1920 • FRANKFURT AM MAIN • GERMANY
A New Kind of Learning
In 1920 Frankfurt, a young philosopher named Franz Rosenzweig stood before an unprecedented crisis: how could Judaism remain vital in a world where its most gifted minds were abandoning it?
His answer was groundbreaking—the Freie Jüdische Lehrhaus (the Free Jewish House of Learning), where learning would flow not from ancient texts to modern life, but from contemporary questions back to classical wisdom.
Die alte Judengasse, the historic Jewish quarter in Frankfurt am Main, where Franz Rosenzweig established the original Lehrhaus in 1920
“It is a learning in reverse order. From life, from a world that knows nothing of the Law...back to the ancient source.”
— Franz Rosenzweig
An Extraordinary Faculty
He gathered an extraordinary faculty: scholars, physicians, historians, artists, politicians—two-thirds of whom, he noted, would have been denied the right to teach in a traditional Jewish study house. They came together not as specialists in Judaism, but as alienated modern people seeking their way home through rigorous inquiry.
Rosenzweig’s revolutionary insight was that the most profound learning often comes from those who bring “outside” knowledge into conversation with Jewish texts—a principle that continues to define our approach today.
The experiment was extraordinary. Over 1,100 students enrolled from Frankfurt’s Jewish community of 26,000. The Lehrhaus proved that serious adult Jewish learning could thrive when it honored both intellectual honesty and genuine curiosity, welcoming diverse perspectives while maintaining scholarly rigor.
1974 • BERKELEY
New Life in the Bay Area
Berkeley in 1974, the year Fred Rosenbaum founded Lehrhaus Judaica, capturing the revolutionary intellectual and cultural scene of the era
This vision found new life in Berkeley in 1974 when Fred Rosenbaum founded Lehrhaus Judaica. For nearly five decades, it embodied Rosenzweig’s revolutionary approach, becoming one of the rare gems of Bay Area Jewish life and unique in North America.
It demonstrated that thoughtful people hungered for substantive intellectual engagement with Jewish civilization’s rich contributions to human thought and culture.
Nearly 50 Years
From 1974 to 2021, Lehrhaus Judaica served as a beacon of adult Jewish learning in the Bay Area, carrying forward Rosenzweig’s vision of intellectual engagement and spiritual exploration.
2021 • TODAY
The Flame Continues
When Lehrhaus Judaica, later renamed HaMaqom, closed in summer 2021, dedicated educators, scholars, and community leaders refused to let this flame be extinguished.
David and Rachel Biale spearheaded the creation of New Lehrhaus in 2021
New Lehrhaus emerged in September 2021, led by David and Rachel Biale, carrying forward Rosenzweig’s core conviction: that the path to understanding begins wherever you find yourself. The most profound learning often comes from those who bring “outside” knowledge into conversation with Jewish texts and ideas.
A New Lehrhaus class in session, continuing the tradition of dynamic dialogue and intellectual engagement
Today, we continue that tradition—welcoming all serious learners to explore how ancient wisdom speaks to contemporary questions.
September 2021
New Lehrhaus was established to sustain and reimagine this century-old legacy for a new generation.
From Frankfurt to Berkeley to Today—
Our Journey Continues
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Whether you’re new to Jewish learning or have been studying for years, New Lehrhaus offers a welcoming space for serious intellectual engagement with Jewish thought, culture, and tradition.
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