| Intro | South African rabbi | ||
| Was |
Poet Writer Playwright Rabbi |
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| From |
South Africa Russia |
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| Type |
Film, TV, Stage & Radio Literature Religion |
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| Gender | male | ||
| Birth | 4 May 1866, Zaliztsi, Ukraine | ||
| Death |
25 August 1942, Johannesburg, South Africa (aged 76 years) |
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| Star sign | Taurus | ||
| Residence | Johannesburg, South Africa; Manchester, United Kingdom | ||
| Education |
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Judah Leo Landau (23 April 1866 – 26 August 1942) was a Galician-born South African rabbi and writer. A noted scholar, poet, and playwright, he served as the inaugural Chief Rabbi of South Africa from 1915 until his death in 1942.
Early life
Landau was born in Zaliztsi (Załośce), near Brody, Galicia. He was a descendant of the Chacham Tzvi and the Noda Biyehudah. After attending the fourth Zionist Congress in London in 1900, Landau remained in England for three years. He was rabbi of the North Manchester Congregation.
Johannesburg
In 1903, he was appointed to lead the Johannesburg Hebrew Congregation. Following the formation of the United Hebrew Congregation of Johannesburg in 1915, Landau was declared it’s Chief Rabbi. In the same year, he established the Johannesburg Beth Din.