Alfred L. Ivry

Alexander Altmann (1906–1987) was an Orthodox Jewish scholar and rabbi who made significant contributions to the study of Jewish philosophy and mysticism. Born in Austria-Hungary, he fled Nazi Germany in 1938, eventually settling in the United States. He held a professorship in the Philosophy Department at Brandeis University for many years, where he also mentored numerous students in Jewish studies.

Altmann is particularly recognized for his extensive research on Moses Mendelssohn, whom he championed as a profound original philosopher. He also played a pioneering role in the academic study of Jewish mysticism in the United States, often being the sole scholar in this field at Brandeis. His academic career also included a period as a rabbi in Berlin and Manchester, England, and leadership roles in establishing Jewish studies institutes.

Alexander Altmann's scholarly journey began with a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Berlin in 1931, the same year he was ordained as a rabbi. He served as a rabbi and professor of Jewish philosophy in Berlin until 1938, when he emigrated to England due to the rise of Nazism. In Manchester, he continued his rabbinical duties while also pursuing independent scholarly work, publishing translations and commentaries on significant Jewish texts. His academic leadership extended to founding and directing the Institute of Jewish Studies and editing scholarly journals. In 1959, Altmann moved to the United States to join Brandeis University, where he held a distinguished professorship until his retirement in 1976. He remained intellectually active as a visiting professor and associate at Harvard University's Center for Jewish Studies until his death.

Altmann's primary research interests lay in medieval Jewish philosophy and mysticism, with a special emphasis on the work of Moses Mendelssohn. He aimed to re-establish Mendelssohn's reputation as an original philosophical thinker rather than merely an Enlightenment popularizer. His work also sought to bring greater recognition to figures like Isaac Israeli, the first medieval Jewish philosopher, whom he felt had been undeservedly overlooked. Altmann's scholarship extended to interpreting the philosophical positions of Maimonides, where he engaged with scholarly debates regarding Maimonides' views on skepticism and the value of philosophy. He was also known for his deep engagement with Jewish mysticism, a field he significantly advanced through his academic work.

Throughout his career, Alexander Altmann was a central figure in fostering Jewish scholarship. He actively mentored numerous students in Jewish philosophy and mysticism at Brandeis University, many of whom became prominent scholars themselves. Even in his later years, Altmann demonstrated an insatiable curiosity, exemplified by his enrollment in a Coptic language class. He maintained an open home in the Boston area, frequently hosting Jewish scholars and students, often for Sabbath meals, creating a vibrant intellectual hub. His dedication to Jewish intellectual life was further evidenced by his active participation in an Orthodox synagogue, where he delivered sermons and lectures, drawing on his rich rabbinical and academic experience.