jewish Thoughts.

Hertz was born in Rebrin, Czechoslovakia (then in Hungary). He emigrated as a child to the USA and was educated at the College of the City of New York, Columbia University, where he gained his PhD, and the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York.