Friedrich Albrecht Augusti

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Friedrich Albrecht Augusti , born as Josua Ben Abraham Eschel or Herschel (born June 30, 1691 in Frankfurt (Oder) , † May 13, 1782 in Eschenbergen ) was a German Protestant theologian and cleric of Jewish descent.

Life

Period of life as a Jew

Augusti was the son of Abraham Eschel, a jeweler and scholar. This taught him until his untimely death. After the father's death, the envoy ("Meschullach") Aron ben Jekutiel came to the city from Jerusalem . Augusti was to accompany him on the long journey back to Jerusalem and Jekutiel, who was a doctor and scholar, continued to teach him. On the trip, however, they came across a band of robbers who captured Augusti and finally sold them as a slave to a merchant . Among other things, he used him as a camel driver. However, he was ransomed by the Jews of the city of Smyrna . After half a year he was supposed to travel back to Europe. On the trip near Constantinople he was infected with the plague , but survived thanks to good care.

Augusti went back in Europe to relatives in Lithuania , who sent him to Krakow for further education . There he studied mainly with Rabbi Brauch. His studies included the Talmud , Jewish grammar and interpretation, and Jewish customs. After four years he moved to Prague . In Prague he continued his studies with Rabbi Gabriel. He had the writing Neschikat Mosche printed and defended it publicly. He then received the title Morenu and permission to teach publicly. To learn Kabbalah , he wanted to travel to England , Italy or the Netherlands . However, his mother did not want to support these plans. He therefore traveled between the synagogues in the country. Finally he found accommodation with a court Jew in Sondershausen , whose library he was allowed to use and who wanted to travel with him to Amsterdam . However, Augusti was attacked again in his apartment on November 15, 1720. He and his host were robbed of 30,000 thalers. Prince Günther from Sondershausen also sent his personal doctor to heal the rabbi, who was injured again .

Augusti initially stayed in Sondershausen and wanted to finish a work on the prophet Isaiah there . In doing so, he came into conflict with his religion. He dealt with the court preacher and superintendent Reinhard and came to the decision to convert to Christianity. Accompanied by Reinhard and Councilor Janus, he publicly bid farewell to his faith in the synagogue in Sondershausen.

Part of life as a Christian

Augusti was first introduced to Christian teaching by Reinhard in Sondershausen for nine months and converted to the Lutheran faith at Christmas 1722 in Sondershausen in the presence of the prince. Then he moved to Gotha . There he became a pupil of the Gothaer Gymnasium illustrious , where he should be prepared for his Christian studies. In 1727 he went to the University of Jena, financially supported by Prince Günther, to study theology, then shortly afterwards moved to the University of Leipzig . He passed his exams in Dresden , began to give lectures in Leipzig , then became a collaborator at the grammar school in 1729 and a private teacher in Gotha due to the poor financial situation .

Augusti rejected a reputation as a Professor of Oriental Languages at the Bremen High School , and decided to stay in Gotha. As a teacher at the Gothaer Gymnasium, which was also valued for his teaching of Hebrew, he worked as an adjunct in Eschenbergen, and in 1734 he was appointed pastor of this place. He remained in this position until his death. In 1755, shortly after its founding, he was appointed a member of the Electoral Mayntzische Academie of Useful Sciences . He also received the Dr. phil. awarded by the University of Göttingen . Later his son Ernst Friedrich Anton Augusti supported him in the ministry. His son was the theology professor Johann Christian Wilhelm Augusti .

Works (selection)

  • Diss. Epist. de fatis et factis Abrahami , Gotha 1730.
  • Šannûy haš-šem be-netînat hal-lēv êl yād rôʿê han-nêfêš Yešûʿa: Change of name when handing over the heart to the shepherd of souls Jesum , Schill, Arnstadt 1746.
  • Historical news from all of his gentlemen Antecessoribus from Lutheri Reformation to the present day: Deme also attached a historical news from the covered places Eschenberga , Rehyer, Gotha 1748.
  • Thorough news from the Karaites, their origin, Sitten , Webern, Erfurt 1752.
  • Explanation of the Book of Job with critical and political comments , Erfurt 1754.

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Christian Ferdinand Schulze : History of the Gymnasium zu Gotha . Perthes, Gotha 1824, p. 2111.
  2. ↑ Memorial calendar  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on akademie-erfurt.de (as of June 20, 2017).@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.akademie-erfurt.de  
personal data
SURNAME Augusti, Friedrich Albrecht
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Eschel, Joshua Ben Abraham; Herschel, Joshua Ben Abraham
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German Protestant theologian and clergyman of Jewish descent
DATE OF BIRTH June 30, 1691
PLACE OF BIRTH Frankfurt (Oder)
DATE OF DEATH May 13, 1782
Place of death Eschenbergen