Fanny Neuda
(1819 Ivancice – 1894 Merano
The wife of the Lostice rabbi Abraham Neuda and the author of an important book of prayers,
written in Lostice in 1855. Her book is titled: “ Studen der Andacht ” (Hours of Devotion).
This book is quite significant, because it was the first of its kind to be written by a Jewish woman for Jewish women and was written in German (and not in Hebrew). Soon it became a best seller, published in more than 30 editions. Around 1860 it was also translated into English (Published in New York, 1866, reprinted until 1900). The modern German edition was issued for Jewish women living in the Nazi Germany ( Frankfurt , 1936) and reissued after the war during 1950s and 1960s. The next English edition is being prepared and will be published next year.
Fanny Neuda (née Schmiedl) was born on March 6, 1819, in Ivancice (Moravia) to a rabbinical family. Later she lived with her family in Prostejov. Her father Juda Schmiedl (1776 Ivancice – 1855 Osoblaha) was a rabbi in Prostejov and other places.
Fanny's husband was the Lostice rabbi Abraham Neuda (1812 - 1854 Lostice).
Abraham succeeded his father, Aaron Neuda, as rabbi of Lostice, who died in 1835. Abraham Neuda was one of the first "progressive" rabbis in Moravia, who supported reformist views and believed in delivering sermons in German (instead of Hebrew). Abraham was elected as the rabbi by the Lostice community, but the chief rabbi of Moravia, Nehemiah Trebitsch interposed a veto, because Abraham “preached in German and acquired too much secular education”. This resulted in lengthy legal proceedings, which attracted an attention of several scholars, including a Viennese preacher Mannheimer. After six years, the dispute was finally terminated in favor of Neuda, when he had passed an examination before a committee consisting of rabbis and a Catholic priest. Rabbi Abrahamm Neuda died on February 22, 1854, at the age of forty-two.
In the foreword to her popular book, Fanny underlines the fact that her work is published as:
“ a living memorial to the spirit of her notable late husband, Abraham Neuda, rabbi of Lostice…”.
Fanny's brother dr. Adolf Schmeidl (1821 Prostejov – 1913 Vienna ) was a scholar, who served as rabbi in several Moravian places (including Lostice for a short period) and in Vienna . He supported reformist ideas and practices as well. He was interested in many areas including Jewish and Arabic religious philosophy and was a prolific writer.
Fanny Neuda also wrote stories for children titled "Naomi" (1867) and "Children's Stories from Jewish Family Life" (1876). She died in Meran, (formerly Austria , now Merano , Italy ) on April 16, 1894, at the age of 75.
This important person became totally forgotten in Lostice, while her popular book continues to be published in Europe and United States . Members of the foundation Respect and Tolerance are searching for more materials re: Fanny Neuda and exchanging information with a book editor from Getty Publications, who is preparing a documentary movie about Hours of Devotion. She is also working on updating Fanny Neuda's book, which will be published by Schocken Books in New York in 2007
Materials recently documented by Respect and tolerance:
- Rabbi Aron Neuda's gravestone, which is preserved in the Lostice Jewish cemetery.
- Beautiful shiviti plaque dedicated to rabbi Abraham Neuda. (Dated 1852, Collection point Lostice, Jewish museum in Prague).
- 19th century hand written document with a tombstone inscription of Fanny Neuda‘s grandfather - rabbi Moses Hakohen Karpeles (1765 Prosteiov – 1835 Boskovice), (Respect and tolerance Archives). - Documents for Fanny Neuda' family tree (three generations).
Dr. Canter acquired the following books for the RT Library:
- Neuda, F.: Stunden der Andacht , (Hours of devotion). Prague , Breslau 1855 (first edition), and other editions from 1864, 1903 and 1914.
- Schmiedl, A.: Sansinnim . Prague 1859. (Brother of Fanny Neuda).
- Mannheimer, I.N.: Gottesdienstliche Vorträge ….Wien 1876. (Abraham Neuda' defender).
Sources and literature:
Berland, D.: Fanny Neuda . Unpublished.
Neuda, F: Stunden der Andacht: Ein Gebet- und Erbauungs-Buch für Israels Frauen und Jungfrauen zur öffentlichen und häuslichen Andacht, sowie für alle Verhältnisse des weiblichen Lebens". Prag, Breslau (1903;1914; p. IX.
Fischer, R.: Cesti spisovatele a umelci z okresu mohelnickeho . Olomouc 1930; p. 47.
The Jewish Encyclopedia , Funk and Wagnalls, 1905; vol. IX, p. 235.
The Encyclopaedia Judaica , 1978; vol. 12, s.1007.
Biographisches Handbuch der Rabbiner , K. G. Saur, München 20004 (Teil 1, Die Rabbiner der Emanzipationszeit in den deutschen, böhmischen und grosspolnischen Ländern).
© 2007 Developed by Jaroslav Brachtl AFirma.cz
