Skip to main content

Robert Halden Family Collection

 Collection
Identifier: AR 25119

Scope and Content Note

This collection contains the papers of the Hildesheimer and Halberstadt families. The majority of items are official documents, but there are also Haggadahs, two manuscripts, a cookbook, correspondence, and a few documents on the family history.

Official documents found in this collection include marriage and birth certificates, passports and other citizenship documents, wills, and educational documents. These types of documents will be found for Israel Hildesheimer, Aron Hildesheimer, Nathan and Henriette Halberstadt, and John and Margot Halden. Israel Hildesheimer's papers include his doctoral diploma and last will and testament, and a naturalization report that lists his children, as well as a few documents in Hebrew. Among Nathan and Henriette Halberstadt's papers will be found copies of their driver's license, passports, marriage certificate, a military pass, and Nathan's Arbeitsbuch for 1935. The folder of John and Margot Halden's documents holds numerous Studienbücher from several universities they attended, as well as report cards, Margot Halden's dentistry certificate, a marriage certificate and police reports from Paris, and copies of passports and naturalization certificates.

The collection also contains some correspondence for Aron Hildesheimer and Nathan Halberstadt. Correspondence of Aron Hildesheimer includes a letter from 1907 concerning his citizenship and letters exchanged with the mayor's office in 1939 concerning his departure from his residence in Halberstadt. Most of Nathan Halberstadt letters discuss his conduct as an employee; several of these are letters of recommendation, some of which were translated into English. Among this correspondence are letters from Emil Hirsch describing his work for the firm Aron Hirsch & Sohn in 1933.

Various manuscripts, including two short memoirs and poems, are located in several areas of this collection. "Tagebuch über meine Pälestinareise" chronicles a trip taken to Palestine in 1933, and was written by an unidentified writer. This typed diary depicts Haifa, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv in 1933, with special focus on the educational system in Israel. The manuscript discusses the rabbis, synagogues, institutions, schools, and settlement visited by the writer. In addition, the "Tagebuch" also describes the writer's visit to Italy (including Verona, Rome, Naples, and Pompeii) and Athens before commencing the trip to Palestine. The second memoir in the collection, "Kindheitserrinerungen," details life in a rabbinical household in Eisenstadt. It appears to have been written by Israel Hildesheimer's daughter, Esther. Although most attention focuses on events within the Hildesheimer family, this work also provides an exhaustive view of daily life in the Jewish quarter of Eisenstadt.

Texts of poems, songs, and shorter works will also be found in several folders of this collections. These include several poems by Israel Hildesheimer and an essay by his wife Henriette Hildesheimer among the rabbi's papers. The text of a song is contained in Aron Hildesheimer's papers. A song in honor of Hans Halberstadt's Bar Mitzvah will be found among Nathan Halberstadt's papers, as well as a skit in the folder of John and Margot Halden's documents.

Several books will also be found in this collection. Included are three Haggadahs for Passover and a cookbook. The Haggadahs are printed, and some appear to have been heavily used. The cookbook contains numerous handwritten recipes of Mirjam Hildesheimer.

Finally, a small amount of genealogical material will be found among the papers of Aron Hildesheimer. These documents include a family tree as well as photocopies of a clipping on the immigration of the family and the history of the Aron Hirsch & Sohn firm.

Dates

  • Creation: 1821-1940
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1850-1935

Creator

Language of Materials

The collection is in German, Hebrew, English, and French.

Access Restrictions

Open to researchers.

Access Information

Collection is digitized. Follow the links in the Container List to access the digitized materials.

Collection is microfilmed - MF 701.

Readers may access the collection by visiting the Lillian Goldman Reading Room at the Center for Jewish History. We recommend reserving the collection in advance; please visit the LBI Online Catalog and click on the "Request" button.

Use Restrictions

There may be some restrictions on the use of the collection. For more information, contact:

Leo Baeck Institute, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011

email: lbaeck@lbi.cjh.org

Biographical Note

Israel Hildesheimer Israel (also spelled Azriel, Esriel, or Ezriel) Hildesheimer was one of the founders and leaders of modern Orthodoxy in Germany. He was born in Halberstadt in 1820, the son of Rabbi Lieb Hildesheimer (formerly Glei) and Golda Goslar. He attended the Jewish school in his hometown until he was seventeen, when he went to study in Altona with the Orthodox rabbi Jakob Ettlinger. He also attended lectures given by the Hamburg rabbi Isaac Bernays. After returning to Halberstadt, Hildesheimer finished his studies at the Dom Gymnasium. Unlike most Orthodox Jews of the time, he decided to continue his studies at the university level. When he was twenty, he attended the University of Berlin, where he studied philosophy, literature, languages, and mathematics. In 1842 Hildesheimer went to Halle, where he completed his university studies in 1844 with a dissertation on biblical interpretation ("Über die Rechte Art der Bibelinterpretation"). After the conclusion of his education, Hildesheimer returned to Halberstadt, where he married Henriette Hirsch, sister of Joseph Hirsch, Kommerzienrat and owner of Aron Hirsch & Sohn.

