Alexander Haindorf
Alexander Haindorf (2 May 1784 – 16 October 1862) was a Jewish reformer, psychologist, university lecturer, author, journalist and art collector.
He was a promoter of emancipation of 19th century liberal Judaism and wrote one of the first psychiatric textbooks of German origin.
[1] Often in his life he got caught up in the discord between religious affiliation and the strive for social and scientific recognition.
He was the son of Jewish parents consisting of his father Sendel Hertz who was a salesman and his second wife Vogel Sophie Seligmann.
[3] Haindorf was able to visit the school because of his intellect and because the head of the Jewish community, Amschel Herz, in Hamm (1730-1809), a renowned art collector, took care of the gifted young man and promoted his artistic sense as well as his scholarly interests.
[2] Haindorf studied philosophy, history, literature, medicine and psychology in Würzburg, Erlangen, Bamberg and Heidelberg.
[6][7] During his time in Würzburg, Haindorf was taught by the German mathematical philosopher Jakob Wagner whom he met again when doing his doctorate 1810 in Heidelberg.
In his request Alexander Haindorf listed positive reactions to his book as an argument to make him a professor.
[8] Although his reaction is not directly documented, his rejection is seen as one of the causes Haindorf was passionate about Jew rights and equality.
[9] Based on the value of his book and his teaching experience he should have been a professor, but the time was not ready for a Jew in an equal position to other scholars.
[9] Haindorf was angered and requested a two years long holiday to expand his education by visiting the most excellent medical institutions in France, Italy and Germany.
[10] In 1825 he founded the "Verein zur Beförderung von Handwerken Unter den Juden" (English: Association for the promotion of craftwork among Jews), whose influence of this society extended within ten years over Westphalia and Rhenish Prussia.
Her husband and Sophie discussed the matter over the cause of years, worrying not only about her father but also about the freedom of decision for their children.
Haindorf stopped his activity as a doctor, however, not his leading positions in the association shortly after his father-in-law passed away in 1854.
[1] He went back to Hamm to be near his daughter Sophie and his son-in-law Jakob Loeb in 1854 where he stayed until his death in 1862.
He feared that Christian religious teachers might destroy previous learning experiences with wrong views and egoistic motives.
This fact in combination with the positive reputation of his association growing between 1830 and 1840, caused even Christian parents to be willing to send their children there.
He was a board member of the "Kunstverein für die Rheinlande and Westfalen" (Art association for Rhineland Westphalia), which was founded in 1829 and continued after his death.
