Roger Winsbacher (19 June 1928 – 13 February 2012) was a French
rabbi
A rabbi (; ) is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi—known as ''semikha''—following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of t ...
and educator known for his oratorical and pedagogical skills.
Biography
Roger (David) Winsbacher, was born in
Strasbourg
Strasbourg ( , ; ; ) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est Regions of France, region of Geography of France, eastern France, in the historic region of Alsace. It is the prefecture of the Bas-Rhin Departmen ...
on 19 June 1928 to an
Alsatian Jewish family. At age eleven, during the onset of the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, he sought refuge in
Limoges
Limoges ( , , ; , locally ) is a city and Communes of France, commune, and the prefecture of the Haute-Vienne Departments of France, department in west-central France. It was the administrative capital of the former Limousin region. Situated o ...
with his family, enrolling in an
ORT
Ort or ORT may refer to:
Broadcasting
*Channel One Russia (formerly )
*ORT (TV channel), a Greek radio and television station ()
Organisations
*Order of Railroad Telegraphers, an American labor union (founded 1886)
*Organización Revolucionaria ...
school in the city.
Future
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi () is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities. Since 1911, through a capitulation by Ben-Zion Meir ...
Abraham Deutsch, originally from Strasbourg, joined the family in Limoges and became a large influence on Winsbacher's life. It was Rabbi Deutsch who pushed Winsbacher to choose a Rabbinical career.
Roger Winsbacher spent the rest of the war in
Switzerland
Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...
where he continued his studies under Rabbi Haim Gittler. After the war, Winsbacher studied at the Séminaire israélite de France in
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
. Following military service in
French Algeria
French Algeria ( until 1839, then afterwards; unofficially ; ), also known as Colonial Algeria, was the period of History of Algeria, Algerian history when the country was a colony and later an integral part of France. French rule lasted until ...
, he became Rabbi of
Saint-Louis (
Haut-Rhin
Haut-Rhin (); Alsatian: ''Owerelsàss'' or '; , . is a department in the Grand Est region, France, bordering both Germany and Switzerland. It is named after the river Rhine; its name means Upper Rhine. Haut-Rhin is the smaller and less pop ...
), and later of
Obernai
Obernai (Alsatian language, Alsatian: ''Owernah''; ) is Communes of France, commune in the Bas-Rhin Departments of France, department in Alsace in north-eastern France. It lies on the eastern slopes of the Vosges mountains.
Obernai is a rapidly g ...
(
Bas-Rhin
Bas-Rhin () is a department in Alsace which is a part of the Grand Est region of France. The name means 'Lower Rhine', referring to its lower altitude among the two French Rhine departments: it is downstream of the Haut-Rhin (Upper Rhine) de ...
). He was close to Rabbi Sneiders of
Basel
Basel ( ; ), also known as Basle ( ), ; ; ; . is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine (at the transition from the High Rhine, High to the Upper Rhine). Basel is Switzerland's List of cities in Switzerland, third-most-populo ...
and looked up to Chief Rabbi Avraham David Horowitz or Strasbourg, becoming one of his most devoted followers. When Rabbi Horowitz made
Aliyah
''Aliyah'' (, ; ''ʿălīyyā'', ) is the immigration of Jews from Jewish diaspora, the diaspora to, historically, the geographical Land of Israel or the Palestine (region), Palestine region, which is today chiefly represented by the Israel ...
to
Israel
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
, Winsbacher took his place at Adath Israel, the Polish rite synagogue in Strasbourg.
Rabbi Winsbacher taught at the ''
Yeshiva Ketana'' de Strasbourg where he influenced generations of students. He was known for his pedagogical skills and the clarity of his teaching. He was married to Danielle Weil, a local teacher in Strasbourg and a sister of
Liliane Ackermann
Liliane Aimée Ackermann (''née'' Weil) (September 3, 1938 – February 3, 2007) was a French microbiologist, Jewish Community pioneer, leader, writer, and lecturer.
Early life and education
Liliane Ackermann was born on September 3, 1938, in ...
. The Winsbachers had three sons.
When Winsbacher retired as rabbi of Adath Israel, he was succeeded by Michaël Szmerla, the
dayan of Strasbourg. Winsbacher died in Strasbourg on 13 February 2012 and was buried the next day in the cimetière "Etz Haïm" de Cronenbourg,.
The funeral was conducted by Chief Rabbi Samuel Yaffe-Schlessinger and in a rare occasion, the coffin was transported to Adath Israel, where Rabbi Szmerla delivered the eulogy and Chief Rabbi of Strasbourg
René Gutman
René Gutman (born in Rouen in 1950) was Chief Rabbi of Strasbourg from 1987 to 2017.
Biography
René Gutman grew up in Rouen, where his father Alexandre Gutman was the local rabbi. He spent several years in Israel, dedicating himself to religi ...
recited the
Tehillim.
See also
* Synagogue Adath Israël (Strasbourg)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Winsbacher, Roger
Clergy from Strasbourg
20th-century French rabbis
21st-century French rabbis
1928 births
2012 deaths