Two centuries after Hyman Hurwitz dedicated his book Elements of The Hebrew Language ‘To the Founders of the Jewish Academy at Highgate’, the volume has returned to north London.
Hurwitz not only set up the second Jewish school in the country in South Grove, but was a friend of and collaborator with his neighbour Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
Highgate historians Michael Hammerson and Peter Walton presented the copy of Hurwitz’s book to Highgate Lit and Sci archivists Susan Trackman and Hilary Laurie. (Image: Michael Hammerson) The poet helped him to get his book published, and Highgate residents and keen local historians Michael Hammerson and Peter Walton have now presented a copy to the archive at the Highgate Literary & Scientific Institution.
Michael explained: “While surfing internet book dealers for Highgate material I got a hit from a bookseller in Jerusalem who had a rare 1807 edition of Elements of the Hebrew Language.
“I wondered why: but then I read the book’s subtitle: ‘by Hyman Hurwitz, Master of the Jewish Academy, Highgate’. The preface, dated October 13, 1807 was dedicated and the front cover was stamped with a red leather panel stating ‘As a token of respect from the author’. ”
He taught Hebrew and Bible studies in a secular school, then in 1799 he bought Church House and opened what was then the second Jewish school in the country.
The Jewish Academy, Highgate flourished with 100 boys, a synagogue, and a school for Jewish girls run by Hurwitz’s sister.
His neighbour, a few doors away in Moreton House, was the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge and the two shared an interest in Hebrew language and poetry.
They became close friends and collaborators, writing several poems together, including “Israel’s Lament” on the death of Princess Charlotte and “Tears of a Grateful Nation” on the death of George III.
Coleridge, who called Hurwitz “the first Hebrew and Rabbinical Scholar in the Kingdom,” helped get his works published, and on Coleridge’s recommendation he became the first Jewish man to hold a university post in England when he was elected Professor of the Hebrew Language and Literature at University College, London.
Coleridge died in 1834 and is buried at St Michael’s Church, Highgate. Hurwitz died in 1844 and is buried in Whitechapel.
Peter and Michael added: “It seemed appropriate that the book should come back to Highgate, and that its new home, in the HLSI archive, is only two doors away from where the Academy was located.”
HLSI archivists Susan Trackman and Hilary Laurie said: “We are delighted with the donation and are very grateful to Michael and Peter for giving us a book which is so central to the history of our Institution.”
