R. Hirsch b. Moses Plato (1822-1910), German rabbi and philosopher, was born in Halberstadt. He was educated by R. Sawel Eger and was married to the daughter of R. Samson Raphael Hirsch. A descendant of R. Moses Isserlis and a close friend of R. Israel Hildesheimer. R. Plato served as Director of the Jewish Seminary at Cologne and Chief Rabbi of the city. An erudite Talmudic scholar he wrote many legal decisions but is most noted for his Kutres Havla'at ha-Dam (Frankfurt on the Main 1889) in which he prohibits the speeding up of death of kosher slaughtered animals by any means. The issue continues today with animal rights groups demanding electrical stunning and similar proceedures for the speedy death of the animal. The decision was cosigned by 450 rabbis the world over. R. Plato was also involved in th resolution of the Agunah problem - still a burning issue to this day - and published several responsa on the subject.