Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907 - 1972)

Fri Jan 11, 1907

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Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, born on this day in 1907, was a Polish-born American rabbi, civil rights activist, and one of the leading Jewish theologians and philosophers of the 20th century.

Heschel was active in the civil rights movement, marching with MLK Jr. in Selma, Alabama. At the Vatican Council II, as a representative of American Jews, Heschel was also responsible for persuading the Catholic Church to remove anti-Semitic language from its doctrine, including references to “deicide” and expectations of conversion to Christianity.

“Few are guilty, but all are responsible.”

- Abraham Joshua Heschel