CASSEL, DAVID (1818–1893), German educator and scholar. Cassell
was one of a group including L. *Zunz, M. *Steinschneider, and
others that founded the *Wissenschaft des Judentums movement for
the scientific study of Judaism. Cassell was born and educated
in Gross-Glogau, Silesia. While still a student in Berlin, he
helped found the Hilfsverein fuer juedische Studierende, a
society for assisting poor Jewish students. Though ordained (by
Z. *Frankel), he chose not to pursue a rabbinical career but
instead dedicated himself to teaching and research. His
educational posts included a principalship at the educational
institute Dina Nauenschen Erziehungsanstalt in Berlin (1846–79)
and a lectureship at the *Hochschule fuer die Wissenschaft des
Judenthums (1872–92). Among Cassel's works written primarily for
use by students and teachers are Sabbath Stunden zur Belehrung
und Erbauung der israelitischen Jugend (1868); Lehrbuch der
juedischen Geschichte und Literatur (1879, 18962; Manual of
Jewish History and Literature,