Jonas Fränkel
Encyclopedia
Jonas Fränkel or Jonas Fraenckel (born at the end of the 18th century, Breslau - January 27, 1846, Breslau) was a German
banker and philanthropist
; son of Joel Wolf, grandson of David Fränkel
, the author of Korban 'Edah.
Owing to his great commercial ability he rose from extreme poverty to affluence, and became one of the leading bankers of Breslau. As an acknowledgment of the services rendered by him in the development of commerce and industry in Germany, the Prussian
government awarded him the title of Kommerzienrath.
Notwithstanding his numerous occupations, Fränkel was an indefatigable communal worker. He was the director of many charitable institutions, to the support of which he contributed liberally; he erected at his own expense a hospital, to which were annexed an orphanage
, a bet ha-midrash, and a synagogue
. Being childless, he bequeathed part of his fortune to a family foundation, which provided dowries for portionless girls of the Fränkel
family; but the greater part of his wealth he left to charitable institutions, especially to the erection of a Jewish seminary
. This seminary, which bears his name, was inaugurated at Breslau in 1854 and became the greatest Jewish institution of its kind; in it most of the leading Jewish scholars of the second half of the nineteenth century were educated.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
banker and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
; son of Joel Wolf, grandson of David Fränkel
David Frankel
David Frankel is an American director, screenwriter and executive producer. He is the son of Max Frankel, a former executive editor of The New York Times...
, the author of Korban 'Edah.
Owing to his great commercial ability he rose from extreme poverty to affluence, and became one of the leading bankers of Breslau. As an acknowledgment of the services rendered by him in the development of commerce and industry in Germany, the Prussian
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
government awarded him the title of Kommerzienrath.
Notwithstanding his numerous occupations, Fränkel was an indefatigable communal worker. He was the director of many charitable institutions, to the support of which he contributed liberally; he erected at his own expense a hospital, to which were annexed an orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
, a bet ha-midrash, and a synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
. Being childless, he bequeathed part of his fortune to a family foundation, which provided dowries for portionless girls of the Fränkel
Fränkel
Fränkel This interesting surname is of German and Ashkenazic origins, used as an ethnic or regional name for someone from Franconia , which is a region of south-west Germany, so called because it formed an early Frankish settlement. Thus Frankel is a German and Ashkenazic diminutive of this placename...
family; but the greater part of his wealth he left to charitable institutions, especially to the erection of a Jewish seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
. This seminary, which bears his name, was inaugurated at Breslau in 1854 and became the greatest Jewish institution of its kind; in it most of the leading Jewish scholars of the second half of the nineteenth century were educated.