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Dr. E.H. Bronner 1908 -1997
A Life Dedicated to God, Mankind
and Spaceship Earth
Emanuel Bronner was a third generation master soap-maker from an
orthodox Jewish family in Heilbron, Germany, where he was certified
as a master soap-maker under the rigorous guild system of the time.
He was the heir to the family's soap factory and business, but
rebelled against his father and came to the United States in the
late 1920's. After the Nazis nationalized the soap factory in 1938,
his parents and most of his family died in the Holocaust.
Dr. Bronner initially worked as a consultant to various soap
companies in the U.S. However, most such companies were converting
to the complicated synthetic surfactant formulations that comprise
modern body care products, so he struck out on his own in the late
40's. His ecological castile soaps and message of peace resonated
powerfully with the counter-culture of the 60's and 70's, and he
became an icon of the time.
Dr. Bronner's essential vision and philosophy were born out of the
fate of his family and the Holocaust, and are emphatic that we are
all children of the same divine source: people must realize that we
are "All-One!," and that the prophets and spiritual giants of the
world's various faith traditions all realized and said this. Dr.
Bronner was also grounded in a powerful ecological consciousness,
and the soaps were an extension of this simple, natural and 100%
environment-friendly.
Dr. Bronner passed away peacefully on March 7, 1997, amidst family
and friends. While we disagree with Dr. Bronner on some
idiosyncrasies in his philosophy, we revere him for his efforts to
unite humanity and his exhortations to lead a more responsible life
in respect to our environment and each other. We continue to make
with care and integrity the fine ecological soaps our customers have
loved and lathered with for 50 years, and we now make our soaps with
all certified organic oils, certified under the USDA’s National
Organic Program. We share our time, profits and energy with our
workers and worthwhile causes worldwide.
Love in All-One, The Bronner Family
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