Isaac Landman

Born on October 24, 1880, in Sudilkov in the Russian Empire, he immigrated to the United States as a boy and grew up in Cincinnati. He studied at the University of Cincinnati and Hebrew Union College, then went on to serve as a Reform rabbi, including work with Congregation Keneseth Israel in Philadelphia and later Temple Beth Elohim in Brooklyn.

Alongside his congregational work, he became known as a writer, editor, and public voice in American Jewish life. His best-known achievement was serving as editor of the ten-volume Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, a major reference work intended to bring Jewish history, culture, and scholarship to a broad readership.

He was also active in public debates of his time, including anti-Zionist advocacy, which made him a visible and sometimes controversial figure. He died on September 4, 1946, leaving behind a record of religious leadership, editorial work, and engagement with the intellectual life of American Judaism.