Chajes Hirsch Perez

Date of birth: 1876 | Date of death: 1927

Occupation or position: 
Theologian
Community: 

Hirsch Perez Chajes was a theologian, orientalist, and one of the leaders of the Zionist movement. He was born in Brody in 1876.

After graduating from gymnasium in Brody, Chajes went on to study philosophy and theology in Vienna. At the same time he received a religious education at the Brody Yeshiva and became a rabbi. In 1902 he became a professor of Oriental languages ​​at the University of Florence and also served as the Chief Rabbi of the city and the head of the rabbinical school. From 1912 to 1918 he was the rabbi of Trieste. From 1918 and until his death, he remained the head of the Jewish community of Vienna. He was also the chairman of the World Zionist Congress from 1912 to 1925. He died in Vienna in 1927.

Information taken from:

  • Österreichisches Biographisches Lexikon 1815-1950. Herausgegeben von der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften unter der Leitung von Leo Santifaller. Band 2. Wien-Köln-Graz: Hermann Böhlaus Nachf. 1969. – 141