In 1851 Israel Hildesheimer was called to be the rabbi of Eisenstadt (then Kis Marton, Hungary, presently located in Austria). He stayed in Eisenstadt for nineteen years, where he and Henriette had ten children: Levi, Esther, Aron, Hirsch, Moses, Lea, Röschen, Gustav, Mayer, and Jenny. At that time, Orthodoxy frowned upon secular education, but Hildesheimer established a school for the Jewish community where both religion and other subjects were taught. He also founded a seminary for educating rabbis, where history, literature, mathematics, Latin, and Greek were taught in addition to religious courses and Hebrew. His attempts to give secular learning a firm place in rabbinical studies brought him into conflict with more traditional Orthodox Jews.

In 1869 the Orthodox community of Adass Jisroel in Berlin was searching for a new rabbi, and found it in Israel Hildesheimer. By 1873 he had established a religious school and rabbinical seminary there. As in Eisenstadt, he hoped that these institutions would help to strengthen Orthodox Judaism.

In addition to his work as rabbi, Hildesheimer was also involved in numerous efforts to assist the needy. In 1868 he assisted in organizing the construction of buildings for the poor and pilgrims near Jerusalem. During the Franco-Prussian war he founded a lazarette for Jewish soldiers, which was led by his wife. He was also active in making religious services for the high holidays available to the soldiers in the war. In 1883 he worked to establish a home in Berlin for Jewish refugees from Russia. In addition, he was a member of the central committee of the Alliance Israelite Universelle and president of the Mietelhilfsverein in Berlin. Israel Hildesheimer wrote many scholarly works, especially articles, but also a commentary on the Halachoth Gedoloth.

Israel Hildesheimer died in 1899, soon after the death of his wife.

Aron Hildesheimer Aron Hildesheimer was the second son of Israel and Henriette Hildesheimer, born in 1851. A businessman, he married his neighbor Mirjam Hirsch, the daughter of Salmon Hirsch and Fanny Ettlinger, in 1878. Aron and Mirjam Hildesheimer had two children: Fritz (later Fred) and Gerda. Aron Hildesheimer lived for many years in Halberstadt before immigrating to the United States in 1939, where he lived with his family in New York City. He died in 1940.

Nathan Halberstadt and Henriette Halberstadt née Hildesheimer Henriette Hildesheimer was the daughter of Aron Hildesheimer and Mirjam Hirsch. In 1908 she married Nathan Halberstadt in Halberstadt. Nathan Halberstadt was a banker and bookkeeper who worked for the Aron Hirsch & Sohn firm for a time.

Hans Halberstadt and Margot Halberstadt née Koppe (later John and Margot Halden) The son of Nathan Halberstadt and Henriette Hildesheimer, Hans Halberstadt was born in 1910 and married Margot Koppe in 1934. Hans Halberstadt studied law at universities in Berlin and Heidelberg. Margot Koppe studied dentistry in Breslau, Würzburg, and Berlin. In 1936 they immigrated to the United States, where they settled in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. In 1944 they both became citizens of the United States. Upon receiving citizenship Hans Halberstadt changed his name to John Halden, and Halden became thereafter the family name. John Halden died in 1976; Margot Halden died in 1981. They had a son, Robert Halden, in 1942.

Israel Hildesheimer

Israel (also spelled Azriel, Esriel, or Ezriel) Hildesheimer was one of the founders and leaders of modern Orthodoxy in Germany. He was born in Halberstadt in 1820, the son of Rabbi Lieb Hildesheimer (formerly Glei) and Golda Goslar. He attended the Jewish school in his hometown until he was seventeen, when he went to study in Altona with the Orthodox rabbi Jakob Ettlinger. He also attended lectures given by the Hamburg rabbi Isaac Bernays. After returning to Halberstadt, Hildesheimer finished his studies at the Dom Gymnasium. Unlike most Orthodox Jews of the time, he decided to continue his studies at the university level. When he was twenty, he attended the University of Berlin, where he studied philosophy, literature, languages, and mathematics. In 1842 Hildesheimer went to Halle, where he completed his university studies in 1844 with a dissertation on biblical interpretation ("Über die Rechte Art der Bibelinterpretation"). After the conclusion of his education, Hildesheimer returned to Halberstadt, where he married Henriette Hirsch, sister of Joseph Hirsch, Kommerzienrat and owner of Aron Hirsch & Sohn.

