Solomon Zeitlin - Biography

Solomon Zeitlin, שְׁלֹמֹה צײטלין, Шломо Цейтлин Shlomo Cejtlin (Tseitlin, Tseytlin) (28 May 1886 or 31 May 1892, Chashniki, now in Vitsebsk Voblast - 28 December 1976, United States) was a Jewish historian. His work The Rise and Fall of the Judean State is still considered the standard history of the Second Jewish Commonwealth, and essential reading for anyone wishing to study the origins and birth of Christianity.

Zeitlin taught at Dropsie College in Philadelphia. In addition to history he taught Talmud. Many rabbis of the Philadelphia area were his students. He never married and had no immediate survivors. Dr. Zeitlin stirred up controversy when he stated that he did not believe that the Dead Sea Scrolls were of pre-Christian origin.

Works

• The Rise and Fall of the Judean State: A Political, Social and Religious History of the Second Commonwealth. New York: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1967.
• Maimonides - A Biography, New York: (Bloch Publishing Company), 1955