On the Main Line: When the rabbis became doctors, someone said "This is stupid." part III: " "Rabbi Doctor" phenomenon which arose in the 19th century (actually, at that time it was really more like "Rabbi assuming the title Doctor" phenomenon). Someone is said to have said that "The Jewish people were healthier before the rabbis became doctors." Ironic. I don't know if anyone really said it, but they really say that people said it. Here are parts one and two.
In any case, here is an interesting document from 1839. This is part of a posthumously published article by Peter Beer (1758-1838) in the Algemeine Zeitung des Judentums. Peter Beer of Prague was a teacher, historian and eventually a proponent of Reform. Having living through times of great transition he was in a position to reflect on new trends. In this case, this aged man had noticed that "nowadays" every would-be rabbi simply has to pursue a doctorate in a university."
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