In 1851 Israel Hildesheimer was called to be the rabbi of Eisenstadt (then Kis Marton, Hungary, presently located in Austria). He stayed in Eisenstadt for nineteen years, where he and Henriette had ten children: Levi, Esther, Aron, Hirsch, Moses, Lea, Röschen, Gustav, Mayer, and Jenny. At that time, Orthodoxy frowned upon secular education, but Hildesheimer established a school for the Jewish community where both religion and other subjects were taught. He also founded a seminary for educating rabbis, where history, literature, mathematics, Latin, and Greek were taught in addition to religious courses and Hebrew. His attempts to give secular learning a firm place in rabbinical studies brought him into conflict with more traditional Orthodox Jews.

In 1869 the Orthodox community of Adass Jisroel in Berlin was searching for a new rabbi, and found it in Israel Hildesheimer. By 1873 he had established a religious school and rabbinical seminary there. As in Eisenstadt, he hoped that these institutions would help to strengthen Orthodox Judaism.

In addition to his work as rabbi, Hildesheimer was also involved in numerous efforts to assist the needy. In 1868 he assisted in organizing the construction of buildings for the poor and pilgrims near Jerusalem. During the Franco-Prussian war he founded a lazarette for Jewish soldiers, which was led by his wife. He was also active in making religious services for the high holidays available to the soldiers in the war. In 1883 he worked to establish a home in Berlin for Jewish refugees from Russia. In addition, he was a member of the central committee of the Alliance Israelite Universelle and president of the Mietelhilfsverein in Berlin. Israel Hildesheimer wrote many scholarly works, especially articles, but also a commentary on the Halachoth Gedoloth.

Israel Hildesheimer died in 1899, soon after the death of his wife.

Aron Hildesheimer

Aron Hildesheimer was the second son of Israel and Henriette Hildesheimer, born in 1851. A businessman, he married his neighbor Mirjam Hirsch, the daughter of Salmon Hirsch and Fanny Ettlinger, in 1878. Aron and Mirjam Hildesheimer had two children: Fritz (later Fred) and Gerda. Aron Hildesheimer lived for many years in Halberstadt before immigrating to the United States in 1939, where he lived with his family in New York City. He died in 1940.

Nathan Halberstadt and Henriette Halberstadt née Hildesheimer

Henriette Hildesheimer was the daughter of Aron Hildesheimer and Mirjam Hirsch. In 1908 she married Nathan Halberstadt in Halberstadt. Nathan Halberstadt was a banker and bookkeeper who worked for the Aron Hirsch & Sohn firm for a time.

Hans Halberstadt and Margot Halberstadt née Koppe (later John and Margot Halden)

The son of Nathan Halberstadt and Henriette Hildesheimer, Hans Halberstadt was born in 1910 and married Margot Koppe in 1934. Hans Halberstadt studied law at universities in Berlin and Heidelberg. Margot Koppe studied dentistry in Breslau, Würzburg, and Berlin. In 1936 they immigrated to the United States, where they settled in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. In 1944 they both became citizens of the United States. Upon receiving citizenship Hans Halberstadt changed his name to John Halden, and Halden became thereafter the family name. John Halden died in 1976; Margot Halden died in 1981. They had a son, Robert Halden, in 1942.

Extent

0.5 Linear Feet

Abstract

This collection documents the lives of members of the Hildesheimer and Halberstadt (later Halden) families, including the Orthodox rabbi Israel Hildesheimer. It largely consists of official documents of family members, but also holds manuscripts, correspondence, Haggadahs, and a cookbook. Of particular interest may be the detailed manuscripts by family members concerning a visit to Palestine in 1933 and childhood memories of life in a rabbinical family in Eisenstadt.

Arrangement

The collection is comprised of a single series arranged by family member.

Microfilm

Collection is available on 1 reel of microfilm (MF 701).

Related Material

Related material may be found in LBI's Esriel Hildesheimer Collection (AR 2373).

Separated Material

Several religious books were removed to the LBI Library. Several religious items (Talit, Teffilin, etc.) were removed to the LBI Art Collection.

Processing Information

Description of the collection was added in February 2006.

Title
Guide to the Papers of the Robert Halden Family Collection 1821-1940 AR 25119
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by Margot Gerson
Date
© 2006
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English.
Edition statement
This version was derived from RobertHaldenFamily.xml

Revision Statements

  • 2010-11-16 : encoding of linking to digital objects from finding aid was changed from <extref> to <dao> through dao_conv.xsl

Repository Details

Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository

Contact:
15 West 16th Street
New York NY 10011 United States