Scholar and Publisher - Daniel Goldschmidt and Siddur Tefilat Israel

Abstract

One of the most influential scholars of Jewish liturgy of the 20th century was Daniel Goldschmidt (1895-1972). In addition to his prolific research, he published critical editions of poetry and liturgy. Early in the 1960s, Goldschmidt published Siddur Tefilat Israel, a prayer book for daily use. The siddur was intended for a wider audience rather than for scholars. In this article, Goldschmidt's siddur is surveyed alongside unpublished drafts from his archive. This includes a draft of an innovative attempt to edit one prayer book that is useful to both Ashkenazim and Sephardim. Thus, the article describes the internal tension within this siddur, produced by an academic scholar for a traditional audience.