Aaron Hart (rabbi)

Uri Phoebus Aaron Hart ( Hebrew: רבי אהרן אורי פייבוש הרט; * 1670 in Breslau, Holy Roman Empire, † in London in 1756 ) was the first Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom and from 1704 to his death Rabbi of the Great Synagogue of London.

He was the son of Naphtali Hertz of Hamburg ( Hartwig Moses Hart), a wealthy Jewish residents of the city. After studying at a yeshiva in Poland, he married the daughter of Rabbi Samuel ben Phoebus of Fürth, for its part, author of commentaries on the plane ha'Ezer. It was probably through his wealthy brother, Moses Hart, founder of the Great Synagogue at Dukes Place, London, that Aaron Hart became the rabbi of the first Ashkenazi synagogue in that city. It was opened in Broad Street, Miter Square, in 1692.

Hart published in 1707 a small work entitled Urim ve - Thummim ( according to the oracle stones of the Israelite high priest ); this was the first Hebrew -language book, which was printed in London.

During his tenure, the Jewish life greatly spread out in the UK, the number of small provincial towns grew. Such communities were often led by individual staff, and forwarded the questions to the Rabbi of the Great Synagogue. Hart's advice was also sought, when it came time to appoint a shochet ( ritual slaughterer ) and other officials.

A portrait of Rabbi hard now hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in London.