Wolff, Joseph

Wolff, Joseph
(c. 1795-1862)
   Jewish convert who led missions to Jews
   Joseph Wolff was born in Weilersbach, Bavaria, Germany, the son of a rabbi. As a youth, he left his family and converted to Catholicism; Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier became his role model. Baptized in 1812 in Prague, Wolff pursued studies at Vienna and then at the University of Tübingen, where he studied Middle Eastern languages and absorbed Protestant leanings.
   In 1817, he enrolled at the Propaganda Fide College in Rome, but was expelled when his Protestant beliefs were uncovered. Traveling around Europe, he met Robert Haldane, who invited him to England, where he formally converted to the Church of England. He also came to know people associated with the London Jew's Society (LJS). With the society's sponsorship, he attended Cambridge University and studied under Charles Simeon (1759-1836), who influenced a number of students to become missionaries.
   After two years at Cambridge, in 1821 Wolff headed for the Middle East under LJS sponsorship. Based on his early reports, the society accepted his recommendation to open a permanent mission center in Jerusalem. He traveled from Egypt to iran (Persia) as the society's emissary, preaching when he could to Jewish audiences. In 1826, he returned to England, where he met Lady Georgina Walpole, whom he married in 1827.
   Returning to the Middle East in 1828, Wolff continued his pioneering work in Jewish Missions, and also began a quest to locate the fabled Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. His quest took him to Jewish communities from Armenia to southern India.
   In 1837, he traveled to the United States, where he was ordained an Anglican priest in 1838. He settled in England as a parish priest in Linth-waite, Yorkshire, and then, from 1845, at Ile Brewers, Somerset. His parish life was interrupted in 1843, when he traveled to Bokhara in present-day Uzbekistan to assist two British officers in what became a hair-raising adventure and the subject of a best-selling book. He died in England on May 2, 1862.
   Further reading:
   ■ Hugh Evan Hopkins, Sublime Vagabond: The Life of Joseph Wolff, Missionary Extraordinary (London: Churchman, 1984)
   ■ H. P. Palmer, Joseph Wolff. His Romantic Life and Travels (London: Heath Cranton 1935)
   ■ Joseph Wolff, Narrative of a Mission to Bokhara (London: John W. Parker, 1864)
   ■ ----, Researches and Missionary Labours among the Jews, Mohammedans, and Other Sects (London: the author, 1835)
   ■ ----, Travels and Adventures of Joseph Wolff, 2 vols., (London: Saunders, Otley, 1860-61).

Encyclopedia of Protestantism. . 2005.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • WOLFF, JOSEPH — (1795–1862), world traveler and Christian missionary to the Jews in the Oriental Diaspora. Born in Weilersbach, Bavaria, the son of a rabbi, he converted to Catholicism in 1812. He was admitted to the Collegio Romani in 1816, but after being… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Wolff, Joseph — (1795 1862)    German missionary. He was born in Weilersbach, Bavaria. He converted to Catholicism in 1812, but later he joined the Anglican Church, serving as a vicar in England. He travelled as a missionary to the Jews in Palestine, Kurdistan,… …   Dictionary of Jewish Biography

  • Joseph Wolff — (1795 May 2, 1862), Jewish Christian missionary, was born at Weilersbach, near Bamberg, Germany.His father became rabbi at Württemberg in 1806, and sent his son to the Protestant lyceum at Stuttgart. He was converted to Christianity through… …   Wikipedia

  • Joseph Roth — (1918) Moses Joseph Roth (* 2. September 1894 in Brody, Österreich Ungarn; † 27. Mai 1939 in Paris) war ein österreichischer Schriftsteller und Journalist …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Joseph Kessel — Activités aventurier, journaliste et romancier Naissance …   Wikipédia en Français

  • WOLFF (C. von) — WOLFF ou WOLF CHRISTIAN VON (1679 1754) Philosophe, Christian Wolff est connu aussi comme mathématicien et comme juriste. Après des études de théologie, de philosophie, de mathématiques et de droit naturel à Breslau, à Iéna et à Leipzig, Wolff… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Joseph Serge Miot — (* 23. November 1946 in Jérémie, Haiti; † 12. Januar 2010 in Port au Prince, Haiti) war Erzbischof von Port au Prince. Leben Joseph Serge Miot studierte Philosophie und Theologie am Grand Séminaire Notre Dame de Turgeau in Port au Prince. Er… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Joseph Miot — Joseph Serge Miot Biographie Naissance 23 novembre 1946 à Jérémie (Haïti) Ordination sacerdotale 4 juillet 1975 Décès 12 janvier 2010 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Joseph Serge Miot — Arzobispo Puerto Príncipe Ordenación 4 de julio de 1975 Consagración episcopal 12 de octubre de 1997 Nacimiento 23 de noviembre de 1946 en Jérémie, Haiti Fallecimiento …   Wikipedia Español

  • Joseph Bruce Ismay — (* 12. Dezember 1862 in Crosby bei Liverpool; † 17. Oktober 1937 in Mayfair bei London) war ein britischer Geschäftsmann und Direktor der White Star Line. In dieser Funktion nahm er wesentlichen Anteil an Planung und Bau der drei Atlantikliner… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”