Dr. Elias Grünebaum, 1807 - 1893
After he early lost his father, he was educated by his stepfather, an outstanding Jewish buyer from “Münchweiler/Alsenz” named “Isaac Felsenthal”. In his biography it means: “that this happened with large love and largest care”.
At the age of fifteen years he was already informed in “Talmud” (theory of the Judaism), in order to begin his “Talmud”-study at Mainz in 1823. After three years he changed to the “Talmud”-school at Mannheim in 1826, where he was additionally informed privately in Latin and Greek. Afterwards he was concerned for Abitur preparation one and a half years with “Talmud” - studies in Frankfurt. He completed the Abitur in Speyer. In Bonn he began his university studies with philosophy and Arabic languages. After two terms he changed to the university in Munich and predominantly turned there also to philosophy. He was Primus in the rabbinate exam, which he took at Bayreuth in August 1834.
He found his first domain in the Principality of Birkenfeld starting from 15 August 1835, in which he reorganized the Jewish public education as Rabbi. He already was appointed to Landau as rabbi of the district on 25 June 1836, where he successfully worked 57 years. Thus on his constant petitions the Jewish cemetery was put on in Landau. “Grünebaum” was one of the first scientifically trained Rabbi in Germany. Besides he was a outstanding theological writer.
As rooter of the so-called new believing direction he promoted the emancipation of the Jews in the religious range, which carried out itself parallel with the liberalisation of the Protestant church. One of his main objectives was the organization of the mosaic school system. It is to be owed to his efforts that the so-called “Jew oath” and the “trade restrictions” against Jews were abolished in the Kingdom of Bavaria 1862.
“The ethics of the Jewry in relation to other confessions” is to be called his main work of his publications. He was co-author of Aubs “synagog” and Löws “Ben-Chananjah”. King Ludwig II lent the “Michaelsorden of second class” to him in 1886.
“Grünebaum” was married with “Johanetta Strauß”. He had 12 children, from whom 3 dies in the infancy. “Grünebaum” deceased in Landau on 25 September 1893. In a obituary it means: “In all his work you recognizes the scientifically and talmud trained and the spirit of an astute and active researcher raising over the average”.